Cornmeal is the meal that is grounded from dried maize. It is usually ground from fine, to medium to coarse consistency but not as fine as wheat flour. Cornmeal’s vibrant color and the flavor is used in brightening up many dishes as it creates a light and crispy crust when fried. There are various types of cornmeal that are known by many people. Examples include blue cornmeal, grounded from whole blue corn and has a sweet taste, stone grounded cornmeal which retains some hull and adds more flavor and nutrition to recipes and yellow cornmeal which is commonly used in the United States and other parts of the world. Cornmeal has been used for many years for different purposes, inside and outside the kitchen. In addition to that, the consumption of cornmeal has additional benefits to the body, helps in preventing various diseases and improves the overall cognitive functioning.
1. Coating favorite foods
Foods such as fish and chicken get their crunchy feeling from cornmeal coating. It gives the perfect crunch for the deep-fried foods. To add more flavor to the food, you can add pepper or garlic powder to cornmeal and use the mixture for coating your favorite foods before deep frying.
2. Baking muffins
Many people are used to baking using wheat flour. Well, it does not have to be the same procedure over and over. Try something new and use cornmeal. It adds a little texture and flavor to the muffins.
3. Natural Abrasive
The coarse texture of the cornmeal makes it possible for it to be used in removing stuck foods from pots and pans. All that is required for you to do is to add a little cornmeal to the dirty dishes and start scrubbing. The coarseness gives a sandpaper effect, making the removal of stuck foods much more manageable.
4. Exfoliating mask
Cornmeal can be used as a natural exfoliating mask as compared to other chemical masks in the store. It is natural and cannot harm the skin in any way. Mix all your masking ingredients and apply throughout the face, while massaging with fingertips. Allow to sit in for five minutes then wash it off and let dry.
5. Homemade deodorant
Well, most antiperspirants contain cornstarch, which is a cornmeal variety. Thin cornstarch can be applied under armpits and inside shoes to absorb the moisture and prevent excessive sweating.
6. Cornbread
This is the well-known use of cornmeal. It is the foundation for soft, buttery cornbread.
7. Making pancakes
Unlike the usual pancakes which can at times come with a slightly thick edge, pancakes made from cornmeal come out thin, with crisp edges and a savory-sweet flavor.
8. Making snacks such as Crackers
Crackers are one of the best, easy to make crunch snacks at home. Adding cornmeal generates more texture and adds crunch to the crackers.
9. Baked into sweets
Cornmeal is a multipurpose pantry essential when it comes to baking. It is used in making muffins, biscuits, cookies, and even sweets.
10. Sausage-Camembert spoon pudding
The Italian sausage and creamy Camembert cheese convert a cornmeal spoon pudding into a vibrant side dish.
11. Spicy cornbread stuffing
Cornmeal provides a twist to the bread stuffing, making it rich in flavor and taste.
12. Baked polenta fries
Polenta is cooked cornmeal that can be eaten as a side dish or used in a variety of recipes. These polenta fries are delicious and cheesy.
13. Indian bread pudding
This type of bread is made with flour, cornmeal, and sweetened with molasses. It is one of the best-spiced desserts.
14. Egg stuffed corncakes
Eggs stuffed in corncakes gives the cake a delicious taste. This meal is one of the classic street foods in Columbia.
15. Chocolate chip cookies
It is at times worth the risk of trying different recipes, especially when it comes to chocolate chips. Cornmeal adds a little crunch to the chocolate chip cookies.
16. Best for weight loss
Polenta, a food made from cornmeal is low in calorie hence the best for individuals seeking to lose weight.
17. Cornmeal dumplings
Accompanied with chicken stew, or any other stew of choice, cornmeal dumplings are the best during cold or rainy seasons, or when one is sick.
18. Making crusted onion rings
Cornmeal onion rings can be dipped in buttermilk, then extra fried crispy to give the onion rings a crunchy texture.
19. Making Pizza
Make your pizza dough using cornmeal instead of wheat flour and add natural crunch to your pizza.
20. Gluten-free grapefruit cake
This moist cake gets its hearty texture and flavor from a blend of almond flour and coarsely ground yellow cornmeal.
21. Source of fiber and protein
Protein and fiber, both present in polenta, keeps the digestive system functioning and helps an individual feel full.
