This article is about corn starch. For cornmeal also known as cornflour, see Cornmeal. The starch is obtained from the endosperm of the kernel. Like many products in dust cooking sweet corn, it can be hazardous in large quantities due to its flammability—see dust explosion.
When mixed with a fluid, corn starch can rearrange itself into a non-Newtonian fluid. Until 1851, corn starch was used primarily for starching laundry and for other industrial uses. Although mostly used for cooking and as a household item, corn starch is used for many purposes in several industries, ranging from its use as a chemical additive for certain products, to medical therapy for certain illnesses. A common substitute is arrowroot starch, which replaces the same amount of corn starch. Food producers reduce production costs by adding varying amounts of corn starch to foods, for example to cheese and yogurt. Chicken nuggets with a thin outer layer of corn starch allows increased oil absorption and crispness after the latter stages of frying. Baby powder may include corn starch among its ingredients.
Corn starch can be used to manufacture bioplastics and may be used in the manufacture of airbags. Adhesive can be made from corn starch, traditionally one of the adhesives that may be used to make paste papers. It dries with a slight sheen compared to wheat starch. It may also be used as an adhesive in book and paper conservation. Corn starch is the preferred anti-stick agent on medical products made from natural latex, including condoms, diaphragms, and medical gloves.
Corn starch has properties enabling supply of glucose to maintain blood sugar levels for people with glycogen storage disease. 12 months allowing glucose fluctuations to be deterred. The corn is steeped for 30 to 48 hours, which ferments it slightly. Next the starch is removed from each by washing. Like many other powders, corn starch is susceptible to dust explosions.
It is believed that overheating of a corn starch-based powder on 27 June 2015, initiated the Formosa Fun Coast explosion in Taiwan, despite warnings on the packaging indicating that the material is flammable. Called corn starch in the United States and Canada. It is called cornflour in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel and some Commonwealth countries. Distinct in these countries from cornmeal.