3 Ways to Keep Cornbread from Crumbling - wikiHow (2024)

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methods

1Adjusting Your Cooking Methods

2Adding Dry Ingredients

3Tweaking Wet Ingredients

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Last Updated: September 15, 2021Approved

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Cornbread is a classic Southern side dish, and there are hundreds of different recipes for it! One of the most common problems with homemade cornbread is crumbliness--dry, crumbly bread falls apart when you cut it. Learning how to prevent this is as easy as tweaking your cooking methods or adding a new ingredient!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Adjusting Your Cooking Methods

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  1. 1

    Avoid over-mixing the batter. Cornbread batter should still be lumpy when you put it in the oven. If you are mixing it until it’s smooth like cake batter, that could be the cause of your crumbly cornbread! Stop blending as soon as all the ingredients are mixed together.[1]

  2. 2

    Check your oven temperature. Your oven’s temperature may not be accurate. If your oven is baking at a higher temperature than the setting, you could be inadvertently drying out your cornbread. Get an oven-safe thermometer and check the temperature of your preheated oven. If it doesn’t match the setting, call a repair service.[2]

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  3. 3

    Time your baking correctly. Always set a timer for baked goods, and if the recipe gives you a range of baking times, check it after the earliest time. For example, if your recipe calls for 35-40 minutes in the oven, check your cornbread at 35 minutes.[3]

  4. 4

    Cook with cast iron. Cast iron pans are great for baking cornbread. They cook the bread more evenly than glass or aluminum pans and can shorten your baking time. If you make pan cornbread, try investing in a cast iron skillet.[4]

    • Many recipes will have a specific time for cast iron pans. If yours doesn't, start checking your cornbread at least five minutes before the timer goes off.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Adding Dry Ingredients

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  1. 1

    Adjust the proportion of flour to cornmeal. Cornmeal gives cornbread its classic color and flavor, but too much can make your bread crumbly. Try replacing a little bit of cornmeal with flour. The specific measurements will depend on how much cornmeal and flour is in your recipe, but you should try to have more flour than cornmeal in your batter.[5]

    • Many traditional recipes have no flour at all. For these, subtract 1–2 tablespoons (15–30ml) of cornmeal and replace them with flour.
  2. 2

    Try a different brand of flour. Not all bags of flour are the same! If you’ve been baking with the same old flour and your cornbread is still crumbly, try switching to another brand. If you aren’t using all-purpose white wheat flour, switch to that type.[6]

  3. 3

    Add a handful of frozen corn. Frozen corn will add moisture to your batter during the baking process. Whole food additions don’t need to be precisely measured, but about a handful will be fine for most recipes.[7]

  4. 4

    Add shredded cheese. Melty, gooey cheese will hold your cornbread together and give it a fantastic flavor. Shredded cheddar cheese is best for most cornbread recipes, but you can try experimenting with another variety. Precise measurements aren’t necessary--a handful or two will do.[8]

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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Tweaking Wet Ingredients

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  1. 1

    Put in an extra egg yolk. Adding an egg yolk to your cornbread will help hold its shape while you’re cutting and serving it. You can add a yolk even if your recipe doesn’t call for any eggs at all--just put it in with the other wet ingredients.[9]

  2. 2

    Cut back on fat or grease by one third. Many traditional cornbread recipes call for bacon grease, shortening, or lard. It can add a delicious flavor, but it can also cause your cornbread to separate during baking. Try cutting your proportion of grease or fat by about a third.[10]

  3. 3

    Replace white sugar with a moist sweetener. If your cornbread recipe calls for white sugar, try replacing it with a moister sweetener. Light brown sugar, honey, or corn syrup will all add a little more wetness to the recipe. You can use the same proportions.[11]

  4. 4

    Add 1 tablespoon (15ml) more butter or oil. Adding about 1 tablespoon (15ml) of extra butter or vegetable oil can increase the moistness of your cornbread. You can do this even if your recipe doesn’t call for butter or oil.[12]

  5. 5

    Replace milk or water with creamed corn. If your recipe calls for milk or water, try replacing it with creamed corn. This will give your cornbread a richer, creamier texture that will help it hold its shape for much longer.[13]

  6. 6

    Add 1 tablespoon (15ml) of sour cream. Adding 1 tablespoon (15ml) of sour cream to your batter is a great way to moisten your cornbread. You can also use light or fat free sour cream to get the same effect without the added fat content![14]

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Community Q&A

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  • Question

    Can I do all of these to one batch?

    3 Ways to Keep Cornbread from Crumbling - wikiHow (20)

    Oriana Neulinger

    Community Answer

    When you add liquid, make sure you take out about the same amount. Other than that, experiment! I know I've definitely had cornbread with whole kernels, honey, and cheese all together, and although it's not something I'd make for myself, I didn't mind it.

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      About This Article

      3 Ways to Keep Cornbread from Crumbling - wikiHow (26)

      Co-authored by:

      wikiHow Staff

      wikiHow Staff Writer

      This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 117,306 times.

      146 votes - 92%

      Co-authors: 5

      Updated: September 15, 2021

      Views:117,306

      Categories: Breads

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      Reader Success Stories

      • 3 Ways to Keep Cornbread from Crumbling - wikiHow (27)

        Richard B.

