Is 1 tablespoon cornstarch equal to flour?

While both are flours, they have different properties:

* Cornstarch is a fine, pure starch made from corn. It's used primarily as a thickener in sauces and gravies.

* Flour is made from ground wheat and contains protein and gluten. It's used for baking bread, pastries, and other foods.

Substitution:

You can't directly substitute 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for 1 tablespoon of flour.

* For thickening: If you need to thicken a sauce or gravy, you can use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for every 2 tablespoons of flour. However, keep in mind that cornstarch is more potent than flour, so you may need less.

* For baking: You generally can't substitute cornstarch for flour in baking recipes. Cornstarch lacks the gluten needed for structure in baked goods.

Therefore, it's crucial to understand that cornstarch and flour are not interchangeable in all situations.