Highlights
1) Cornmeal and corn flour are two different ingredients that are commonly used in cooking.
2) Cornmeal is made from ground dried maize and comes in different consistencies, while corn flour is derived from the endosperm of the maize kernel and is a fine powdery substance.
3) Cornmeal is primarily used for making bread, tortillas, and cornbread, while corn flour is often used as a thickening agent in soups, gravies, and sauces.
Introduction
Cornmeal and corn flour are two ingredients commonly used in cooking, but they have different uses in recipes. It’s important to understand the difference between the two.
What is Cornmeal?
Cornmeal is a rough flour made from ground dried maize (corn). It comes in coarse, medium, and fine consistencies. In the United States, very finely ground cornmeal is called corn flour, while in the United Kingdom, corn flour is often corn starch. Finely ground cornmeal, known as maize flour, is used for making bread or tortillas. There are different types of cornmeal, such as steel-ground yellow cornmeal, stone-ground cornmeal with some germ and hull, white cornmeal made from white corn, and blue cornmeal made from blue corn. Cornmeal is used in various recipes, including cornbread, porridge, tortillas, and puddings. It can be used as a substitute for wheat flour and is a popular gluten-free option for baking.
What is Corn Flour?
Corn flour, also known as maize starch or corn starch, is derived from the endosperm of the maize or corn kernel. It is used for making sugar syrup and thickening soups, gravies, custards, and sauces. It is also used in batter for frying to increase crispiness and oil absorption. Corn flour has a translucent texture and is often preferred over flour. It is used in powdered sugars and can be found in baby powder. Arrowroot can be used as a substitute for corn flour in the same manner as corn starch.
What is the difference between Corn Flour and Cornmeal?
– Corn flour is derived from the endosperm of the maize or corn kernel, while cornmeal is coarsely ground dried maize.
– Very finely ground cornmeal is called corn flour in the UK, while in the US, corn flour refers to corn starch.
– Cornmeal has a coarse texture, while corn flour is fine and powdery.
– Corn flour is commonly used as a thickening agent for soups, gravies, and sauces, while cornmeal is popular for making cornbread.
