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Thickening with a cornstarch slurry
Beginner Sauces and stocks
Thickening with a cornstarch slurry is mixing cornstarch with cold water and stirring it into a simmering liquid to thicken it.
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How do you do it?
- Stir 1 tablespoon cornstarch into 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth.
- Pour it slowly into the simmering liquid while stirring.
- Let it bubble for about 1 minute until it turns glossy and thick; add more slurry only after that.
Why does it work?
Starch granules swell and thicken only when they reach near boiling. Mixing them into cold water first separates the granules so they don't clump when they hit the heat.
What are the common mistakes?
- Dumping dry cornstarch into hot liquid — instant lumps.
- Boiling hard for a long time — the sauce can thin back out.
Still stuck? Watch someone do it on YouTube.
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