Cornmeal Vs Cornstarch: Can You Name The Differences?

Are you confused between cornmeal and cornstarch?

They both look similar, but they serve very different purposes.

Find out what makes them different from each other.


Cornmeal is ground dried corn kernels.

It has a high protein content and is often used in baking.

Cornstarch is made from corn flour and is commonly used in cooking.


Both cornmeal and cornstarchy are carbohydrates.

But cornstarch is much cheaper than cornmeal.

If you want to save some money, then cornstarch is the way to go

Quick Facts

Cornstarch and cornmeal are two different types of flour. Both are used in baking but cornstarch is usually preferred because it does not absorb moisture from the air and is easier to measure. It is also cheaper than cornmeal.

Cornmeal Vs Cornstarch: Detailed Explanation

1 Cornmeal is ground from dried corn kernels. It is available in coarse, medium and fine grinds.
2 Cornstarch is produced by grinding dried corn into a powdery consistency. It is available in white and yellow varieties.

Processing

Cornmeal is processed by milling the corn kernels into flour form. This process removes the germ and bran layers of the kernel leaving only the endosperm. The endosperm contains the starch and protein content of the corn.
Cornstarch is prepared by crushing the corn kernels and removing the germ and bran. The resulting product is a fine powder.
Both products are used in making various types of baked goods such as breads, muffins, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, cornbread, tortillas, pizza crust, pasta, piecrust, cookies, crackers, and many other items.

Uses

Cornstarch is used in baking, as a thickening agent, and as a stabilizer. It is added to batters, doughs, sauces, gravies, soups, salad dressings, and marinades. It is also used as a coating for meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, and fruits. It is used as a thickener in ice cream, frozen desserts, and beverages.
It is also used as a thickener for sauces, gravies, and stews. It is used to thicken gravy, soup, and sauce bases. It is used to stabilize custards, creams, and egg yolks. It is used to coat meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables prior to grilling, roasting, sautéing, or barbecuing. It is used to prevent sticking when frying foods. It is used to make frosting, icing, glazes, and toppings.

When To Use Cornmeal?

Cornmeal is used in breads, muffins, quick breads, pancakes, waffles, cornbread, biscuits, tortillas, polenta, pasta, and other baked goods. It is used as an ingredient in many types of cookies, candies, and snack foods. It is used as part of the batter in fried foods such as french fries, onion rings, and chicken nuggets. It is used as the main ingredient in corn fritters, tamales, and enchiladas. It is used as filler in pies, pastries, and cakes. It is used in savory dishes such as chili con carne, chowder, and gumbo.

Add corn taste to the dishes

If you are looking for a healthy way to enjoy your favorite foods, try adding cornmeal to your recipes. This grain adds a unique flavor and texture to any dish.

Create perfect coat

Add 1 cup of cornmeal to 2 cups of cold water. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer until thickened. Cool completely and store in airtight containers. Use the cornmeal as needed.

Thicken the soup

To thicken soups, simply add flour to the soup. Stir well and let sit for 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Make peeling mask

Peel the potatoes using a potato peeler. Cut the peeled potatoes into cubes. Put the cubed potatoes into a bowl and pour enough cold water to cover the potatoes. Let stand until the potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes. Drain the potatoes and put them back in the bowl. Mash the potatoes with a fork. Add milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

When To Use Cornstarch?

Cornstarch is used to thicken sauces and soups. It’s added to liquids such as gravy, tomato sauce, soup, and chili. It thickens when heated and forms a gel when cooled.

Thicken a liquid

Add 1/4 cup cornstarch to 2 cups cold liquid water, broth, milk and stir until smooth. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.
Stir into hot liquid
Answer: Stir about 1/2 cup cornstarch into 1 cup warm liquid soup, stew, sauce. Heat gently, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a full rolling boil. Boil, stirring frequently, 1 minute longer. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Avoid caking

To avoid caking, add cornstarch to hot liquid slowly while whisking vigorously.

Create light and tasty desserts

To prevent caking, add corn starch to hot liquid slowly while stirring vigorously. This method works well for making sauces, gravies, and soups. It is also used to thicken liquids such as gravy, sauce, and soup.

Can I Substitute Cornstarch For Cornmeal?

Yes, but not always. Cornstarch is a fine white powder that dissolves easily in cold liquids. It does not absorb moisture from the air like cornmeal does. However, if you substitute cornstarch for cornmeal in any recipe, you will still get good results. Just remember to follow the directions carefully.

What is the difference between cornmeal and cornstarch?

Corn flour is a type of corn meal that is used to thicken soups and sauces. It is usually found in the grocery store near the other types of corn meal such as polenta and grits. Corn flour is not the same as cornstarch, which is another type of corn product. Corn flour is made from ground dried corn kernels while cornstarch is made from ground corn germ.

Can you substitute cornstarch for cornmeal?

Yes, but not always. Cornstarch is used in place of cornmeal because it is cheaper and easier to obtain. However, cornstarch does not perform quite the same way as cornmeal. It is important to note that cornstarch is not interchangeable with corn flour. This is because corn flour contains gluten, which gives breads and pastries their elasticity.

What is difference between corn flour and cornmeal?

Cornstarch is a fine powder derived from corn. It is used as a thickening agent in sauces, gravies, soups and other dishes. Cornmeal is ground whole grain corn kernels. It is used to thicken stews, casseroles, breads and muffins. Both are available in different forms such as flour, meal, grits, polenta, masa harina, corn flour, cornstarch, cornmeal, corn grits, cornmeal mush, cornflour, cornstarch, hominy, cornstarch, masa harina and corn flour.