Protein content
A 1/4 cup serving of masa harina contains 2.4 g of protein - only a minor source of protein, about 5% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is more of an energy food than a protein food.
| Serving | 1/4 cup (28.5 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 2.4 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 8.46 g |
| Calories per serving | 103 kcal |
| Protein density | 9% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 5% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Grains |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #169694 |
A typical 1/4 cup serving of masa harina contains 2.4 grams of protein (8.46 g per 100 g), which makes it only a minor source of protein. That covers roughly 5% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Only about 9% of the calories in masa harina come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. It is worth eating for other reasons; the protein it adds to a day is incidental.
Among the 111 grains in the database, masa harina ranks 98th by protein per serving, and 627th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against corn flakes, another grain entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (corn flakes has 1.9 g per 1 cup).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving above is measured by volume at 28.5 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #169694 - "Corn flour, masa, enriched, white" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Masa harina has 8.46 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1/4 cup serving (28.5 g) provides 2.4 g.
No. Masa harina is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
A 1/4 cup serving of masa harina contains 2.4 g of protein, about 5% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Masa harina is only a minor source of protein, and about 9% of its calories come from protein, which makes it more of an energy food than a protein food. Set against corn flakes, another grain entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (corn flakes has 1.9 g per 1 cup).
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