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Maize grain

Maize grain is the dried whole seed of maize, commonly boiled, ground, or used in porridges and other dishes.

Maize grain — illustrative ingredient image

About Maize grain

Maize grain is the dried, whole seed of maize, with each kernel remaining intact rather than being milled into flour or meal. It is used in porridges, stews, soups, and other cooked dishes, and it can be ground or cracked when a finer product is wanted. The kernels are firm and hard before cooking.

Dry maize has a mild, starchy flavour with a gentle sweetness that becomes more noticeable in some varieties. Kernel colour may be yellow, white, red, blue, or another cultivar-specific shade. Soaking and boiling make the kernels softer and more yielding, while prolonged cooking can produce a tender, chewy texture.

The grain consists of separate, solid kernels and is commonly washed before preparation. Soaking shortens the time needed for cooking and helps the kernels hydrate; cracking reduces their size and changes the final texture. Whole kernels may be boiled or simmered until tender, while ground or cracked grain is cooked as meal or porridge.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where maize grain appears

3 linked foods

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Main dishes

Soups

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for maize grain

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

maize grain

English

dried maize

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Maize grain nutrition & diet

Maize grain nutritional value

Reference: Yellow maize, dried seeds, raw

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the named reference form.

Calories
354.3kcal
Protein
8.6g
Carbs
69.4g
Fat
4.7g

Per 100 g edible portion. SMILING Vietnam Food Composition Table (2013), hosted by FAO. Energy is the source-calculated energy; carbohydrate is total carbohydrate. Original 2013 reference values, not a current product label or a universal recipe.

Portions & preparation

Use dried whole maize grain as the reference identity, distinguishing it from fresh kernels, meal, flour, hominy, or popped products. Record soaking, boiling, nixtamalization, fermentation, grinding, and discarded parts, because processing and the final preparation determine the comparable edible portion.

Compare the right form: Match the reference to dried whole maize seed, specifying variety, treatment such as nixtamalization, cooked state, and edible portion.

Diet considerations

Maize grain is plant-derived cereal. Compatibility changes when it is nixtamalized, fermented, ground, popped, or combined with dairy, meat, sauces, or cereal ingredients. Whole cooked kernels differ from porridges and ground preparations, and portion size influences the resulting carbohydrate pattern in a meal.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically incompatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically incompatible
This profile falls outside the conventional paleo pattern used here (grains and pseudograins, legumes, dairy or refined sugar).
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Vietnam Food Composition Table, SMILING 2013 — 1008 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .