Potato Starch

[georgie]

What is potato starch and what is the difference to potato flour ? I have seen potato flour here in Australia but am having trouble with American recipes.

[Felidae]

Potato flour looks and feels different than potato starch in my opinion. Potato starch is very similar to tapioca or corn starch. Also, potato flour goes rancid quite quickly, so it has to be stored properly.

I never use potato flour. I try to modify the recipe to use something else instead.

[ArtGirl]

My understanding is that potato starch is just that, the starch from the potato. It can be used like any starch in a recipe. It is sometimes called potato flour starch.

Potato flour is ground up dehydrated potato. It is much heavier than the starch, and can be rather gummy. However, it makes good gravies and thickener for soup. I've even made potato soup just from the potato flour rather than cooking potatoes and mashing them up. It does not, however, make good mashed potatoes.

[Ruth52]

I purchase Potato Starch on-line from www.wheatfreeworld.com. Lola Workman uses it in her recipes (Wheat-Free Gluten-Free Cookery). I think I have bought Potato Flour from the health food section at the supermarket .

I have found wheatfreeworld easy to deal with - they aren't expensive and goods seems to arrive fairly quickly. They are based in Dee Why. I was making a flour mix she recommended in her recipe book, but I just couldn't handle the Besan Flour it has a very strong taste, so now I just experiment. For cakes I make up an equal mix of maize flour, fine rice flour and tapioca starch.

Hope this helps.

Ruth

[georgie]

OMG Ruth THANKS !! That site is awesome. At first my heart sank as I thought it wasn't going to be Australian. But it is ! And those recipes look amazing. Do you have the books ? Do you order from the site? It even has hot cross buns !

[Ruth52]

Yes I have ordered from the site, delivery is prompt and the freight isn't all that expensive. I have purchased one of the recipe books and I use it often, I also buy most of my flours/starches from there.

I had a problem with one of the recipes and so I sent them an email and they came up with some suggestions as to how to fix it. Really great.

Ruth.

[Ruth52]

Sorry I forgot to add that I am an Aussie. I live in northern Victoria.

Ruth.