What is "potato starch"

n. (context gastronomy English) A widely diffused vegetable substance found in the extracted material of potatoes used in cooking.

Potato starch is starch extracted from potatoes. The cells of the root tubers of the potato plant contain starch grains ( leucoplasts). To extract the starch, the potatoes are crushed; the starch grains are released from the destroyed cells. The starch is then washed out and dried to powder.

Potato starch contains typical large oval spherical granules; their size ranges between 5 and 100 μm. Potato starch is a very refined starch, containing minimal protein or fat. This gives the powder a clear white colour, and the cooked starch typical characteristics of neutral taste, good clarity, high binding strength, long texture and a minimal tendency to foaming or yellowing of the solution.

Potato starch contains approximately 800 ppm phosphate bound to the starch; this increases the viscosity and gives the solution a slightly anionic character, a low gelatinisation temperature (approximately ) and high swelling power.

These typical properties are used in food and technical applications.