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Cornstarch

Grains Per 100 g · Per 100g serving

Cornstarch is a grain, containing 381 calories per 100g. It is an excellent source of Carbohydrate, providing 91.27 g (70% of the Daily Value) per 100g serving. This grain is virtually fat-free. Grains are a primary source of carbohydrates, B vitamins, and minerals. Whole grains retain the bran and germ, providing substantially more fiber and micronutrients than refined grains. Our database tracks 88 nutrients for this food, plus insulin index, environmental footprint data.

381
Calories
kcal
0.26
Protein
g
0.05
Fat
g
91.3
Carbs
g
0.90
Fiber
g

Top Nutrients

💪
Carbohydrate
91.3 g
70% DV
💎
Iron
0.47 mg
6% DV
💎
Copper
0.05 mg
6% DV

Data for 88 of 150 tracked nutrients

Nutrient Fingerprint

How this food scores across key nutrient categories, as a percentage of the daily recommended value per 100 g. Based on USDA DRIs for adults.

Complete Nutrient Profile

Macronutrients 9
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Water SR8.3g—
0%
Calories SR381kcal——
Energy (kJ) SR1,594kj——
Protein SR0.26g—
0%
Total Fat SR0.05g——
Carbohydrate SR91.3g—
70%
Fiber SR0.90g—
2%
Total Sugars SR0g——
Ash SR0.09g——
Minerals 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Calcium SR2.0mg—
0%
Iron SR0.47mg—
6%
Magnesium SR3.0mg—
1%
Phosphorus SR13.0mg—
2%
Potassium SR3.0mg—
0%
Sodium SR9.0mg—
1%
Zinc SR0.06mg—
0%
Copper SR0.05mg—
6%
Manganese SR0.05mg—
2%
Selenium SR2.8µg—
5%
Vitamins 31
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Vitamin A (RAE) SR0µg——
Vitamin A (IU) SR0IU——
Retinol SR0µg——
Beta-Carotene SR0µg——
Alpha-Carotene SR0µg——
Beta-Cryptoxanthin SR0µg——
Lycopene SR0µg——
Lutein + Zeaxanthin SR0µg——
Vitamin C SR0mg——
Vitamin D SR0µg——
Vitamin D (IU) SR0IU——
Vitamin E SR0mg——
Beta-Tocopherol SR0mg——
Gamma-Tocopherol SR0mg——
Delta-Tocopherol SR0mg——
Alpha-Tocotrienol SR0mg——
Beta-Tocotrienol SR0mg——
Gamma-Tocotrienol SR0mg——
Delta-Tocotrienol SR0mg——
Vitamin K1 SR0µg——
Thiamin (B1) SR0mg——
Riboflavin (B2) SR0mg——
Niacin (B3) SR0mg——
Pantothenic Acid (B5) SR0mg——
Vitamin B6 SR0mg——
Folate SR0µg——
Folic Acid SR0µg——
Folate (food) SR0µg——
Folate (DFE) SR0µg——
Vitamin B12 SR0µg——
Choline SR0.40mg—
0%
Fatty Acids 7
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Saturated Fat SR0.009g——
Monounsaturated Fat SR0.02g——
Polyunsaturated Fat SR0.03g——
Cholesterol SR0mg——
Omega-3 EPA SR0g——
Omega-3 DPA SR0g——
Omega-3 DHA SR0g——
Individual Fatty Acids 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Butyric Acid (4:0) SR0g——
Caproic Acid (6:0) SR0g——
Caprylic Acid (8:0) SR0g——
Capric Acid (10:0) SR0g——
Lauric Acid (12:0) SR0g——
Myristic Acid (14:0) SR0g——
Palmitic Acid (16:0) SR0.009g——
Stearic Acid (18:0) SR0.001g——
Linoleic Acid (18:2) SR0.03g—
0%
Linolenic Acid (18:3) SR0g——
Amino Acids 18
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Tryptophan SR0.001g——
Threonine SR0.009g——
Isoleucine SR0.01g——
Leucine SR0.04g——
Lysine SR0.006g——
Methionine SR0.006g——
Cystine SR0.006g——
Phenylalanine SR0.01g——
Tyrosine SR0.01g——
Valine SR0.01g——
Arginine SR0.01g——
Histidine SR0.008g——
Alanine SR0.02g——
Aspartic Acid SR0.02g——
Glutamic Acid SR0.05g——
Glycine SR0.009g——
Proline SR0.02g——
Serine SR0.01g——
Other 3
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Caffeine SR0mg——
Theobromine SR0mg——
Alcohol SR0g——

Nutrient Density Score

The NRF9.3 score measures overall nutritional quality per 100 kcal. It rewards 9 nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and penalizes 3 to limit (saturated fat, added sugars, sodium). Higher is better; negative scores indicate the food is high in limit nutrients relative to its beneficial content.