        Jul 19, 2023

        "I got the best results by using sour cream or plain yogurt in place of milk. Next Im going to try using some..." more

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      3 Ways to Keep Cornbread from Crumbling - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      3 Ways to Keep Cornbread from Crumbling - wikiHow? ›

      Adding about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of extra butter or vegetable oil can increase the moistness of your cornbread. You can do this even if your recipe doesn't call for butter or oil. Replace milk or water with creamed corn. If your recipe calls for milk or water, try replacing it with creamed corn.

      How do you keep cornbread from being crumbly? ›

      So, you could marry someone from Alabama, or:
      1. Try a good Southern cornmeal mix. ...
      2. Use a goodly amount of flour along with cornmeal (up to a 1:1 mix or slightly less flour than cornmeal). ...
      3. Try an extra egg and a splash more liquid than your recipe calls for.
      4. Make sure your batter contains oil or melted butter.
      Sep 26, 2016

      How do you salvage cornbread? ›

      Why not give it a shot? My advice to him in the comments of his Facebook post: "Crumble it into a pan, pour an egg and milk/cream over it, maybe some brown sugar or fruit and butter and bake or steam into CORNBREAD PUDDING. Or crumble further, bake, and use as cornbread crumbs."

      What is the best way to store cornbread? ›

      Make sure the cornbread has fully cooled down before you store it. Wrap the loaf in aluminum foil or plastic wrap two times, and then place it in a zip-tight plastic bag. Make sure to eliminate all the air as you seal it. Cornbread will last up to three days stored at room temperature.

      How to make krusteaz cornbread less crumbly? ›

      Eggs, or egg substitutes help add structure to the cornbread. Without an egg or substitute, the cornbread may crumble and fall apart easily.

      What makes my cornbread fall apart? ›

      you need the gluten in the flour to hold it together and also enough moisture. if it is too high in fat it will also be too tender and crumbly. i don't know what ingredients you are using but you could try using a higher protein flour if you are using a cake flour or soft southern flour such as white lilly.

      What makes cornbread less dry? ›

      Melted butter and thick buttermilk keep this cornbread moist. After baking, I like to run a stick of butter over the top of the hot cornbread so that it soaks right in and stays even more moist and buttery.

      What to do with cornbread that fell apart? ›

      12 Ways You Can Use Up Leftover Cornbread
      1. Turn your cornbread into crunchy croutons. ...
      2. Elevate your breakfast with cornbread French toast. ...
      3. Steal the show with cornbread stuffing. ...
      4. Crumble it on top of a fruit crisp. ...
      5. Mix the crumbs into a casserole. ...
      6. Whip up some corn fritters. ...
      7. Slice it and make a sandwich.
      Dec 3, 2023

      What happens if I put too much baking soda in cornbread? ›

      Using too much baking soda or baking powder can really mess up a recipe, causing it to rise uncontrollably and taste terrible.

      Is cornbread better with milk or water? ›

      I've used both before and it normally turns out good either way. If you don't want to use water though some other milk substitutes are usually other dairy products like yogurt, sour cream, or half and half. For cornbread though water is probably best.

      Is it okay to leave cornbread out overnight? ›

      You don't want your cornbread to be exposed to moisture or direct sunlight or it could go bad sooner. Put your cornbread on a shelf in your pantry, or put it inside of a bread box if you have one. Store your cornbread at room temperature for 1-2 days.

      Can you refrigerate cornbread batter before baking? ›

      The beauty of this cornbread is that you can leave the fully prepared batter in the refrigerator for 2 days before baking it. In a medium bowl, using a wooden spoon, stir the corn flour and cornmeal with the buttermilk until there are no dry pockets remaining.

      How to keep your cornbread from crumbling? ›

      Adding about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of extra butter or vegetable oil can increase the moistness of your cornbread. You can do this even if your recipe doesn't call for butter or oil. Replace milk or water with creamed corn. If your recipe calls for milk or water, try replacing it with creamed corn.

      What to add to cornbread mix to make it better? ›

      One of the simplest ways is to bring in more flavor and depth is by adding ⅓ cup of sour cream to the batter, which makes the cornbread extra moist and a little tangy. Another tangy option: Add ⅔ cup of buttermilk, which also makes the cornbread super tender.

      Can you over mix cornbread? ›

      Pour batter into prepared pan. The batter will be lumpy. Overcome the urge to mix until smooth. Overmixing can cause the corn bread to peak and have tunnels, resulting in a tough texture.

      How do you make cornbread so it doesn't crumble? ›

      Cornmeal gives cornbread its classic color and flavor, but too much can make your bread crumbly. Try replacing a little bit of cornmeal with flour. The specific measurements will depend on how much cornmeal and flour is in your recipe, but you should try to have more flour than cornmeal in your batter.

      Should you let cornbread batter rest? ›

      1Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). We recommend allowing cornbread batter to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before baking, so if you prefer, you can delay heating the oven until you make the batter. 2Melt the butter, and then set aside to cool slightly.

      How do you make cornbread less gritty? ›

      The key to cornbread that isn't gritty is letting the cornmeal soak in the milk for a bit.

      How do you make cornbread moist again? ›

      MICROWAVE. When you're short on time, the microwave is a great option to warm up cornbread. Place the bread on a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a damp paper towel. This will help keep the cornbread moist.

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