22. Flouring a surface when rolling dough
Cornmeal is used to make the rolling surface dry to prevent dough from sticking on the rolling surface.
23. Shrimp and grits
Cornmeal, added with coarse stone-ground grits, adds texture and robust flavor to a cheesy dish with sweet shrimps.
24. Boosting iron
Cornmeal benefits your health by increasing the bodies overall iron intake. Iron helps the red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body.
25. Weed control
There are many compounds that are present in cornmeal, which helps in preventing many species of weed from germinating in the soil.
26. Ant killer
Cornmeal is the safest and most effective way of killing many ant species. This is because ants are attracted to the smell of cornmeal, but their digestive system cannot process the food.
27. Rejuvenation
Cornmeal helps revive dying plants or restore the brown patches of grass by nourishing the soil.
28. Compost
Sprinkling cornmeal between layers of compost and adding some as you stir up the pile makes the decomposition process much more manageable.
29. Algae control
Using cornmeal is one of the greatest ways of controlling algae in ponds. Too much use of cornmeal also reduces oxygen levels in the water, and this kills fish quickly. It should, therefore, be used in minimal quantity.
30. Gritty waffles
Cornmeal adds a little bit of texture to the traditional waffles recipe and gives them the gritty nature.
31. Cornmeal strawberry cake
Using cornmeal in baking gives the cake a sweet and moist texture.
32. Preparation on injera or flatbread
Cornmeal is frequently used as an additional ingredient in the preparation of flatbread, commonly known as injera, which is traditionally eaten in the horn of Africa countries such as Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
33. Porridge and “Ugali”
In East African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, cornmeal is the staple food and is used in preparing porridge and ugali.
34. Local desert in the Indian Ocean
Cornmeal is a local dessert in which milk, dried sultanas, cardamom powder, and sugar are cooked together.
35. Fried cornmeal mash
Cornmeal is cooked and then chilled overnight. Afterward, it is fried until it turns golden brown. The cornmeal mash has a crispy feeling and can be taken with any stew of choice.
36. Grilled polenta
Cooked cornmeal is referred to as polenta. Polenta is a popular dish in Venice and is usually served when grilled.
37. Apple-rosemary lattice pie
Cornmeal is used for lacing rosemary crust which gives the lattice topped apple pie an aromatic, savory dimension.
38. Buttermilk oatmeal pancakes
Cornmeal used in baking these oatmeal pancakes give the hearty oatmeal pancakes a crisp texture and can be served with berries.
39. Broccoli cornbread
Unlike the commonly known cornbread, cornmeal turns the broccoli cornbread into moist and flavorful food.
40. Blue cornbread
As discussed earlier, blue cornmeal comes from grounding whole blue corn. Cornbread made with blue cornmeal is slightly sweet and has a cake-like texture.
41. Almond date biscotti
Add cornmeal to your mixture and make a date with the crunchy, savory, and sweet biscotti’s dessert, which can be accompanied by tea or coffee.
42. Preventing constipation
Carbohydrates account for most of the energy in cornmeal. Cornmeal contains a nutritional fiber that helps in stool softening to prevent constipation.
43. Bone mineral tissue
Cornmeal can be taken as a source of phosphorus, which helps in making up the DNA and contributing to the bone mineral tissue.
44. Reduce the risk of colorectal cancer
This is one of the essential health benefits of cornmeal. Cornmeal helps lower the risk of colon cancer because of corn being the whole grain.
45. Heart protection
Cornmeal has anti-atherogenic effects on saturated fat levels, which helps in the prevention of several cardiovascular diseases.
46. Control high blood pressure and diabetes
Consuming corn or cornmeal helps in reducing the risks of having diabetes or hypertension.
47. Prevention of anemia
Anemia is caused due to the lack of vitamins in the body. Cornmeal contains a significant level of iron which is required in new cells formation.
48. Treat dryness and hair loss
Cornmeal is the best treatment for this because of the presence of vitamin E and fatty acids.
49. Provision of essential vitamins
Cornmeal is a rich source of vitamin B, especially niacin and thiamin. Thiamin has the importance of maintaining cognitive body function.
50. Provision of minerals
Cornmeal has many minerals, such as phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium, that benefit the body in positive ways.
