What is the Difference between Polenta Cornstarch Masa Cornmeal and Maize Meal
Maize or corn is not only a delicious food item that can be eaten in raw form, but also used a raw material for lots of food items and recipes. Polenta, Cornstarch, Masa, Cornmeal and Maize Meal are the names of some food recipes that are all based on corn or maize as a major raw item. As all these food recipes are based upon corn or maize flour, so many people think that there are the same dishes. Well, it is not. These food recipes are different from each other not only in terms of taste, but in terms of ingredients as well. Here is the difference between Polenta, Cornstarch, Masa, Cornmeal and Maize Meal.
Polenta
Polenta is a type of corn meal that is used as food stuff since ancient times. It is cooked in water or some other liquid like soup stock with a basic ingredient as crushed corn and other ingredients of own choice like vegetables, meat, mushroom etc. the purpose of cooking in water is to release gelatin from starch of corn grains that gives polenta a smooth and creamy texture. After boiling in water, the cooked polenta is fried or baked.
Cornstarch
As obvious from its name, corn starch is nothing but the starch that we derive or extract from corn. There are various domestic and industrial uses of corn starch. As food stuff, corn starch is used to thicken the food items as well as an ingredient of powdered sugar. It is also used as an ingredient in baby powder foods as an alternative of talc-based foods. It is also used in making of biodegradable plastic.
Masa
Masa or Masa Harina is a corn-based food recipe that is prepared by treating the white maize flour with wood-ash or lime lye. People like to eat Masa Harina in the form of tortillas and tamales.
Corn Meal
Corn meal is simply fine grounded flour of made from dried corn or maize. A lot of food recipes are made by using corn meal or corn flour as basic ingredient. Corn meal is also known as famous staple food.
Mize Meal
Normally, maize meal and corn meal are considered as same thing that is flour of dried maize or corn. However, in deeper sense, maize is one of several varieties of corn and maize meal is considered as best corn meal.
Polenta vs Cornstarch vs Masa vs Cornmeal vs Maize Meal
Polenta is a famous dish that is made from crushed corn flour. As gelatin is released in this form of food from the corn starch while cooking Polenta, so it has thick and creamy texture like appearance. However, corn starch is the by-product of corn grains that is used in many food recipes as a thicking agent and healthy constituent. Masa Harina is also corn-based food recipe that is made by mixing wood-ash lye or lime lye with corn flour. On the other hand, there is no difference between corn meal and maize meal, as maize and corn are the alternatives of each other.
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