2
NRF9.3 Score
Moderate · per 100 kcal
Poor (<0) Moderate Good Excellent (100+)

NRF9.3 index: Fulgoni et al. (2009), J Nutr 139(8). DVs based on FDA 2020 reference values.

How Cooking Changes Nutrients

Estimated percentage of each nutrient retained after cooking, based on USDA retention factors for the “Other Vegetables” food category. Values of 100% mean no loss; lower values indicate nutrients lost to heat, water, or oxidation.

Key insights
⚡Choline loses up to 10% when fried. Boiled (drained) retains 100%.

Source: USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007). Retention values are category-level averages — actual retention depends on cooking time, temperature, and water volume.

USDA Retention Factors

Insulin Response

The Insulin Index (II) measures the actual insulin response to food on a scale where white bread = 100. Unlike the Glycemic Index (which only measures blood sugar), the II captures the full hormonal response — including the effect of protein and fat on insulin secretion. This is why high-protein foods like meat and dairy can have significant insulin scores despite having low or zero GI values.

68
Insulin Index
High Insulin Response
Insulin Index Scale 68
0 Low ≤30 Mod ≤60 High ≤100 120
Macro Model ●●● Estimated from macronutrient composition (R²=0.49)

Source: Holt et al. 1997; Bao et al. 2016; Bell 2014

Environmental Impact

Environmental footprint per kilogram of food produced. Data represents the global average for the “Maize (Meal)” category.

1.7
kg CO₂e / kg
Low Impact
2.9
m² land / kg
Land Use
216
L water / kg
Water Use
6.9
g SO₂e / kg
Acidification
How this compares (GHG emissions)
Potatoes (0.5)Chicken (9.9)Beef (99.5)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions1.7 kg CO₂e / kg
Land Use2.9 m² / kg
Water Use216 L / kg
Eutrophication4.0 g PO₄e / kg
Acidification6.9 g SO₂e / kg
⚠️ Important context about this data
  • Global averages: These figures are production-weighted averages from a meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms across 119 countries (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Actual impact varies enormously by farming method, geography, and supply chain.
  • System boundary: Cradle-to-retail only — does not include consumer transport, home cooking energy, or food waste.
  • Soil carbon not included: This data does not account for soil carbon sequestration. Some argue that well-managed regenerative grazing partially offsets ruminant emissions; however, full lifecycle accounting — including methane, land-use change, and the opportunity cost of using land for grazing vs. reforestation — typically makes the net footprint of ruminant meat higher, not lower. This is especially relevant in temperate grassland regions like Ireland.
  • Not gospel: This data is informational and illustrative. It is useful for understanding relative magnitudes, but should not be treated as precise measurements for any individual product or farm.

Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360(6392). Meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms, 119 countries, 46 product categories.

Global Supply: Cereals

Top 10 countries by per capita supply of the “Cereals” food group (kcal/capita/day, 2023). This is food group–level data from FAO Food Balance Sheets, not specific to this individual food.

1.
Egypt
1962
2.
Bhutan
1927
3.
Serbia
1888
4.
Morocco
1876
5.
Mali
1862
6.
Ethiopia
1829
7.
Philippines
1774
8.
Bangladesh
1756
9.
Myanmar
1738
10.
Nepal
1679

Global Supply Trend (1961–2023)

+8%
1961: 1030 kcal2023: 1108 kcal

Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets (2023). Supply = production + imports − exports − waste, converted to kcal/capita/day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in Cornstarch?

Cornstarch contains 381 kcal per 100 grams, making it a calorie-dense food. The energy comes from 0.26g of protein (0% of calories), 0.05g of fat (0%), and 91.3g of carbohydrates (96%). Carbohydrates are the primary energy source.

What is Cornstarch most nutritious for?

The standout nutrient in Cornstarch is Carbohydrate, providing 91.3 g per 100g (70% of the Daily Value). It is also a notable source of Iron (6% DV). Our database tracks 88 individual nutrients for this food, allowing detailed comparison across vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Is Cornstarch high in protein?

At 0.26g per 100 grams, Cornstarch is not a significant source of protein. Pair with protein-rich foods like legumes, meat, fish, or dairy to meet daily protein needs.

How much fiber is in Cornstarch?

Cornstarch contains 0.90g of fiber per 100 grams, which is a small amount. To increase fiber intake, consider pairing with high-fiber foods such as legumes, whole grains, or vegetables.

What is the insulin index of Cornstarch?

Cornstarch has a high insulin response (II: 68) (estimated from macronutrient composition) on the insulin index scale (white bread = 100). Foods with high insulin scores stimulate significant insulin release, which may be relevant for blood sugar management. Note that the insulin index can differ substantially from the glycemic index — dairy products and high-protein foods often have higher insulin responses than their GI would suggest.