Different Types of Corn

119,400 acres of sweet corn were grown in the United States in the year 1996.

Can you imagine watching a movie without popcorn? No, right? That is how much everyone loves popcorn, or for that matter, corn. In fact, some people go to the movies just for popcorn! It has become a favorite staple food almost all over the world.

Corn, also known as maize, is one of the all-time favorites in the United States and other parts of the world. It is being cultivated for over 10,000 years now and is said to have originated in Mexico and Central America. It is an annual plant that needs to be planted every year. 

It not only provides the essential calories for the body, but is also rich in vitamins and other minerals. It can be paired with almost any recipe. It can also be used for feeding livestock and making fuel, corn syrups, alcohol, solvents, and fibers. Let us check out the different types of corn that nature offers.

It is a type of corn or maize that is high in starch and low in sugar. It is one of the most cultivated crops in the world. At times, it is also referred to as 'field corn'. Apart from being consumed as a source of food, it also gives cornstarch and other byproducts that can be used to produce biodegradable plastics, fuels, etc.

It is also used in animal fodder as it is a great source of nutrition, cheap, and easy to grow. The stalks of this corn are usually larger than that of sweet corn, and distinctive dents can be seen on the crown of each kernel when it is fully ripe; thus, the name 'dent corn.'

It has a thicker outer skin because of which it needs to be soaked or ground before processing. It thrives in regions with long and warm summers. The perfect climatic conditions allow the corn to mature fully. These matured corns can be stored for around two years.

It is a variety of corn distinguished by its extraordinarily hard outer shell that covers the entire kernel. It has numerous applications. The dried ears are often used for decorative purposes because of its distinctive and colorful kernels that range from white to black in color. 

The hard shells are often removed to make the kernels suitable for animal and human consumption. It is most commonly used as polenta that is made by grinding the corn. It is also grown in farms for animal fodder. The more decorative and ornamental variety of flint corn is the Indian corn.

The most popular variant of flint corn is the popcorn that is adored in all parts of the world. It has a soft center containing starch, but a hard outer shell. When the popcorn is heated, the moisture inside the kernel converts into steam and causes enough pressure for the kernel to burst. The white part that you eat is the mass containing starch.

Blue corn is one of the oldest varieties of corn and has a hard outer shell and soft center. It is high in nutrition and has a nuttier taste as compared to others.

It is picked and consumed when it is in its immature or milk stage. It should be eaten fresh on the cob, canned, or frozen before the kernels become hard and starchy.

The kernels are soft, have thin outer shells, and contain starch throughout. Upon drying, the kernels tend to shrink, leaving it with little or no dents. It becomes easy to grind the corn after drying.

Pod corn is an ornamental type of corn in which the kernels are covered by long, membranous husks called glumes. It is also called 'wild maize'. Since it had a ritual significance for the Native American tribes, it can be found all over the American continent. It can be either dent, flint, sweet, flour, or waxy in nature.

Most of the fields in the world produce corn, making it one of the most amazing creations of nature. Eat it however you want, it surely won't disappoint you.