Words / B1

KORNFL-ow-uh/ˈkɔːnflaʊə/

Cornflour is fine white flour from maize, used to thicken sauces and custard (UK, usually uncountable). US cornstarch — same product, different name. Plain flour is for baking and will not thicken in the same way. Mix cornflour with cold water first (a paste) before you add it to a hot pan.

Meaning

Fine white flour from maize, used to thicken sauces (UK, often uncountable; US cornstarch).

Examples

• “Mix a spoon of cornflour with cold water to thicken the sauce.”
• “A teaspoon of cornflour will thicken this gravy.”
• “US recipes that say cornstarch mean cornflour in a UK shop.”

Good to know

cornflour (UK, uncountable). US: cornstarch. Contrast: plain flour. Mix with cold water first.

Near in meaning

cornstarch

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