Hang with me, this gets good! First of all, what exactly IS cornstarch? It’s an ingredient made from the endosperm of the corn kernel (the part that would feed the embryo plant if the seed was allowed to sprout). Corn kernel endosperms are isolated and ground into a powder, similar to the way the endosperm of wheat is ground to make white flour.

Cornstarch is a common ingredient in cooking and baking, and is most commonly used as a thickener. It’s gluten free and is key to making sauces, fillings, casseroles, soups, and even baked goods. And here’s a hot cooking tip: it is superb at making your omelets fluffier!

While cornstarch and wheat flour can both be used to thicken things, cornstarch has a few advantages. First of all, it has a less intrusive flavor than flour. Next, cornstarch has twice the thickening power compared to the same amount of wheat flour. Also, unlike flour, it doesn’t make sauces cloudy. Lastly, it’s lighter than flour for coating foods to be fried—it makes for an especially delicate and crispy exterior!

Now, here’s where (as mentioned above) it gets good. Cornstarch is so much more than a food ingredient. These ideas came to me from Jillee, of www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com, and they’re impressive!

For instance, you can use it to make your own spray starch. This is terrific, because store-bought is expensive. It’s not only incredibly easy to make, but it works every bit as good as the store-bought kind. You need 2 cups warm water, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1-2 drops essential oil (optional), and a spray bottle. Add all ingredients to your bottle and shake well. The mixture will look a little like skim milk.

Before each use, give the spray bottle a good shake. Spray the item lightly while ironing for a crisp, neat look. (A little bit of this spray goes a long way, so start with a light spritz and add a bit more if needed.)

Here’s a good idea when you’ve got a stubborn knot to untie: Make it easier by sprinkling some cornstarch on the knot and rubbing it in with your fingers. The fine powder will reduce friction between the fibers of the rope, making it much easier to loosen and untie.

And you gardeners will love this suggestion: make your own seed tape! Just your seeds, cornstarch, toilet paper, and water. Following the spacing instructions on the seed packet, dab spots of cornstarch and water paste down one side of a length of toilet paper, and drop a seed or two on each drop. Then fold the paper over it and let it dry before planting.

Trowel trenches at the right depth for your seeds, then simply unroll the tape and cover with soil. Seed tape makes it easy to plant perfectly spaced, even rows of seeds. It’s quick and easy DIY for your garden! (Alice: I cannot wait to try this trick with my carrot and radish seeds. Thinning them is exhausting.)

Finally, make a bleach gel pen (for pennies!). Thicken bleach and water with cornstarch, put it in a squeeze bottle, and you’ve got an inexpensive way to spot-clean any number of stains. In a small saucepan, add 2-4 tablespoons of cornstarch to 1 cup water; whisk until cornstarch is dissolved.

Over medium heat, whisk continuously, until the mixture comes to a boil. Make sure to keep whisking as it heats, or the mixture will quickly turn into a gloopy mess! Remove the pan from heat and pour the thickened gel mixture into a heat-safe glass measuring cup to cool completely. Once cooled, add the bleach, stir well, then pour the finished bleach gel into a squeeze bottle.

This mixture is perfect for removing stains from whites and tile grout. And the convenient squeeze bottle ensures you’re accurate with your aim. Can’t wait to try this trick, also!

Does cornstarch deserve a standing ovation, or what?!