Things You'll Need
Shelled corn (dent or flint corn)
Grinder (manual or powered)
Airtight container for storing cornmeal
Grinding corn at home gives you healthy, nutritious cornmeal. You may find your home ground corn gives better tasting cornmeal because the oils from the germ are retained. Commercial grinders who sell ground cornmeal at the store remove the germ to extend shelf life. If you grow your own corn, you can eliminate pesticides, preservatives and additives for a healthy organic product. Use flint or dent shelled corn, not sweet corn. Try different types of corn, like a blue variety.
Step 1
Put the shelled corn into the hopper feed on top of a manual grinder. Crank to grind the corn. Using this method, five minutes of cranking yields 2 cups of coarse meal.
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Step 2
Grind small amounts of corn with a food processor, heavy duty blender or electric coffee mill. Pour in a small amount of corn. Use the pulse mode to grind. Don't grind at continuous high speed because this will overheat the cornmeal, giving it a burnt flavor.
Step 3
Load shelled corn into the hopper of an electric commercial grinding mill to grind larger quantities. Turn the mill on. Empty the ground corn from the collection bin.
Tip
Store your cornmeal in an airtight container and freeze what is not used within a week. Use a food processor or coffee mill for grinding small batches. Buy a commercial mill if you frequently grind corn. Electric commercial mill prices start at $250. Look for self-sharpening, carborundum/ceramic burrs for the highest quality mill.
Warning
Overuse of a food processor or coffee mill can cause damage to the appliance. Improper storage can cause mold or mites to grow in the cornmeal or cause the ground corn to go rancid. Sift the shelled corn to remove dirt and small rocks that will damage your grinder.
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