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Is cornmeal the same as corn flour – What’s the difference?
Here we are again to clear up yet another culinary confusion.
A lot of people (even avid cooks) often confuse cornmeal for cornflour and vice versa because they look ALMOST the same.
But the tell-tale sign to look for that won’t let these grounded milled, dried corns mess with your head is texture. Cornmeal is coarse, while corn flour is smooth.
But that’s not the final piece to the puzzle. So it’s worth exploring the entire article because at the end you’ll be able to tell right away at first which is which, and the one suitable for your needed meal.
What is Cornmeal?
Cornmeal is a meal, a coarse flour ground from dried corn. It is quite a popular staple food, and it is ground coarse, medium, and fine consistencies – but never as smooth as wheat flour.
In detail, cornmeal grains are about 300-600 micrometers and are primarily used in making bread with a cake-like texture.
Aside from making it crunchy, they add yummy flavor to the crust of bread – the uses are just numerous.
What is Corn Flour?
Corn flour is another type of flour milled from dried whole corn kernels. On the other hand, the texture is fine and smooth – identical to whole wheat flour.
Furthermore, they have particle sizes lower than 200 micrometers. And like all flours, cornflour gives structure to baked meals and other foods.
You can combine it with a binder like eggs to provide shape. Although corn flour does not taste fantastic when raw, it unlocks that earthy, sweet flavor when cooked – whether it’s baking, frying, or grilling.
Is Cornmeal The Same As Corn Flour – Trick To Remember The Difference
Here, I just skipped the smokes and mirrors and tell you precisely what you need to know.
While we’ve discussed the primary difference between cornmeal and corn flour is the texture; you should know the colors matter too.
Succinctly put, cornmeal is not just coarse and gritty but also yellowish in color. Meanwhile, corn flour is a fine powder that is usually white.
And you might be wondering if they could be used interchangeably; well, the answer is not as simple as it seems, but worth exploring.
Read Also: Difference Between Enchilada And Burrito
Can You Use Cornmeal and Corn Flour Interchangeably?
Yes, you can. Corn is used to making many products, both in and out of the kitchen and the wider food industry. However, there are some exceptions though.
Know that using one for the other will yield a slightly different result. For instance, if you’re making muffins or pancakes, using cornmeal in place of cornflour will give them a grittier texture.
Conversely, using corn flour in place of cornmeal will give baked goods like cornbread a finer, less crumbly texture. So be WARNED!
Corn Meal Recipes and Dishes
- Cast-Iron Cornbread
- Basic Corn Muffins
- Cornmeal Waffles with Chia Seeds
- Dad’s Homemade Corn Dogs
- Cornmeal Pancakes
- Citrus Cornmeal Cake
- Shrimp Corn Cakes with Soy Mayo
- Ole Polenta Casserole
- Chiles Rellenos Quiche
Corn flour Recipes and Dishes
- Cheat’s Christmas shortbread
- Sweet and Sour Pork
- Slow Cooker Yellow Beef Curry
- Slow Cooker Yellow Beef Curry
- Pineapple Slice
- Passionfruit sponge cake
- Papaya Lime Bars
- Aussie Chiko-Style Rolls
Extra Tip:
Note that Cornflour will inadvertently form lumps if added directly to hot liquid.
To avoid this, you need to blend one part cornflour with two parts cold liquid until it smoothens. Then stir the mixture into the sauce that needs thickening.
You want to keep stirring while the sauce comes to a boil, then it will gradually thicken.
Moreover, it’s ideal to cook the sauce for a couple of few minutes after adding the cornflour to remove the slightly floury taste.
Read Also: Beef Consomme Vs Au Jus
Conclusion
Now we’ve dealt with the biggest corn-fusion which is: is cornmeal the same as cornflour?
So which one will it be for your next meal?
Is it a corn meal or corn flour?
Still confused?
Just remember cornmeal is not just coarse and gritty but also has a yellowish color. Meanwhile, corn flour is a fine powder that is usually white.
Lastly, Corn flour is the British word for the product Americans call cornstarch so don’t get it mixed up.
