What can I substitute for cornmeal?
Running low on cornmeal? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.
About cornmeal
Cornmeal is a coarse flour ground from dried maize kernels, available in fine, medium, and coarse grinds. It is a staple ingredient in American Southern cooking, used in cornbread, polenta, muffins, and as a crispy coating for fried foods. Its distinctive grainy texture and mild, sweet corn flavour set it apart from other grain flours.
Best substitute
polenta
Polenta is essentially the same product as cornmeal — coarsely ground dried maize — and can be used interchangeably in most recipes. The grind may vary slightly between brands, so opt for a similar coarseness to what the recipe requires.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of cornmeal
bakingporridgecoatingpolenta dishes
Alternative
semolina
Semolina is coarsely ground durum wheat with a similarly gritty texture and golden colour to cornmeal. It works well as a coating for fried foods and can replace cornmeal in baked goods, though it lacks the corn flavour and is not gluten-free.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of cornmeal
bakingcoatingbreadingNot suitable for: gluten-free recipesNot suitable for: polenta dishes
Alternative
corn flour
Corn flour is finely ground cornmeal made from the same grain, so it retains the corn flavour. Because it is much finer, it will produce a denser, less textured result in baked goods and is not suitable as a coarse coating substitute.
What is cornmeal called in other countries?
| Country | Name |
|---|---|
| Australia | polenta |
| Canada | cornmeal |
| New Zealand | polenta |
| United Kingdom | polenta |
| United States | cornmeal |
Common names for cornmeal
maize mealground maizecorn flour (coarse)yellow cornmealwhite cornmeal