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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  • 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 (27)

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      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 117,058 times.

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      Updated: September 15, 2021

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      Categories: Breads

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      Reader Success Stories

      • 3 Ways to Keep Cornbread from Crumbling - wikiHow (28)

        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? ›

      While not a professional chef, my experience with corn bread, be it packaged or made from scratch is if you over mix it, it's gonna fall! Also, let it sit for 4-5 minutes after gently scraping it into the pan and let the ingredients start their magic reactions. No peeking while baking!! That can make it fall too.

      How do you keep cornbread from being crumbly? ›

      10 Easy Ways to Keep Cornbread Moist
      1. Don't overcook it. Over-cooking cornbread is possibly the number one reason why your cornbread is dry. ...
      2. Don't over-mix it. ...
      3. Add in some Flour. ...
      4. Use Buttermilk instead of regular milk. ...
      5. Add in some oil. ...
      6. Add in some sour cream. ...
      7. Add in an extra egg. ...
      8. Add Corn to the batter.
      Jul 6, 2022

      Why did my cornbread collapse? ›

      While not a professional chef, my experience with corn bread, be it packaged or made from scratch is if you over mix it, it's gonna fall! Also, let it sit for 4-5 minutes after gently scraping it into the pan and let the ingredients start their magic reactions. No peeking while baking!! That can make it fall too.

      How to make krusteaz cornbread less crumbly? ›

      The consistency of the batter should be a bit like pancake batter—a little on the thin side. Thick batter can result in dry texture and cornbread that crumbles easily after baking. If you feel your batter is too thick, simply add a splash of extra milk.

      What's 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.

      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 keep cornbread from cracking on top? ›

      1. Cornbread normally cracks on top, but if it is too extreme and falling apart there are a few options.
      2. Do not over mix ingredients. Stir until they are just moistened.
      3. Add an extra egg yolk, even if the recipe doesn't call for an egg.
      4. Use whole milk.
      5. Cook in a preheated cast iron skillet. ...
      6. Do not over cook.
      Jun 21, 2021

      How long can cornbread mix sit before baking? ›

      In a medium bowl, using a wooden spoon, stir the corn flour and cornmeal with the buttermilk until there are no dry pockets remaining. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or for as little as 1 hour if you want to make the cornbread right now). Preheat the oven to 375°F.

      What happens when you overmix cornbread? ›

      Overmixing the batter

      It might also end up being gummy or crumbly, depending on how long you bake it. Even if you aren't using flour (as many southern cornbreads don't), the extra air you've whipped into the batter will do one of two things: collapse in the oven or create a cornbread that's overly dry.

      Why does my bread keep collapsing? ›

      The lower the temperature in your kitchen the longer the dough takes to proof. Conversely, the warmer the environment, the less time it takes to proof. If the dough sits too long the yeast would have eaten up all the starch and will stop rising and collapse in on itself.

      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.

      Why does my box cornbread fall apart? ›

      The recipe on the box doesn't give the batter as much moisture as I like in my cornbread, which is why it can sometimes turn out crumbly. Adding in the sour cream and vegetable oil makes a huge difference and makes the best moist cornbread.

      What happens if you use water instead of milk in cornbread? ›

      You can just use water instead which is what most cornbread mixes ask for in the first. 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.

      Can cornbread sit out all night? ›

      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. If your cornbread develops mold or a bad smell, it's gone bad and you should throw it away.

      How long does Jiffy cornbread last? ›

      Jiffy cornbread recipe leftovers can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh for 1-2 days at room temperature.

      How to make corn bread not so crumbly? ›

      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 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 add to cornbread mix? ›

      10 Mix-Ins for Classic Cornbread
      1. Bacon and scallion. ...
      2. Green chile and cheddar cheese. ...
      3. Crumbled sausage and poultry seasoning. ...
      4. Fresh corn and basil. ...
      5. Pepperoni, parmesan, and black pepper. ...
      6. Spicy shrimp and creole seasoning. ...
      7. Brown sugar and pecan. ...
      8. Cranberry and maple syrup.

      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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