How do I make grits from scratch?

I would really like a recipe for how to make grits from scratch (i.e. boil and mash the corn myself, etc), or, alternatively, would like to know a good brand for boxed grits (NOT INSTANT GRITS). I hate instant grits, and those are the ONLY kind of grits I've ever had, so I want to try "real" grits and see if I like them. Thanks! 

by lzxyrg

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Homemade grits

The secret to making good hominy (where grits eventually come from) is the lye soaking. Hominy is simply corn boiled in lye until the corn takes on a pale white coloring. After the corn turns a pale white, the hominy is drained, washed thoroughly to remove the caustic lye, dried, and ground to desired coarseness. If you have never used lye before, I would NOT advise making the grits yourself, as lye is highly caustic and can cause serious chemical burns, blindness, and death if ingested. For a good quick grits brand, I would reccommend either Quaker or Jimmy Dean.

Note: Thanks, by the way, for bringing back such warm memories for me. It's been 30 years since I last made homemade grits with Granny.

I was a Foxfire Girl, grew up in the foothills of SC, and learned to make grits and lye soap on Granny's knee.

Asker's Comment:

thanks! just what i was looking for... now i need to figure out how to cook with lye :-)

Jaaazzzz…

I want to try this myself, but have a few questions.

1) Do you cook the grits again after you've ground the boiled hominy?

2)What kind of grinder do you use? Can I use a meat grinder with the fine holes or do I have to use a burr or stone grinder?

Jaaazzzz…

just found this.

http://www.mtnlaurel.com/Recipes/hominy.htm

Other Answers (7)

• by smdiner

I never use instant i buy Quaker grits in the canister, its in the aisle with the hot cereal usually at the bottom with the oatmeal not the instant kind. anyway you take 1 cup of water for one person, add a pinch of salt and let it boil. once it boils add 3 tablespoons of grits from the canister, i use the spoon that is a little larger than a teaspoon, you have to watch this or it will burn or get nasty. turn the fire down to low or in between low and warm. intermittently stir the grits slowly to keep out the lumps- when it looks like all the water is cooked out. spoon the grits into a bowl, add butter, sugar/salt, cheese, cream sauce, egg; the choice is yours. don't forget to turn off the stove . and that's all there is to it. if you want to make more than one serving the instructions are on the box but the procedure is the same none the less. 

• by mozefnme

Member since:

April 07, 2008

Take the corn, put it in a big kettle, and boil it and I believe we put some fat (I don't recommend lye, tho it's traditional) in it to make the hominy. And then we drained that and put it in a grinder."

Good quality (NOT supermarket!!) ones you may find in a health food store, or order online: www.bobsredmill.com or www.hoppinjohns.com.

BREAKFAST GRITS (real ones, not instant)
1 ½ cups milk
1 cup stone-ground or other good quality grits
2 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon salt
pepper to taste

Serves 4

by novaluna...

• Grits are made from coarsely ground hominy. Quaker sells bags of grits, I think you can get them on Amazon.com if your grocery store doesn't sell them.
  
  They are just boiled the same as Cream of Wheat or Malt-o-Meal. Pour the desired amount into boiling water and continue to cook them until they are soft. Don't let them get too dry or they will taste like glue. I like mine with sugar and butter, but my husband uses salt and butter. You can also use butter and grated cheese. Only add stuff to it after you take it off of the heat or you will burn them.
  
  Be sure and rinse the pan immediately or it will dry on there and be darn near impossible to get off.

by jeffgets...

• When someone says it's impossible to get it off the pan if you let it dry ... That makes me wonder if eating it at all is a good idea ... You know you can eat elmers glue too....... I sometimes use the hot and cold test ...can i eat it hot or cold or anything in between ...If not ?? maybe you don't want to eat it .....Like warm diet coke really sucks ....warm water doesn't bother me at all.... 
•  by Miss Libby

have u