There is perhaps no recipe I’ve investigated that is as simple and yet as fraught with passionate argument regarding the “correct” way to make it as cornbread. First, you have the ostensibly North/South difference of opinion on the use of sweeteners, and then further debate among the Southerners themselves ratcheting up tensions even further. Discussions regarding the ratio of flour to cornmeal, the number of eggs, and what kind of fat needs to be in the pan can then further exacerbate hostilities. And if you’re not already using a cast iron skillet to bake yours, you best duck when those who are come near.
I mention all this at the outset because adding to this battle is not my purpose in making cornbread this week. I’ve provided a simple recipe that suits my preferences, but I want to leave all the controversy aside (and the box of Jiffy mix as well) in order to highlight the great taste provided by freshly milled cornmeal.
With all the chatter out there concerning wheat, gluten, and human nutrition, there’s been a lot of discussion in food circles regarding sprouting and soaking grains and milling flours at home, but I haven’t taken that very far. And grinding my own cornmeal was something I hadn’t even begun to consider when I first stumbled upon discussions of how great the freshly milled variety made your cornbread. As cornmeal has a habit of sitting around in my pantry, the chance to DIY this product certainly intrigued me.
Type of Corn
While I’ve seen a few references to drying and milling sweet corn, most cornmeal is made from the starchier field (a.k.a. dent) corn. Not having the space to grow and dry my own corn (not to mention that it’s March), the option that really lit my eyes up, however, was one I already had in my pantry: popcorn.
Equipment Needed
If you haven’t already invested in a grain mill (there are many types, from hand crank to KitchenAid attachment to sophisticated powered appliances), Vitamix benders are also powerful enough to grind dried corn into a beautiful yellow cornmeal if that’s an option for you. Even still, working in small batches is necessary so as not to overheat the meal during grinding. There are also people out there who use their coffee or spice grinders for small batches.
As a precaution, you may wish to sift the meal after it is initially ground to check for missed larger pieces, but I didn’t find this strictly necessary.
While I haven’t had the chance to try a proper grain mill yet, another tip I read frequently during my research is that if you’re having trouble grinding the corn–especially using a hand-cranked mill–try running the corn through on a very coarse setting and then grinding it a second time to get a finer grain. Less wear on your machine and yourself!
Whole Kernel vs. Refined/Degerminated
“Why not just buy cornmeal?” you may be asking yourself. Much of the conversation online surrounding growing and grinding your own corn concerns GMO and pesticide concerns. Beyond that, however, is the fact that many types of cornmeal available on grocery store shelves have been refined/degerminated. By removing the germ from the whole grain, the product will have a longer shelf life. However, that oil-rich and vitamin-packed germ is also where a lot of the nutrition lives. Grinding your own meal means you can preserve the whole grain aspect with less worry about rancidity. Simply grind meal as you need it, or store small batches in your freezer for maximum preservation.
Do you grind your own cornmeal or other grain products? What method do you use?
The Verdict
A 32-ounce bag of popcorn netted me 5 1/2 cups cornmeal, though grinding the amount needed just before use is recommended for maximum freshness. The special equipment is the real barrier to entry here–and some of it is frankly quite expensive. The richer corn flavor and overall freshness definitely provide a big push towards investing in an appliance that can get the job done. Beyond that, however, unless you’re buying in bulk, it seems that the popcorn vs cornmeal price points are negligible. I remain on the fence about adding grain milling to my regular kitchen tasks, and would love to hear more about the pros and cons from those of you who are doing it.
Place 10-inch cast iron skillet in oven on middle rack and heat to 450°F.
Meanwhile, whisk cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl until evenly incorporated. In a medium bowl, lightly beat egg. Stir in buttermilk.
As oven nears 450°F, remove pan and add fat, allowing it to heat and coat the bottom.
Add egg and buttermilk to dry ingredients and then pour in excess fat from skillet as well, quickly mixing all ingredients together until just wetted. Pour batter into skillet and return to oven, baking 20-25 minutes, until top is just golden and edges have pulled away from the side of the pan.
Cornbread is best served warm fresh from the oven.
https://wonderlandkitchen.com/2013/03/diy-cornmeal-from-popcorn-plus-cornbread/
this came at the bestest time. i’m on a cookie kick right now, and i have just one more cookie to bake before i tackle a corn one. the recipe calls for corn powder and i’ve been wracking my brain for what i can pulverize without having to actually buy the corn powder. this might be my answer.
Ha! I saw Savory Simple’s post about the Momofuku Milk Bar’s Corn Cookies and thought the same thing! I’m wondering, though, what the consistency and taste of corn powder is. I dehydrated some sweet corn (the frozen in a bag kind) and I wonder if that powdered in a coffee grinder might be a better substitution, and use the popcorn well ground as the corn flour? Let me know if you want some dehydrated sweet corn.
What?! I never thought to grind my own cornmeal, and I have a BlendTec that should be able to do it. I bet the flavor is much better when it’s fresh. Thanks for the inspiration!
I have a delicious cornbread recipe that makes me and my family happy. I made it using freshly milled popcorn the last time, and my pickiest eater turned up her nose. I think it was more the texture difference than anything else. I am going to try a little less corn meal and a little more flour next time to see if that helps.
[…] Photo credit: WonderlandKitchen.com […]
[…] Molly Sheridan / wonderlandkitchen.com […]
[…] Did you know all you need is a really good blender to make cornmeal? Get all the steps that you need here. […]
I have been milling popcorn for 14 years now to make cornbread. The taste doesn’t compare to store bought cornmeal. I use a Nutrimill to grind my popcorn and wheat. My recipe uses whole wheat flour and fresh cornmeal. I am making a Blood Orange Upside Down Cake for dessert tonight. It calls for cornmeal. I can’t wait to taste how it turns out with the fresh milled popcorn.
I have been using whole wheat flour for some time, and I note that it requires more liquid to get the same texture. Haven’t tried the cornmeal yet, but it sounds interesting. Something you many want to try is adding yogurt. My daughter when she was little was refusing good food most of the time and using yogurt I convinced her it was cake. Thank goodness for things like that!!
I had always wodered if popcorn would work for that. Glad to hear of someone who has done it. My mother always made her cornbread with white cornmeal in a cast iron skillet and she didn’t like sweet cakey cornbread. Me, I use a roubd cake pan. Plus I use a goodly amount of honey because my family likes it sweet. But I also user a mecium grind cornmeal because I like that gritty cornmeal texture.
I like my cornbread to have a nice light texture and I like to use whole grains. When I bake cornbread, I use whole wheat and yogurt. I need a bit more liquid, because whole wheat absorbs more than white flour. I use a couple of tablespoons sugar to sweeten, but if you use full sugar yogurt it isn’t necessary. I had my daughter believing it was corn cake when she was little, as she was a picky eater. If it was anything but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, it had better be a dessert!! Hence corn cake. Healthy grains and truly delicious.
I prefer not to have my corn bread sticky, or gummy, and I don’t care for the texture when canned corn is added to the bread. Even cream style is too much different from the “bread” style of cornbread.
Was just gifted with a mill and wanted a recipe for cornbread using fresh ground popcorn. Excited about this recipe from the reviews. Thanks for sharing. :)
I have a Vitamix and Love it. I haven’t thought about grinding corn before, in fact I stopped using cornmeal because it is usually always GMO corn and I can never find it organic. But since I do my own popcorn at home and I always buy organic kernels this is a win-win for me.
This peaked my interest because I just ran across a recipe for fried green tomatoes from the Whistle Stop Cafe. I can’t wait to try the recipe and I’m thankful to know I have the equipment to do this with.
Thanks for the Post yet was extremely helpful.