How to Make Slurry (Cornstarch & Flour)

Outside of being a fun word to say, most people might raise eyebrows wondering what in the world is “slurry”? It’s certainly not a conversation starter if you want to be fun at parties. 

overhead shot of cornstarch slurry in bowl with text overlay


 

The reality is, though, that liquid slurries are the goodness that make lots of popular foods fun. Want a good, thick soup or an even greater gravy? Slurry is your answer. 

What’s great about it, too, is that it’s such a super simple staple to cooking. It’s merely a starch added to cold water before you toss it into anything you want to thicken from chicken gravy to beef stew.

What is Slurry?

Most slurries are made with flour or cornstarch, but you can easily do your own rendition. Use arrowroot, potato starch, or your own preferred starch substitute to make your slurry mixture.

You can also add ingredients other than water to your starch — try apple cider or pan drippings. You can even add bone broth — whatever you want to add extra flavor.

But it isn’t only used in cooking, it is also commonly used in construction. It refers to a semiliquid mixture, typically of manure, cement, or coal suspended in water.

spoon with cornstarch slurry

Why Use a Slurry?

It’s simple — if you just simply add starches to your recipe as a thickening agent, like flour or cornstarch, they’ll often just clump and make your cooking life harder.

This process makes it easier to mix it in without the suspension of solid particles in your otherwise amazing soup or stew. No one wants starch clumps in their stew or gravy, right?

Instead, if you add starch to water and mix it to fully combine? You can add that to anything to make it the most thick, silky, decadent version of the recipe you have going on the stove.

The next time you want a rich soup or a smack-your-mama it’s-so-good gravy, look to this to add that secret ingredient to your best dishes.

How to Make a Cornstarch Slurry

Make sure you’re not trying to do equal parts — a cornstarch slurry is merely a 1:2 ratio, meaning one part cornstarch to two parts liquid. One tablespoon of cornstarch to two tablespoons of water will get you a quick small slurry — just whisk it all together until it’s the smooth desired consistency.

Want more? Increase the amount based on the ratio. The beauty is that it is so easy to mix up quickly. 

You might need to experiment a bit depending on what you’re making. If you’re making a small batch of gravy for your family when cooking a weeknight roasted chicken with gravy, this simple amount might be enough — obviously if the whole family is over for Thanksgiving it will need to be more.

step by step images of how to make a cornstarch slurry

How to Make a Flour Slurry

The beauty of using flour is that it’s the exact same ratio. Use half of the amount of flour as you do water. 

The only difference between the two is that the flour will have a more opaque finish while the cornstarch will be more translucent. Flavor-wise, the two are similar.

Important for both, though, is that they are mixed until completely smooth to desired constency. Using cold water — not hot liquid) will help to ensure that for either.

Uses for slurry

Don’t confuse a slurry with a roux. The main differences between the two is that roux uses fat (like butter) and a slurry uses other liquid — you’ll use a roux for something like a creamy baked mac and cheese. A slurry is best used in other dishes like these:

  • Soups
  • Stews
  • Gravy
  • Pie filling

Can I make a slurry ahead of time or reuse it?

Fresh slurry is the way to go — slurries are going to tend get even thicker or harden over time. It’s best to make it as needed — it doesn’t store well. The good news is that you can whisk it together while your other ingredients are heating.

If you’ve tried this recipe, please come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.

bowl of cornstarch slurry with text overlay
water pouring into cornstarch

How to Make Slurry

4.82 from 38 votes
A slurry is made with liquid (water or broth/stock) mixed with either cornstarch or flour and added to a hot liquid as a thickening agent.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 1 cup

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon flour or cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch or flour with water.
  • Slowly whisk the slurry into the hot liquid you are trying to thicken. Add a small amount at first, wait a few minutes and then add more as needed.
  • Tell us what recipes you've used this in in the comments!

Nutrition

Calories: 30 kcal, Carbohydrates: 7 g, Protein: 0.02 g, Sodium: 2 mg, Potassium: 0.2 mg, Fiber: 0.1 g, Calcium: 1 mg, Iron: 0.04 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 30
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cornstrarch slurry, flour slurry, how to make a slurry
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.82 from 38 votes (32 ratings without comment)

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Questions and Reviews

  1. Ingredients say “corn starch”, instruction #2 says ‘corn starch”, and detailed instructions #2 say “cornstarch”, but the method (How to Make Vanilla Custard) says “corn starch slurry” which links to a page talking about “corn starch, flour and water.” What is the ingredient, and how much flour and how much water? Obviously, I’m new at this. Greg

  2. 5 stars
    This article is very informative and now I know how to make a slurry, thanks a lot for sharing this with all the details.

  3. 5 stars
    Super helpful! I always come across recipes that say “make a simple slurry” and now I know exactly how to make one! Can’t wait to add thickness to my sauces and soups with this guide. Thanks for the tips!