Cooking Stack Exchange
Cooking Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [starch]

48 questions
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Can we digest raw starch?

One of the wisdoms passed on early in my family is not to eat certain types of food raw, because they will cause bellyache. It is regarded common sense on par with not to touch a hot stove because it will cause a burn. As far as I can tell, my…
rumtscho
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Is there an authoritative source on whether salt affects pasta stickiness?

The Seasoned Advice answer to Why add salt to the water when cooking pasta? is that it makes the pasta less sticky by inhibiting starch gelatinization. This seems to be a controversial question, with lots of improperly sourced answers spreading. Is…
user4697
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4 answers

Is it possible to make transparent / translucent pastry?

I'm looking for something that works like pastry (malleable before baking, rigid after baking, mild unobtrusive flavour) that is transparent or translucent. The idea is to use for topping savoury pies, where the base and sides are regular…
user56reinstatemonica8
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Why cook green plantains?

Many cookbooks and chefs recommend cooking green plantains before eating them. Is it just because of all the starch? Or are there any toxins as in sprouting potatoes? Does the ratio of amylose to amylopectin have anything to do with the…
papin
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What is the binding power of starches vs flour?

I was surprised to read the answers to a recent question on thickening - two of the three, including the accepted answer, suggested using cornstarch instead of flour to save calories. I have always assumed that flour and starch are so close in…
rumtscho
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Why does rice flour or cornstarch produce crispier crusts than wheat flour?

If you add a percentage of rice flour or cornstarch to any sort of breading or pancake, you get a much crispier crust than one made with 100% wheat flour. The Vietnamese banh xeo, which is like a crepe made with just rice flour and coconut milk, no…
Michael Natkin
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Effect of potato water on bread (early experiment results)

Inspired by another question here, I am going to make potato bread. I am using the King Arthur Flour recipe. (For 2 loaves) 1 tablespoon instant yeast 99g sugar 283g to 340g lukewarm water or potato water (water in which potatoes have been…
Jolenealaska
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Can flour be used interchangeably with starch?

I don't know if the question I'm asking is suitable for this site, but can the word flour be used interchangeably with starch?
mylifeisalie
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Can I use tapioca pearls for thickening?

A friend of mine went shopping in an Asian market. I asked them to bring me tapioca starch. They brought me a package of small tapioca pearls. Is there any way to use the pearls as I would use the starch? For example, can I grind them with mortar…
rumtscho
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Advice to making Boba Pearls

Today, I tried 3 different ways to make boba/tapioca pearls from scratch, and while the third time sort of worked I never got a "dough" that was of a playdoh consistency. In reading several articles/recipes on the internet: Joshua Weissman…
John
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Does starch thickened custard get thinner after a few days?

A few days ago, I did a crème pâtissière (thick vanilla custard), using milk (300ml/1.25 cup) egg yolks (2) sugar (15g/1tbsp) potato starch (10g/1tbsp). The end result had a relatively thick consistency, fit for my purpose. I had a bit left over,…
Lescurel
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Is there a product available that is pre-gelatinized starch and what product name is it sold with?

I am trying to make packets of instant pudding that do not need heating, in order to thicken the mix to form a cold dessert. Some sanity has to be found in my kitchen, as most foods are home cooked because of my allergies. I have attempted to test…
gypsybird
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Microwave pudding sediments

I tried making pudding in the microwave for the first time. I took 20 g rice starch and 250 g milk. First made a slurry, then mixed the rest of the milk, constantly stirring. Then added 10 g sugar and half a tablespoon of vanilla extract, and…
rumtscho
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For what dishes I should wash starch off red lentils?

I usually wash grains and beans before using them. I wonder how/for what dishes I should wash red lentils? When I washed them, the water looks "soapy" (lots of foam) until I change it cr. 8 times. According to this blog, this is a correct procedure,…
Yulia V
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Can I make potatoes sweet by cooking them?

I've heard that cooking "breaks down" carbohydrates such as starch. I also know that starch is a complex carbohydrate, which is essentially made out of simple carbohydrates (sugars). Potatoes contain a lot of starch, so I was wondering: is there a…
Tanner Swett
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