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Maize Meal

Maize meal is a coarsely ground maize product used for porridges, breads, dumplings, and other staple foods.

Maize Meal — illustrative ingredient image

About Maize Meal

Maize meal is maize ground into a relatively coarse or medium-textured meal, with particles larger than those of finely milled maize flour. It is commonly pale yellow or white and has a mild, starchy maize flavour. The cooked texture can be smooth, grainy, or softly crumbly depending on particle size, sifting, and hydration.

Maize meal is used for porridges, breads, dumplings, steamed staples, batters, and other dough-based foods. It may be prepared from whole kernels or from maize that has undergone additional processing before milling. Its particle size gives prepared foods a more substantial grain presence than fine flour, though the result depends on the recipe.

Dry meal is usually cooked with liquid, and coarse versions generally require more time to soften than finer versions. Hydration and cooking change the dry particles into a spoonable, molded, or dough-like preparation. Sifting can remove larger particles and alter the final texture and appearance.

Ingredient type
flour

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Where maize meal appears

25 linked foods

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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 meal

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

maize meal

English

cornmeal

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

Maize Meal nutrition & diet

Maize Meal nutritional value

Cornmeal, sifted

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the stated food form.

Calories
368kcal
Protein
9.4g
Carbs
73.1g
Fat
3.3g

Reference values apply to the named food form, not every preparation, variety or brand. CoFID 2021 food code 11-011. Carbohydrate follows the dataset’s available-carbohydrate convention. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/.

Portions & preparation

Identify the grind, colour, and treatment before comparing references: maize meal may be whole-grain, sifted, degermed, or precooked. Weigh or describe it dry or after cooking, because water changes bulk. Porridge, bread, dumplings, and fried preparations also introduce different accompanying ingredients and cooking fats.

Compare the right form: Match the reference to maize meal’s grind and treatment, such as whole, sifted, degermed, or precooked, and to dry or cooked form.

Diet considerations

Maize meal is plant-derived cereal flour. Plain meal can suit plant-based diets, but milk, eggs, butter, meat stock, or animal fat may be added. Recipes may include wheat or other cereals, and fried or coated products alter compatibility. Portion and preparation determine its carbohydrate pattern within 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: UK Composition of Foods Integrated Dataset (CoFID), 2021 — Cornmeal, sifted ↗. 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: .