Homemade Cornmeal (Using Popcorn Kernels!)

In this Instructable, I will show you how to make cornmeal at home. This easy homemade cornmeal recipe is made with popcorn, yes popcorn kernels. You can also use dried whole kernel corn or feed corn if you can find that. I often get asked on my corn dog videos what a substitute for cornmeal is, if you can't find cornmeal or ran out, you can make some at home with popcorn kernels! The homemade cornmeal can be used in cornbread, corn dogs, hush puppies, any recipe that requires cornmeal. It is easy to do, if I can do it, you can do it. Let's get started.

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Follow the super easy steps below or watch the video tutorial, or do both! :)

Step 1: Ingredients and Tools

Print the recipe here if you like:

Ingredients:

1 cup popcorn kernels (will make about 1 1/4 cups of cornmeal)

Tools:

Food processor or coffee grinder
Strainer
Bowls

Step 2: The Popcorn Kernels

Start with about a cup of popcorn kernels. I typically will just the cheap store brand kernels. If you can find feed corn or dried whole kernel corn you can use that. Or if you grow corn, leave it on the stalk until it dries out, then remove the kernels and use them.

Note: If cornmeal is readily available where you live, it makes sense to just buy that. But if you like experimenting and trying new things, this is awesome. Or maybe you live further away from the store, and you run out of cornmeal, but have popcorn still on hand, this works in a pinch.

Step 3: Blend Those Kernels

This will be done in a few repeated stages. Place the popcorn kernels in your food processor or use a coffee grinder. Pulse, and blend for a few minutes until they start to break down.

Step 4: Sift the Cornmeal

Pour the kernels and cornmeal into a strainer and strain out the cornmeal. Then put the big kernels back in the food processor and repeat.

Step 5: Finished Cornmeal

The whole process takes about 10 minutes or so, depending on your food processor or coffee grinder.

If you plan to do this all the time, it might start to dull the blade, so you may just want to get a professional grinder that is specifically made for milling corn into cornmeal.

And there you go you will be left with homemade cornmeal that you made from popcorn kernels. Pretty cool right? Use it in any recipe that requires cornmeal.