Cornmeal:
Grams to Cups
One cup of cornmeal weighs 140 grams. This coarsely or finely ground dried corn is the essential ingredient in cornbread, corn muffins, and polenta, providing a slightly sweet, earthy corn flavor and a satisfying, slightly gritty texture.
Convert Cornmeal
1 cup = 140 grams
= — grams
= — cups
Quick reference
Measurement Table
| Cups | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| ⅛ cup | 18 g | 0.63 oz |
| ¼ cup | 35 g | 1.23 oz |
| ⅓ cup | 47 g | 1.66 oz |
| ½ cup | 70 g | 2.47 oz |
| ⅔ cup | 93 g | 3.28 oz |
| ¾ cup | 105 g | 3.70 oz |
| 1 cup | 140 g | 4.94 oz |
| 1¼ cups | 175 g | 6.17 oz |
| 1½ cups | 210 g | 7.41 oz |
| 2 cups | 280 g | 9.88 oz |
| 3 cups | 420 g | 14.81 oz |
About Cornmeal
Cornmeal comes in fine, medium, and coarse grinds, which affect texture more than weight. Fine-ground cornmeal (closer to corn flour) yields a smoother, more cake-like crumb in cornbread. Coarse-ground cornmeal produces a heartier, more rustic texture. Both weigh approximately 140 g per cup.
Stone-ground cornmeal retains the corn's germ and bran, giving it more flavor and nutrition but also a shorter shelf life due to the natural oils in the germ. Degermed commercial cornmeal is more shelf-stable but less flavorful. For Southern-style cornbread, stone-ground cornmeal is the traditional choice.
In baking, cornmeal adds structure as well as flavor. In cornbread specifically, it absorbs liquid and expands during baking, giving the finished bread its characteristic slight denseness. For a more tender crumb, some recipes soak the cornmeal in the liquid ingredients first (a technique called scaldling) to pre-hydrate the grains.
When cornmeal is used to dust baking surfaces — pizza peels, baking sheets for bread — use it sparingly. Its primary function here is to prevent sticking through physical separation, not through fat, so a thin, even layer is all that's needed.
Tips for measuring Cornmeal
- Use the grind the recipe specifies — coarse and fine cornmeal produce different textures.
- Soak in buttermilk or milk for 30 minutes to pre-hydrate and soften the grains.
- Stone-ground cornmeal: store in the fridge or freezer to prevent rancidity.
- Spoon into the measuring cup — cornmeal can pack quite densely when scooped.
Common mistakes
- Substituting corn flour (very fine) for coarse cornmeal without adjusting texture expectations.
- Storing stone-ground cornmeal at room temperature — the germ causes rapid rancidity.
- Scooping directly from the bag, which compacts and overestimates the quantity.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many grams in a cup of Cornmeal?
- 1 cup of Cornmeal weighs 140 grams. This is the standard measurement used in most American recipes.
- How many cups is 140 grams of Cornmeal?
- 140 grams of Cornmeal equals exactly 1 cup. For partial amounts, use the converter above or the measurement table.
- Is 140 g per cup accurate for all brands?
- 140 g/cup is the widely accepted standard. Minor brand-to-brand variation exists (±5–10%), but for most baking purposes this figure is reliable.