Starch is a white powder, tasteless and odorless, which dissolves well in water. It is used in the food, chemical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In everyday life, such a substance is used mainly in cooking as a thickener and stabilizer. And the most delicate dishes are made with cornstarch.
How corn starch is made
To extract starch from corn kernels, they are preliminarily cleaned from dust, straw and other foreign materials, and then kept for about 50 hours in a hot solution of sulfurous acid. Thanks to this, the protein dissolves, with the help of which the starch is bound together in the grains.
After that, the corn kernels are crushed to separate the embryo, and additionally crushed to separate the fiber and starch milk in special centrifuges. Starch milk undergoes multi-stage washing with water to remove protein residues, then it is dehydrated and thoroughly dried. As a result of such manipulations, high-quality corn starch is obtained.
How you can use cornstarch
Due to its properties, starch is used in the food industry as a thickener and stabilizer. Cornstarch is considered the most delicate, so it is usually added if you want to create a really light consistency. It goes best with milk - it can be used to make creamy sauces, desserts, milk jellies or jelly.
To get a cup of medium-thick product, you need to dilute 1 teaspoon of cornstarch in 1 tbsp. spoon with cold water and stir thoroughly. After that, the starch mixture should be mixed with 50 ml of hot water, milk or broth and added to the dish at the end of cooking. This method of diluting the starch helps prevent clumping. To change the thickness of the solution, the amount of starch should be increased or decreased by half.
In addition, cornstarch can be added to the dough - it helps make baked goods more airy by absorbing excess moisture. To do this, it should be mixed with sugar or flour. However, when adding corn starch, the dough should be kneaded on fermented milk products or milk.
Also, cornstarch is suitable for cosmetic use. From it, for example, you can prepare a whitening mask. To do this, you need to mix 1 tbsp. spoon of this product and the same amount of hydrogen peroxide 5%. You should keep such a mask on your face for no more than 15 minutes, then you need to wash your face and apply a moisturizer to your skin.
Benefits of cornstarch
Cornstarch not only helps to improve the consistency of the dish, but also benefits the body. It contains vitamin PP, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and magnesium. This product has a beneficial effect on the condition of nerve cells and activates the formation of muscle mass.
