Short answer: in India, the white “corn flour” sold in shops is actually maize starch (corn starch), so in everyday Indian use the two names mean the same product. In the US, “corn flour” means finely ground whole maize, which is yellow and quite different. Industrially, maize starch is pure starch taken from the maize kernel, while maize flour (makki ka atta) is the whole grain ground up.
What is maize starch?
Maize starch is the starch separated from the endosperm of maize (corn) kernels by a process called wet milling. The kernels are soaked, ground and washed so that protein, fibre and oil are removed, leaving a fine, white, almost pure starch powder. It has no taste or smell and thickens strongly when cooked in water.
Maize starch vs corn flour vs maize flour
| Point | Maize starch (Indian “corn flour”) | Maize flour / makki ka atta (US “corn flour”) |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Starch part of the kernel only | Whole kernel, ground |
| Colour | Bright white | Yellow or off-white |
| Contains | Almost only starch | Starch plus protein, fibre and oil |
| Main use | Thickening, binding, industrial sizing and adhesives | Rotis, breads and baking |
Is corn starch the same as corn flour?
It depends on where you are. In India and the UK, yes: the packet labelled “corn flour” is corn starch. In the US, no: corn flour there is ground whole maize. If a recipe or a technical document is from the US, check which one is meant before substituting.
Industrial uses of maize starch
- Paper: surface sizing, wet-end strength and binders. Mills often use modified forms such as oxidised starch and cationic starch. See cationic starch in paper making.
- Corrugated boxes: the base of corrugating adhesive.
- Textiles: sizing of yarn and finishing of fabric.
- Adhesives: gums and pastes.
- Food and pharma: thickener, binder and tablet excipient (food and pharma grades only).
Native vs modified maize starch
Native starch is the starch as extracted. Modified starches are treated to change how they behave: oxidised starch has lower viscosity for surface sizing, and cationic starch carries a positive charge so it bonds to fibres at the wet end. Choosing the right type matters more than price per kilo, because it decides dosage and runnability.
Frequently asked questions
What is maize starch in Hindi?
Maize is “makka” in Hindi. Maize starch is usually sold simply as “corn flour”, while “makki ka atta” means maize flour, which is the whole grain ground.
Is maize starch the same as arrowroot (ararot)?
No. Both are starches and both thicken, but arrowroot comes from a different plant.
Which maize starch is used in paper mills?
Industrial-grade native maize starch for corrugation and size press, and modified grades (oxidised, cationic) for surface sizing and wet-end strength.
Need industrial maize starch? Mittal Trading Company, in business since 1988, supplies maize starch in 50 kg bags and bulk, along with oxidised and cationic starch. Ask for a quotation.