Does cornstarch lose its effectiveness with age?!


Question:

Does cornstarch lose its effectiveness with age?

I baked a lemon meringue pie using cornstarch as a thickening agent (following the recipe) and the sauce didn't thicken.


Answers:
Cornstarch does lose it effectiveness as it gets older, just like baking powder and baking soda if the package is opened, even if you seal in an air-tight package, also storing it in a warm area (as a kitchen is) affects it as well as humidity.

I didn't think it did. Cooks usually have it around a long time between uses. Maybe just add slightly more next time.

I don't think cornstarch loses anything with age. If it was stored in an airtight container, I'm sure it would be good for years and years. And even if something <> go wrong with it, it would likely be an outside source (bugs, moisture, etc).

I'm not sure what recipe you followed, but if the pie filling didn't thicken properly, it could be due to several things. The cornstarch may not have been thoroughly mixed into the liquid (it clumped at the bottom), so it didn't disperse though the filling. In other words, if you mixed the cornstarch, then let the mixture sit even for a few minutes, the starch may have settled to the bottom.

Or, it could be that the filling didn't get hot enough after the cornstarch was added. The liquid (filling) would have to come to a light boil before the cornstarch will thicken effectively.




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