Will old corn meal ruin muffins?

I have found a recipe for muffins that I'd like to make, and it calls for corn meal. I found some in the pantry, but I don't know when it was purchased. It doesn't smell like much, just kinda like corn.

It might be pretty old. Possibly years. Will it ruin the muffins? Would the muffins be significantly better if I bought some new corn meal from the grocer?

corn muffins

Best Answer

If it is stale or rancid, you will get substandard muffins that simply don't taste very good. Usually you would smell rancidity.

It is unlikely to have suffered mold or other decay if it still smells just like corn, but.... cornmeal is quite inexpensive, at least in the US. You might want to buy a new bag.

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Can you use out of date corn meal?

(opens in new window)Storing cornmealThere is a "best if used by" date rather than an expiration date. This means there is an opportunity to extend the shelf life of cornmeal; if it's stored under good conditions, cornmeal will keep for about one year.

How do you know if cornmeal has gone bad?

If it smells rancid or sour, it's past its prime, and you should discard it. Another thing to remember is that black and grey specs in whole-grain cornmeal are normal. Those flecks can be attributed to the germ of the corn. Other than that, you should use the guidelines for degerminated corn.

Why are my corn muffins gritty?

But what makes it special isn't the pool of butter or the small mound of chives that decorate the top of the bread. It has a grainy texture, courtesy of stone-milled cornmeal from Anson Mills, where each bite is loaded with maximum impact. In other words, paying attention to your cornmeal pays off.

Does cornmeal have little black specks in it?

The black specks are simply naturally dark pieces of the pericarp (skin) of the corn, where the tip of the kernel attaches to the cob. The color of the specks will vary by crop and year. They are the same as those commonly seen in hard taco shells, corn or tortilla chips, cornmeal, and natural whole corn products.

What Happens If You Eat Mold?

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