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Clear Jel is undoubtedly a magic ingredient when it comes to cooking. It’s incredibly versatile, and you can easily use it in a variety of different dishes. If you are making fruit pie fillings, Clear Jel is easily one of the best choices available to you.
It is not only safe and poses no threat to health, but it also goes perfectly well with a variety of different ingredients. If you plan on working with acidic ingredients, Clear Jel is the best choice. Clear Jel adds the perfect consistency to stews and gravies.
However, if you can’t get your hands on Clear Jel, there are multiple alternatives available to you. To give you a basic understanding, Clear Jel is simply cornstarch that has been chemically altered.
Because of the modification, Clear Jel has fantastic sauce consistency, even when you have canned or baked the fillings. When used in different kinds of pie fillings, the runny consistency that it creates is often preferred.
Substitutes For Clear Jel
Despite the fact that Clear Jel is quite versatile, you should know that it’s not readily available in different grocery stores. If you want to can pie fillings, using simply corn starch isn’t widely recommended, as corn starch is not as heat stable.
There are only a handful of supply outlets that offer Clear Jel readily. But, if you can’t find it at your local store, there are several substitutes that you can try out.
- Cornstarch
Cornstarch is the most famous thickening agent used in a variety of different recipes. If you can’t find Clear Jel, then cornstarch should be your next option. Unlike Clear Jel which causes all kinds of fillings to thicken, cornstarch is ideal for liquid-based recipes.
Cornstarch is never directly added to the gravy or stew. It is always first mixed into a paste and then added to the stew at high heat. The stew is cooked until it loses its runny texture, and the consistency gets thicker.
Before you use corn starch as a replacement, keep in mind that it turns the curry translucent rather than other thickening agents which make the stew opaque.
If you’re not worried about the presentation of the recipe you’re cooking, then add whatever alternative you can easily get your hands on. But, just know that some of these are going to alter the way your dish comes out.
- Tapioca Starch
Tapioca starch is also used as a thickening agent in cooking. Tapioca starch is organic and is extracted from the roots of the Cassava plants. Not only is Tapioca starch gluten-free, but it is also packed with micronutrients.
Use tapioca starch if you’re looking for a healthy subsite instead of Clear Jel. The relatively high quantity of calcium and vitamin B-12 gives it a slight edge over Clear Jel and cornstarch.
Tapioca is consumed every day in some parts of the world due to its high carbohydrate content and the fact that it makes you feel fuller early on. Another reason why tapioca is a good option is that it doesn’t get spongy when frozen, unlike Clear Jel and cornstarch.
If you make a stew with tapioca starch it can easily be de frozen. However, Clear Jel is difficult to de-freeze, and managing its consistency is often a problem too.
- Gum Arabic Powder
Another gluten-free option instead of Clear Jel is Gum Arabic Powder. Not only is Gum powder a great binding agent, but it is also a great prebiotic. Gum Arabic Powder is actually digested in the colon instead of the stomach, surprisingly.
It adds healthy bacteria to the body that is necessary for maintaining good health. In the culinary domain, Gum Arabic Powder is a great stabilizer and helps in the emulsion process as well. Unlike cornstarch which aids in cooking, Gum Arabic powder is ideal for desserts and candies.
Like Clear Jel, finding Gum Arabic powder might be a bit difficult too. That’s primarily due to the fact that it’s a specialized ingredient, so you’ll have to look at a few grocery stores before you come across it.
- Spelt Flour
Spelt flour has been used for hundreds of years as a staple diet. It is now very common among individuals who are trying to shed weight. Spelt can act as a thickening agent in a small capacity if used properly.
Spelt is not gluten-free, so before you use it in a recipe, make sure you don’t serve it to someone with a gluten allergy. Spelt flour is generally native to southern parts of Europe and has been grown quite frequently in different parts of the country.
It is generally high in protein and has a nutty taste. Most people like using spelt in their dishes because of its higher fiber and carb content. If you are interested in consuming whole grains to maintain your health, this is a fantastic choice.
- Lecithin Powder
Lecithin powder is a relatively less common alternative to Clear Jel. Powdered lecithin has no traces of natural soyabean oil and is considered oil-free. However, it is considered a fantastic emulsifier and generates a great foam when added to different dishes.
Lecithin Powder is easy to dissolve and produces a fine consistency. But you cannot use Lecithin in every recipe, so make sure you do your research before adding it in. More importantly, Lecithin powder is also difficult to find, so this might not be a suitable alternative.
One of the most direct alternatives for Clear Jel has to be potato starch. It can be added to virtually any dish you want, ranging from stews to fillings in pies. As you can guess, potato starch comes from potatoes! The starch is created by extraction and is usually powder-like in appearance.
And, you should know that it’s not very high in terms of calorie content. However, potato starch is able to cook at much higher temperatures, so it’s an ideal replacement for corn starch, or Clear Jel, in most situations.
Keep in mind that potato starch is often used as a binding agent, and usually results in a chewy or moist texture.
Concluding Thoughts
There are multiple alternatives to Clear Jel available in the market. If you want a healthy, gluten-free substitute then use tapioca starch is a great choice, as it’s packed with micronutrients. Then you have cornstarch, which is among one of the oldest thickening agents.
Corn starch is ideal for gravies, stews, and soups. Potato starch is also a strong substitute if corn starch isn’t readily available. If you want to replace Clear Jel in a dessert, then try Gum Arabic Powder as a replacement, as long as you can find some in the markets.
Spelt flour is rich in nutrients and not full of empty calories, unlike the other substitutes. However, spelt flour has gluten in it and is not safe for people with gluten allergies. Lecithin powder is also an option, but only for specific recipes.
These are just some of the main alternatives available to you if you are looking to switch out Clear Jel in your next pie filling.