How to Thicken Soup Quickly, No Cornstarch Required (2024)

FAQs

How to Thicken Soup Quickly, No Cornstarch Required? ›

A handful of uncooked rice. That's all folks, just a handful of white rice. Any kind will do: jasmine, basmati, short grain, long grain. When added to a brothy (or watery, even) soup, and left to simmer for 20-30 minutes, the rice breaks down, releasing its starch and thickening the liquid that it's cooking in.

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

If you don't have any cornstarch, you can also use flour and make a beurre manie, which is fancy French for “flour butter paste” or “raw roux.” To make this little ball of thickening magic, just take equal masses of flour and butter, and mash it all up into a little paste nugget.

About this method: One of the most common ways to thicken sauces and soups is with a starch-based slurry, and cornstarch is a popular choice. Cornstarch is flavorless, easy to mix up, and versatile, which makes it a go-to pantry ingredient.

Instant mashed potatoes. Pour them on, stir them in, give it a minute or 2, and it'll be nice and thick.

You could use more vegetables/fruits/ingredients with water in them in your soup or just plain ol' pour in water, though ratio applies. Some ingredients have more water than others. Be careful of the ratio of the ingredients you use in a soup for both thickness AND flavor.)

What is a replacement for cornstarch? ›

Make a flour slurry to thicken creamy sauces.

Combine equal parts of flour and cold water in a cup. Mix it until it's smooth and stir it into the sauce. Bring the sauce to a simmer for 5 minutes. A general rule is use 2 tsp (3 grams) of flour to thicken 1 L (34 fl oz) of liquid.

If liquids are too thin, add one of the following common thickeners to get your liquid nectar-thick. Banana flakes. Cooked cereals (like cream of wheat or cream of rice) Cornstarch. Custard mix.

Combine flour and water for a simple sauce thickener.

A whisk works well to quickly create a flour paste that is free from lumps. You can also use a fork or a spoon to stir your water and flour together. Alternatively, you can use a small container with a tight-fitting lid to mix.

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

When baking powder contains cornstarch, you may be able to use it as a thickener for sauces, according to Modern Mom, which explained that cornstarch "binds the wet ingredients together for a smoother and thicker substance." That being said, Modern Mom cautions against using "too much" baking powder as a thickener ...

Even if you don't purée the soup with a blender, potatoes release starch as they cook — thickening the broth with a satisfying velvety consistency.