Trader Joe’s is known for being the best grocery store for those that want top-quality products at incredibly low prices. However, they don’t stock everything. They can never be your main grocery store. But, does Trader Joe’s sell cornmeal?
Trader Joe’s does not sell cornmeal. While they have stocked cornbread mix in the past (which is slightly different), they have never had cornmeal in their stores. In fact, the company tries to steer clear of this type of product as it takes up a lot of shelf space for not a lot of profit.
Let’s explain.
Availability of Cornmeal at Trader Joe’s
Despite customers insisting that Trader Joe’s stocks cornmeal, the company has never had any in stock. This is due to the way that Trader Joe’s operates.
If you have ever been in a Trader Joe’s store, then you will know that these places are incredibly small, at least in comparison to some of the other big grocery stores out there.
They also have an incredibly high turnover of products. You could find a great product on the shelves one week and it will be discontinued the next. This is because Trader Joe’s wants to ensure that the products that sit on their shelves sell, and they sell for a very high price.
Because of this, the company has generally tried to steer clear of selling products like cornmeal, or most baking products that probably wouldn’t sell out insanely quickly.
They have experimented with having cornbread mix on the shelves in the past, but this was discontinued quite rapidly. Therefore, we can imagine there isn’t really much call for any sort of cornmeal, especially since most people that buy it will be making cornbread anyway.
We doubt that Trader Joe’s will ever stock cornmeal. It just isn’t in their business model.
To check the current price and availability of Bob’s Red Mill Cornmeal, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
Alternative Options for Buying Cornmeal
Luckily for customers, cornmeal isn’t some crazy rare item. While Trader Joe’s will not have cornmeal in stock, all of the other grocery stores should have it in stock. You will likely be able to find it in their bakery section.
If you do not want to go to a grocery store, then there are plenty of places where you can buy cornmeal online. It may be a bit more expensive, but you will likely end up with something that tastes a whole lot better.
If you are really looking for a fun project, then you may even be able to make your own cornmeal at home. Let’s run you through the recipe. However, you may need to tinker with this a little bit to get the flavor that you want.
Ingredients
You just need corn for this.
Fresh corn on the cob or frozen corn will do. Do not use canned corn. There are some extra ingredients in there that will ruin your cornmeal.
It doesn’t matter how much corn you start with, the method is the same. We recommend that you use corn that weighs 3x the amount of cornmeal that you need.
So, if you wanted 1lb of cornmeal, then you would use 3 lbs of corn. This allows you to take into account the water loss when you dehydrate it.
Trader Joe’s should have both corn on the cob and frozen corn in stock, so this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Equipment
- A pot to cook the corn in (if you are using fresh corn)
- A dehydrator
- Spice grinder
- Baking sheets
Method
1. Preparing Your Corn
If you are using fresh corn, then you will need to cook it first. Cook it as you normally would cook dehulled corn on the cob.
Once your fresh corn is cooked, or you have frozen corn, then place it on the sheet of a dehydrator.
2. Dehydrating the Corn
The corn should be dehydrating at 135F for around 12 hours, although you can give it an extra hour or two if you wish. Every few hours, you should give the tray a shake to ensure that the corn isn’t sticking to it,
You need that corn to be completely dry. They should not be squishy at all. They will almost have the texture of plastic. If you squeeze a piece of corn and it turns into a paste, then you may need to put the corn back in the dehydrator for another few hours.
3. Grinding the Cornmeal
Switch your oven to 175F.
Using a spice grinder, grind up your dried corn to the consistency that you want. It doesn’t really matter how fine or coarse it is. Go with whatever you feel happy with.
4. Drying the Cornmeal
Spread your ground cornmeal on a baking sheet and put in the oven for 5 minutes. This will dry it out completely.,
Once that is done, you are ready to use your cornmeal.
You can leave the cornmeal in an airtight container. While you don’t have to stick it in the fridge, we prefer that. It means it is much less likely that bacteria will form in the cornmeal.
You can use the cornmeal right away, but leaving it for 5 days will result in a much better cornmeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cornmeal and Cornbread Mix the Same?
No. Cornbread mix has a few extra ingredients in. You cannot use it in the same way that cornmeal would be used. You can only just the mix to make cornbread.
Does Trader Joes Sell Cornbread?
While Trader Joe’s sells cornbread stuffing and cornbread chips, they do not actually sell cornbread. If you want cornbread, then you are going to need to head to one of the other big grocery stores.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s does not sell cornmeal and it is unlikely that they will ever have cornmeal in their stores. They have sold cornbread mix in the past, but it isn’t the same thing.
Most other major grocery stores will have cornmeal in stock. Alternatively, you can make it from scratch. You just need some corn and a food dehydrator.
