Using Flaked Maize (aka The Great Cornflake Debate)

[MyQul]

This is all a bit silly! Corn and maize is exactly the same stuff, whether flaked or not. For breakfast corn flakes in the UK vitamins and minerals are added, sugar may be added, depends on brand. Cheaper grades of corn/maize are used for animal feed, this is what's used for brewing too. There is no special brewing corn/maize flakes.

In a way I agree its all a bit silly. I think what it all comes down to is, are you organised enough to put some flaked maize in with your current HBS order. Flaked maize is cheaper than cornflakes but if you cant get it together enough to put some in with your order, then the shipping costs added to ordering a kilo or so of FM makes it too prohibative to order it seperately. So thats when you might want to look at alternatives like cornflakes

 

[EddtheBrew]

In a way I agree its all a bit silly. I think what it all comes down to is, are you organised enough to put some flaked maize in with your current HBS order. Flaked maize is cheaper than cornflakes but if you cant get it together enough to put some in with your order, then the shipping costs added to ordering a kilo or so of FM makes it too prohibative to order it seperately. So thats when you might want to look at alternatives like cornflakes

Hi ,
I've generally always used stuff from brewing suppliers , both home brewing and in the breweries I've been at , that's why I say use that quality of ingredient , I'm not anti cornflake use , used em myself on occasion as a ' oh fudge , forgot to order the F.M ' substitute , but I'd still go with a specialist where possible , as most of my recipies are designed to be as close as possible to the original beer where the recipies call for Flaked Maize or Barley , usually recipies with sugars as part of the bill .
Regards to all ,
Edd

 

[BeerCat]

According to brewersfriend 100g of mariss otter and 100g of flaked corn have a diastic power of 31. That's the minimum. I dunno about cornflakes but when i bought flaked maize from a hbs before it was exactly the same as coarse polenta. Most supermarkets sell it.

 

[ACBEV]

The reason I stipulate a brewing supply specialist is , that the grade of ingredients must , by law be fit for human consumption and fit for use in cooking.

This is a good point, but common sense can prevail here. Lets say you have a farmer producing maize, the farmer sells the maize to a grain processor. The grain processor produces flaked maize, some is sold to an animal feed supplier, some is sold to a health store chain and some is sold to a brewery. I agree that the law says must be fit for human consumption, it doesn't mean the same food commodity can't be used for humans and animals.

 

[strange-steve]

I may be way off here but aren't cornflakes (the breakfast ones) toasted? I've never used flaked maize so I don't know how it compares.

 

[EddtheBrew]

Not sure on that one , sounds familiar though , possibly a part of the process to dry the flakes ??

 

[MyQul]

I may be way off here but aren't cornflakes (the breakfast ones) toasted? I've never used flaked maize so I don't know how it compares.

It seems so

"After that, it goes through a quick, 50-second toasting process, which gives the flake its signature ‘crunch’ "

https://www.quora.com/How-are-corn-flakes-made

How might this effect beer?

 

[strange-steve]

How might this effect beer?

Sorry that's not what I was getting at, I was just wondering if the brewing kind of flaked maize is crunchy in the same way as the breakfast kind? Because flaked wheat, barley and oats aren't crunchy.

 

[EddtheBrew]

Hi All ,
Brewer's Flaked Maize isn't crunchy in the same way as Cornflakes , it's similar to Flaked Barley , Oats etc in physical appearance and to some degree , consistency .
Regards
Edd

 

[MyQul]

Sorry that's not what I was getting at, I was just wondering if the brewing kind of flaked maize is crunchy in the same way as the breakfast kind? Because flaked wheat, barley and oats aren't crunchy.

Oh right. I know what it looks like but Ive never had a chew on some. So dont know if its crunchy but from what Eddthebrew says above.No.

 

[strange-steve]

Ive never had a chew on some

:laugh2: Fair nuff.

 

[terrym]

My guess is that the only difference between flaked maize and cornflakes is that flaked maize (corn) is produced by cooking the corn kernels prior to rolling into its flat 'flaked' form to make it 'more digestible', but without additives, whereas the kernels used for producing cornflakes are flattened and cooked in a different way together with the additives, with the result that they look just and taste different. And I suppose there is no reason why you coudn't eat food grade flaked maize with your milk in the morning if you fancy a change. It's not unlike eating rolled oats in meusli. And the difference between food grade grain and similar is probably down to storage. Non food grade flaked maize may have the odd mouse or rat dropping present. Similarly would you eat 'bird peanuts'?

 

[Thumper]

The reason I stipulate a brewing supply specialist is , that the grade of ingredients must , by law be fit for human consumption and fit for use in cooking.

Surely the same is true of breakfast cereal, though?

 

[Gunge]

Surely the same is true of breakfast cereal, though?

Ever tried shredded wheat?

 

[MyQul]

Ever tried shredded wheat?

If ive understood it right, when reading, rice crispies are the same as torrified rice, so I might give those a try at some point too

 

[Gunge]

If ive understood it right, when reading, rice crispies are the same as torrified rice, so I might give those a try at some point too

I've used plain ol' supermarket puffed rice (800g!) in a pseudo lager thing and that turned out as expected.

 

[EddtheBrew]

Surely the same is true of breakfast cereal, though?

Yup , but a slightly different product spec for brewing materials , and when I mention rice in a recipe , I mean the actual grains cooked up for around 20 minutes in unsalted water , then added to the mash ( a common addition in some Scottish breweries beers ) , eg those of Drybrough's 1906-1910

 

[foxy]

You're welcome! Anyway whilst we're squabbling about cornflakes / flaked maize, how come folk have no qualms about using breakfast oats instead of those from homebrew outlets? Because they are exactly the same thing... can't understand why the penny is still teetering on the edge re maize!

Steel cut quick oats are fine but as far as cornflakes are concerned I would guess there would be a lot more processing and additives.

 

[private4587]

slightly off topic I'm afraid but i have seen some recipes calling for Torrified Wheat, what is this ? is there something else i could use from my local supermarket instead if i cannot get to my local home-brew shop?

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
Big Enders and Little Enders!
Try Googling flaked maize and choose the Image option - it looks exactly like cheapo corn flakes.