Different Types of Corn Products and How To Use Corn

Who loves corn? Corn is high in fiber and also sweet and juicy, perfect as a healthy snack to munch on. Corn is an amazing grain and besides corn, there are many corn products out there; so today, we will be introducing a list of corn-based products to you.

1. Sweet Corn

• Corn can come in white, yellow, purple, red or multi-coloured

• Corn should be bought with the husk and silk intact to maintain the freshness of the corn

• Corn should be eaten fresh as its sugar would slowly turn to starch if it is kept for long periods

How to use sweet corn in food:

• Sweet corn Fritters

• Sweet corn Bread

• Sweet corn Kueh

• Steam corn

2. Cornmeal

• Ground dried up corn

• Can range from very fine corn meal( Corn flour) to coarse corn meal

How to use corn meal in food:

• Batter for onion rings

• Cornbread

3. Cornstarch/ Corn flour

• Pure white starch extracted from endosperm of corn

• Used as a thickening agent in food

• Difference between cornstarch and flour is that corn starch is a kind of starch and flour contains gluten

• Cornstarch has twice the thickening ability compared to flour

• Cornstarch does not add any taste to food

• Do not mix with acidic liquids such as citrus juice or apple juice or it’s thickening power is reduced by half.

• Do not boil a cornstarch thickened sauce or it will thin out.

How to use cornstarch in food:

• Thicken gravy

• Prevent eggs from curdling- helpful in making custards, flans,cheesecakes, quiche

4. Polenta

• Coarse cornmeal used to cook a thick, porridge-like staple

• Can be eaten directly, or fried, grilled or baked

• Has a creamy texture

• has a long cooking time (If you are not using the pre-cooked ones)

How to use polenta in food:

• Crispy Polenta with sauteed mushrooms and grilled tomatoes

• Polenta Pudding

• Polenta crumble

• Polenta cake

5. Pre-cooked cornmeal products

• Partially-cooked and dried again so as to shorten cooking time

• Can be used like a regular cornmeal

6. Cream-style Corn

• Soup or sauce made by pulping the corn kernels and collecting the milky residue from the corn

How to use cream corn in food:

• Cream corn tamales

• Cream corn casserole

7. Waxy Corn/ Glutinous corn

• Gently sweet and has a soft, sticky texture when cooked

• Cornstarch from the waxy corn is commonly used as it is a stable thickening agent

How to use cream corn in food:

• Waxy corn Thai salad

8. Hominy

• Dried corn kernels that is soaked in alkaline solution which soften the corn and releases their vitamin B3 content

• Can be cooked in stews, soups or ground up to make fresh masa(dough) for totilla, tamales or bread

How to use hominy in food:

• Hominy chowder

• Chilli

9. Masa Harina

• Dried Hominy that is grounded into flour

• Can be used to make masa dough, thicken food like puddings and porridge

• has a stronger corn flavour compared to regular cornmeal

How to use masa homina in food:

• Hominy burgers

10. Popcorn

• Made from corn cultivars bred from firm, thick-skinned kernels

• when heated, the moisture inside the kernel explodes to form puffy airy puffs

How to use popcorn in food:

• Marshmallow popcorn bars

• Caramel Popcorn

11. Cornflakes

• Corn kernels that are steamed, seasoned, dried pressed and toasted to form crisp flakes

Cornflake Cookies from Cup.Cakes Singapore

How to use cornflakes in food:

• Cornflakes caneles

• Cornflake Almond crunch

• Chocolate cookies

12. Fried corn

• Thin-skinned corn kernels that can be soaked in water and drained and deep fried in oil

13. Huitlacoche/ Cuitlacoche

• Corn kernel that is invaded with corn smut fungus that causes the kernels to swell and turn grey

• Turn black when it is cooked

• Has a sweet, earthly flavour that is a reminiscent of black truffle and wood ear fungus

• A type of expensive delicacy

How to use huitlacoche in food:

• Huitlacoche Quesadillas

• Huitlacoche soup

Corn can be used to make savory or sweet dishes and can be very versatile! Be creative with corn and enjoy the sweet taste of it 🙂

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