Every 100 kcal of masa harina brings 2.3 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 84th of the 111 grains in this database and 668th of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 8.46 g per 100 g ranks 60th in its group.
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.
Weight for weight, masa harina has 2.3 g of protein for each gram of fat (8.46 g against 3.69 g per 100 g).
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 quoted here is measured by volume at 28.5 g, and it covers about 5% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Serving sizes
Protein in common portions of masa harina
Protein and calories in Masa harina for 100 g, the site serving and USDA household portions.
Portion
Weight
Protein
Calories
100 g
100 g
8.46 g
363 kcal
1/4 cup (serving used here)
28.5 g
2.4 g
103 kcal
1 cup
114 g
9.6 g
414 kcal
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Amino acids
Essential amino acids in masa harina
The nine essential amino acids in Masa harina, per 100 g, per serving and per gram of protein.
Amino acid
Per 100 g
Per serving
mg per g protein
leucine
1.02 g
0.29 g
121
lysine
0.219 g
0.06 g
26
valine
0.38 g
0.11 g
45
isoleucine
0.276 g
0.08 g
33
threonine
0.245 g
0.07 g
29
phenylalanine
0.411 g
0.12 g
49
methionine
0.167 g
0.05 g
20
histidine
0.26 g
0.07 g
31
tryptophan
0.062 g
0.02 g
7
Per-100 g values are the amino acid analysis on the USDA record. The serving and per-gram-of-protein columns are arithmetic on those values; they are not a protein quality score.
SampleWhat goal trends look like after a week
109 g
Average per logged day
4 of 7
Days goal met
71%
Complete-protein share
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Sample figures for one made-up week against a 110 g goal, not your data. Red bars met the goal. Your own log fills this in with Premium.
8.46 g. The 1/4 cup serving used on this page weighs 28.5 g and so carries 2.4 g.
How much protein do you get per 100 calories of masa harina?
2.3 g. That figure divides its 8.46 g of protein per 100 g by its 363 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Is the protein in masa harina complete?
No. On its own, the protein in masa harina is short of at least one essential amino acid; other protein sources across the day fill the gap.
What share of the protein Daily Value is one serving of masa harina?
About 5%. One 1/4 cup serving has 2.4 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #169694 (Corn flour, masa, enriched, white), SR Legacy data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.