Quick Search
Cornflour, cornstarch, maize starch, or Corn Starch (American English) is the starch derived from corn (maize) grain.
Corn Starch is obtained from the endosperm of the kernel.
Corn Starch is a common food ingredient, often used to thicken sauces or soups, and to make corn syrup and other sugars.
CAS Number: 68412-29-3
Molecular Formula: (C6H10O5)n
Molecular Weight: 0
EINECS: 232-679-6
Synonyms:
Starch solution; Acid modified, corn starch; Acid modified,corn starch; Wheat starch, acidmodified; HYDROLYSEDSTARCH; ACID-TREATEDSTARCHES; ACID-TREATEDSTARCH; AMYLUM; AMIDON; MAIS STARCH; ARROW ROOT STARCH; DEXTRIN POTATO WHITE; CORN STARCH; RICE STARCH
Corn Starch is versatile, easily modified, and finds many uses in industry such as adhesives, in paper products, as an anti-sticking agent, and textile manufacturing.
Corn Starch has medical uses as well, such as to supply glucose for people with glycogen storage disease.
Like many products in dust form, Corn Starch can be hazardous in large quantities due to its flammability—see dust explosion.
When mixed with a fluid, Corn Starch can rearrange itself into a non-Newtonian fluid.
For example, adding water transforms corn starch into a material commonly known as oobleck while adding oil transforms corn starch into an electrorheological (ER) fluid.
The concept can be explained through the mixture termed "cornflour slime".
Corn Starch (also known as cornflour or Maize starch) is a versatile ingredient commonly used in cosmetics, toiletries, and natural cleaning products.
Corn Starch acts as a binder and bulking agent, helping to improve texture and absorbency in dry formulations.
Additionally, Corn Starch effectively holds fragrances in dry mediums, making it ideal for bath products, body powders, and scented sachets.
Widely used as a binder and bulking agent in dry toiletries and to hold fragrance in a dry medium.
Also useful in natural cleaning products.
History
Until 1851, corn starch was used primarily for starching laundry and for other industrial uses.
A method to produce pure culinary starch from maize was patented by John Polson of Brown & Polson, in Paisley, Scotland in 1854.
This was sold as "Patented Corn Flour".
Brown & Polson were muslin manufacturers who had been producing laundry starch for the Paisley shawl industry and would become the largest starch producers in the UK.
Uses
Although mostly used for cooking and as a household item, corn starch is used for many purposes in several industries, ranging from its use as a chemical additive for certain products, to medical therapy for certain illnesses.
Acid modified starch has anti-cancer and anti-tumor effects, and also has a relatively good effect on diabetes.
Corn Starch's water resistance has increased, showing significant softness and strength.
Culinary
Corn starch is used as a thickening agent in liquid-based foods (e.g., soup, sauces, gravies, custard), usually by mixing it with a lower-temperature liquid to form a paste or slurry.
Corn Starch is sometimes preferred over flour alone because it forms a translucent, rather than opaque mixture.
As the starch is heated over 203 °F (95 °C), the molecular chains unravel, allowing them to collide with other starch chains to form a mesh, thickening the liquid (Starch gelatinization).
However, continued boiling breaks up the molecules and thins the liquid.
Corn Starch is usually included as an anticaking agent in powdered sugar (icing or confectioner's sugar).
A common substitute is arrowroot starch, which replaces the same amount of corn starch.
Food producers reduce production costs by adding varying amounts of corn starch to foods, for example to cheese and yogurt.
Chicken nuggets with a thin outer layer of corn starch allows increased oil absorption and crispness after the latter stages of frying.
Non-culinary
Baby powder may include corn starch among its ingredients.
Corn starch can be used to manufacture bioplastics (like PLA used for 3D printing) and may be used in the manufacture of airbags.
Adhesive can be made from corn starch, traditionally one of the adhesives that may be used to make paste papers.
Corn Starch dries with a slight sheen compared to wheat starch.
Corn Starch may also be used as an adhesive in book and paper conservation.
Medical
Corn starch is the preferred anti-stick agent on medical products made from natural latex, including condoms, diaphragms, and medical gloves.
Corn starch has properties enabling supply of glucose to maintain blood sugar levels for people with glycogen storage disease.
Corn starch can be used starting at age 6–12 months allowing glucose fluctuations to be deterred.
Manufacture
The corn is steeped for 30 to 48 hours, which ferments it slightly.
The germ is separated from the endosperm and those two components are ground separately (still soaked).
Next the starch is removed from each by washing.
The starch is separated from the corn steep liquor, the cereal germ, the fibers and the corn gluten mostly in hydrocyclones and centrifuges, and then dried.
(The residue from every stage is used in animal feed and to make corn oil or other applications.) This process is called wet milling.
Finally, the starch may be modified for specific purposes.
Risks
Like many other powders, corn starch is susceptible to dust explosions.
Corn Starch is believed that overheating of a corn starch-based powder—despite warnings on the packaging indicating that the material is flammable—initiated the Formosa Fun Coast explosion in Taiwan on 27 June 2015.
