Its not just for tapioca pudding and boba tea.
Heres why our Test Kitchen suggests stocking tapioca as a go-to pantry staple.
Tapioca is native to Brazil, where its been used since the 1500s.
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But stateside, we still receive quite a few reader questions along the lines of what is tapioca?
What Is Tapioca?
Tapioca is a nearly-flavorless versatile starch.
In gluten-free baking, tapioca is used in larger amounts to add structure and texture to breads and pastries.
Even though tapioca starch comes from the cassava plant, its actually different fromcassava flour.
Cassava flour is made from peeled, dried, and pulverized whole cassava root.
All of that processing is very important, as raw cassava contains cyanide and is poisonous, theCDCconfirms.
Where to Buy Tapioca
There are several different forms of tapioca available, each with different uses.
Both are also neutral in flavor and gluten-free.
Fresh out of those, too?
Flour should be fine, as long as you dont need a dish to begluten-free.
(Your pantry or a cabinet in a cool part of your kitchen is perfect.)
Moisture is the nemesis to starch, according to Brekke.
When kept dry and in ideal conditions, tapioca starch can last for up to 2 years.
Store tapioca pearls in an unopened bag to maximize their lifespan.
Place the pearls in a cool, dry place, away from heat and direct light.
Here, they should last up to 12 months.
Do not store any kind of tapioca in the refrigerator or freezer.
