Starch vs. Flour – What’s The Difference?

The culinary expressions have delivered an irrefutably extensive rundown of apparently vague fixings. Joining any semblance of spread and shortening are flour and starch. All things considered, confusing starch with flour isn’t a shock as they are both utilized for cooking and baking.

It ought to be obvious that flour and starch assume a crucial part in countless plans. Whether you involve them as thickening specialists for sauces, breading for frying, or as primary parts for baking, keeping away from these two fixings is incomprehensible for all intents and purposes.

The main question arises what the difference between the two? The composition of flour and starch is quite different, as starch is a carbohydrate form, while flour is the powder obtained from milling whole grains. Flour contains starch, but there is no flour present in starch. Starch is known as zero caloric, while flour is an enriched source of carbs, proteins and many vitamins and minerals.

Continue reading the information mentioned below, which will help you in fixing your concepts related to flour and starch big time.

Starch

Clearly stating the simplest definition of starch, that would be it is a carbohydrate which is present in a simpler form. The storage form of plants is starch. Starch is present in rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, etc. Starch originally belonged to the family of plants and cereals. It undergoes a reductive process before turning into white, tasteless, odorless powder.

The traces of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are present in starch. You might have witnessed the turning of potato into a darker tone, because of which you throw the whole potato away, thinking it would have turned bad. But, in actuality, that’s the production of excessive starch in the potato.

As starch is the simpler form of carbohydrate, it is easy to digest in the body. Starch is converted into glucose in the body which acts as the source of energy. Starch is sometimes used as a sweetener and thickener agent in many food items.

Nutritional Facts

A table spoon of starch contains the following nutritional properties:

• Protein 0.3g
• Vitamin A 0.0 IU
• Vitamin E 0.0mg
• Vitamin K 0.0mcg
• Thiamine 0.0mg
• Folate 0.0mcg
• Choline 0.0mcg
• Calcium 2.5mg
• Magnesium 3.8mg
• Phosphorus 16.6mg
• Potassium 3.8mg
• Selenium 3.6mcg

Health Benefits

Starchy foods are an integral part of every nutritious diet as they are considered a vital source to provide nutrition and energy and help maintain a balanced diet. Stach is a high energy source, and it breaks down into a simpler form known as glucose. Glucose then enters into the body’s cells through the blood and provides basic energy.

Starchy foods, including grains, veggies, fruits, beans etc., are high in fiber content. Fiber is very necessary for digestive purposes. A high fiber diet reduces the risk of developing CVDS and prevents constipation and diarrhea. According to the RDA, it is suggested that 25.2 grams of fibrous diet should be consumed.

Starchy foods are an enriched source of energy, and they increase satiety. Satiety is the feeling of fullness. Starch can make you feel full early, which increases insulin-sensitizing and helps reduce fat storage.

Usage

There is plenty of usage of starch, out of which some are mentioned here. Starch is used to make sauces as it is tasteless but is a good thickening agent. Starch blends in well with the ingredients, making a thick consistent sauce. Starch cannot form clumps that help in making smooth sauce.

Another usage of starch is that it is applied to fried food, also called bread. It provides a brown and crunchy texture to your fired item, giving an appealing touch and enhancing the food item’s appearance.

As we have discussed starch in detail, now let’s jump towards flour.

Flour

Flour is a powder that is formed by grinding or raw grains. Grains are crushed from the wheels or stones for a longer time until a white powder is obtained. Flour is present in every household and is considered the staple food in Asia.  Due to machinery presence, the milling and crushing of flour have become more efficient and easy.

Some of the cereals that flours are used worldwide are wheat, rice, corn, spelt and rye. The cereal flours are most commonly used all over the world. Flour is used for making bread, roti, sauce, dough etc. it is present in the panty of every kitchen.

Nutritional Facts

A tablespoon of flour contains the following nutritional properties:

• Protein 8.1g
• Vitamin A 250 IU
• Vitamin E 0.5mg
• Vitamin K 0.4mcg
• Thiamine 0.3mg
• Folate 29.2mcg
• Choline 25.3mcg
• Calcium 8.2mg
• Magnesium 109mg
• Phosphorus 318mg
• Potassium 369mg
• Selenium 18mcg

Health Benefits

One of the best reasons people consume flour on a daily basis is because it is the best source of protein and carbs. It contains sufficient amounts of carbs and proteins, which helps in the growth of your body mentally and physically. It also helps in improving the insulin response. Flour has high levels of nutrients such as magnesium and zinc, which decreases the chance of diabetes.

Wheat flour most commonly used contains plenty of health benefits, such as being good for maintaining bone health. It is an enriched phosphorus source which is an important mineral used in bone formation. Wheat flour also contains vitamin B1, which plays a vital role in glucose metabolism. It forms ATP, which further provides energy.

Magnesium and zinc present in wheat flour help in improving insulin response and lowers insulin resistance. Niacin improves brain functioning, and vitamin B9 helps in the formation of red blood cells. Iron present in wheat flour overcomes anemia, and lastly, zinc helps repair the skin and loss the process of aging.

Usage

Flour is known to be as versatile and has plenty of health benefits. If you want to make enriched buttery sauces, use flour as it works and mixes well with fats. So, if you want to make a creamy sauce, use flour, and if you tend to make gravy sauce, starch would be a good option.

Flour is also used for frying, but it doesn’t provide crispy touch, although it is more nutritious and healthy. Flour is used to make bread, dough and roti, which is consumed on a daily basis. Just like starch, flour is also present in every kitchen’s pantry.

So, What’s The Difference Between Starch and Flour?

1. The composition of flour and starch is quite different, as starch is a carbohydrate form, while flour is the powder obtained from milling whole grains.
2. Flour contains starch, but there is no flour present in starch.
3. Starch is known to be zero caloric, while flour is an enriched source of carbs, proteins and many vitamins and minerals.
4. Talking about the nutritional content of starch and flour, it is quite clear that flour has sixteen times more protein enriched than starch. Also, it contains more vitamins and minerals, which makes flour more nutritious and user-friendly.
5. Starch is a good thickening agent as compared to flour. So, if you tend to make the sauce, it would be quite convenient to use starch instead of flour.
6. Starch doesn’t form clumps when mixed with other ingredients, as starch is more mixable than flour.
7. Flour mixes well with fats. If you want to make enriched buttery sauces, use flour as it works and mixes well with fats compared to flour.

Sources:

• Foodsguy
• Differencebetween
• healthline