thickener

Definition

A substance—starch, flour, cornstarch, gelatin, or roux—that transforms your watery sauce into something with enough body to actually cling to food instead of fleeing in embarrassment; culinary false confidence in powder form.

Example Usage

She whisked cornstarch slurry into the gravy as a thickener, desperately hoping it would distract from the suspicious lumps.

Source: Culinary terminology

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