Cornstarch in Japan: what it's called and where to buy it

Cornstarch is コーンスターチ on the baking shelf. For thickening sauces and coating fried food, Japanese cooks use 片栗粉 (potato starch), which is cheaper and everywhere.

Look for this on the label

コーンスターチ
kōn sutāchi
片栗粉
katakuriko · potato starch

Where to find it

In the shop

Baking shelf (製菓材料) for コーンスターチ; flour shelf for 片栗粉.

Which shops

Every supermarket.

If you can't find it

片栗粉 for thickening and frying, one to one. It thickens a little faster, so add it off the heat and stir

Let the app do the swaps for you

Lazy Recipe sees that you're in Japan and turns any dish into 3 steps with what Japanese supermarkets sell. Your shopping list shows each item's Japanese label and aisle.

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