The question on everyone's mind: are grits a grain? Well, the answer is a resounding kind of. Grits are made from corn, which is a grain, but they're not exactly a whole grain – more on that later. Think of grits like the cousin of corn, but not the cool, whole-grain cousin who gets invited to all the health food parties.
So, what's the difference between a whole grain and, well, not-a-whole grain? Whole grains are like the supervision of the grain world – they include the bran, germ, and endosperm, which provide a wealth of nutritional benefits. Grits, on the other hand, are made from hominy, which is corn that's been soaked in a special solution to remove the bran and germ (the good stuff, sadly!).
This process, called nistamalization, makes the corn more easily grindable and gives grits their signature smooth texture. But, it also means that grits are missing out on some of the good stuff that whole grains have to offer. Don't worry, though – grits are still a delicious and nutritious addition to your breakfast plate!
The Types Of Grits You Need To Know About For Down-Home Southern Cooking
