Types Of Corn: Varieties, Uses, Nutrition And Differences

Corn, a cereal grain, is very nutritional for health. It is one of the most largely grown and consumed cereal crops that is cultivated not just in India but also in the whole world. Corn is not just valuable as a staple food but it is also valuable as an animal feed and even for raw materials. From daily meals to industrial products, corn plays a vital role in global agriculture. But do you know that how many types of corn are there or in how many varieties corn can be used? If you don’t then this article is a must read for you to know more about the tiny corn but has enormous benefits.

What Is Corn (Maize)?

Corn is also known as maize. It is a cereal grain that is the belonging of the family of grass which originated in America, specifically Central America. It has been domesticated since more than a thousand of years and today corn is said to be cultivated across the worldwide continents except the continent of Antarctica which leads in making corn the most adaptably versatile crops in the whole world. 

The plants of maize are producing large rows of kernels which are attached to a central cob. The several kernels vary in their colour, size, texture, sweetness which depends on the variety of it. Corn is very rich in carbohydrates, providing energy through vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers. It comprises of minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus. It also comprises of vitamins such as vitamin B and vitamin B complex. 

Corn is used in various forms such as they can be used as freshly picked, dried ones, ground powdered into floor, processed into products, all these various forms leads to several products made from it like corn oil, corn syrup, corn starch and ethanol. 

Different Types of Corn

There are several distinct types of corn such as sweet corn, field corn, popcorn, dent corn , flint corn and to know all of them in detail, read ahead. The different types of corn includes: 

• Sweet Corn 

The sweet corn is one of the types of corn which is produced because of the genetic mutation that leads to causing the corn to have high amounts of sugar and low content of fiber. The kernels of sweet corn are juicy, sweet and easily edible. Sweet corn is edible in various forms. It is harvested before the direct consumption by humans, which is prepared by boiling, steaming and grilling.

The characteristics of sweet corn includes its flavour to be earthy, sweet, juicy, its appearance to be yellow colour, white colour, bicolour kernels in fresh, green husks, its texture to be of tender, soft kernels and a natural mutation stops the sugar from getting converted into starch and it is picked before getting matured for sweetness.

• Field Corn 

The field corn is one of the types of corn that is used for preparing the processed foods, feeding the animals, and in ethanol. It is not used for the direct consumption of humans. They are harvested dry, starchy and hard. As they mature, they form a small indentation through the help of kernels. The field corn is grown in large fields in order to let the corn dry in the field before it gets harvested for industrial purposes. 

The characteristics of field corn includes its taste to be bitter and non-sweet as their kernels are rough, its appearance to be harder with taller plants, starchier kernels along with a different kind of dent being made on the top of the corn.

• Popcorn

The popcorn is one of the types of corn that is used as an ideal snack everywhere. They are lightly seasoned snacks. Although it is really light in consumption but it has many nutritional value such as it is full of antioxidants, fibers, vitamins and minerals, and low in calories.  

The characteristics of white popcorn includes its appearance to be of smaller kernels with bright flakes that are tenderer with lesser hulls. The characteristics of yellow popcorn includes its appearance to be of larger kernels with yellow flakes that are smaller and sturdier.

• Dent Corn

The dent corn is one of the types of corn that is used in the purposes of industries for the production of ethanol and also for the purpose of feeding the byproducts. It is also helpful in the preparation of the processed foods, cosmetics, medicines and biodegradable products.

The characteristics of dent corn includes its appearance to be tall plants, forming a small indentation through the help of kernels, whenever it is ripen or dried. Its composition to be containing a combination of the hard and soft starch wherein hard starch is at the sides while soft starch is at the center that leads to shrink while getting dried.

• Flint Corn

The flint corn is one of the types of corn that is used for the protection of the soft inner starch through the hard and glassy outer shell. The flint corn is mainly known for its hard and glassy outer shell. The flint corn is also known as the Indian corn for its variety of colors and then used in various different cornmeals.

The characteristics of flint corn includes its appearance to be of flinty outer layer that makes the kernels hard and without dent on it. They are available in multi-colored. The glassy and hard outer shell of flint corn helps in providing good protection that leads to long lasting storage.

Each and every types of corn are really beneficial and nutritious for health, whether you eat them as cooked snack or raw roasted, just enjoy it to your preference.

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