White Corn

Description/Taste

White corn has an elongated, straight, and cylindrical appearance, averaging 10 to 25 centimeters in length, and is encased in many layers of light green husks. Within the tightly wrapped husk, each layer is textured, fibrous, and semi-rough, and surrounding the cob is a layer of delicate pale yellow corn silks. One ear of White corn can contain 200 to 400 kernels, and the small, oval to oblong plump kernels grow in rows extending the length of the cob. White corn kernels have a tender, succulent, and crisp consistency when ripe due to their high sugar content, but as it ages, the kernels will transform their sugar into starch, creating a tougher, chewier, and doughier texture. The kernels also bear a white to cream-colored surface and a white interior. White corn will range in texture and flavor, depending on the variety, but the kernels are generally mild, sweet, and subtly nutty.

Seasons/Availability

White corn is available year-round.

Current Facts

White corn, botanically classified as Zea mays, is a general descriptor used to encompass many different light-colored sweet corn varieties belonging to the Poaceae family. Corn is an ancient crop, historically known as Maize, and has been cultivated for thousands of years. The tall, fast-growing stalks reach up to 4 meters in height, sometimes 7 meters, there are many different White corn cultivars cultivated worldwide, selectively bred over time to showcase improved flavor, texture, and growth characteristics. The kernels are primarily used as fresh food, or they are dried and processed into flour, cornmeal, starch, and non-culinary goods such as paper. It is important to note that White corn and yellow corn share similar flavor profiles, and the main distinguishing factor is color. Corn is divided into three main categories: normal, sugar-enhanced, and supersweet. Each category describes the variety’s sugar levels, texture, and storage abilities, with supersweet cultivars having the longest shelf life and being one of the most popular types sold in the United States in the present day. White corn will vary in flavor depending on the variety of corn and its categorical assignment, but in general, the kernels can be used for any recipe calling for corn.

Nutritional Value

White corn is a good source of fiber to stimulate the digestive tract and contains vitamin E, an antioxidant to protect the body and cells against damage caused by free radicals. The kernels also provide vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, potassium to balance fluid levels, B vitamins to maintain optimal nerve functioning, and lower amounts of phosphorus, iron, copper, and magnesium.

Applications

White corn has a sweet, delicate flavor well-suited for fresh and cooked preparations, including roasting, sautéing, steaming, boiling, and grilling. The kernels can be removed from the cob and tossed into salads, pureed into dips, or stirred into pasta. They can also be incorporated into muffins, cakes, biscuits, and bread, cooked into chowder, used as a topping over pizza, mashed and fried into fritters, or blended with beans and used as a vegetarian burger patty. White corn is extremely versatile and can be utilized in almost any recipe calling for corn. Beyond mixed preparations, White corn can also be prepared simply and served as a side dish. The entire cob can be grilled, developing a smoky richness, or it can be steamed or boiled for a lighter taste. White corn can also be dried and ground for use as breading, flour, or starch. White corn pairs well with herbs such as basil, parsley, mint, and cilantro, peas, squash, beans, fennel, mushrooms, arugula, peppers, salty and nutty cheeses, meats such as pork, beef, and poultry, and seafood, including lobster, scallops, and fish. White corn should be kept in its husk and stored in a plastic bag where it will keep for a couple of days. If the corn was purchased without a husk, wrap the cobs in plastic and store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Mexico is one of the top importers of White corn, purchasing over 50% of the corn exported from the United States. The cream-colored to white cobs are traditionally used fresh rather than processed, and though White corn is grown locally in Mexico, the demand is significantly higher than what the country can produce. According to ancient Mexican legends, corn was gifted to Earth by the gods and is a life-sustaining crop. White corn is commonly utilized in Mexico to make tortillas, tamales, cornbread, cornmeal, and more creative dishes such as ice cream, cakes, and puddings. Mexico is also known for its grassroots corn festivals, which are a time for communities to gather and honor one of their indigenous crops. In Jala, a small town in the Mexican state of Nayarit, White corn is celebrated for the first two weeks in August during the Feria del Elota or Sweet Corn Festival. The annual celebration showcases many different varieties of corn that are grown locally in Jala and honors the cultural, economic, and culinary importance of the crop. During the festival, visitors can watch live entertainment, including bull riding, dance performances, fireworks, and various competitions, and they can also sample local culinary creations featuring corn. In addition to the festival, Jala is known for growing some of the world’s largest corncobs. The festival features a competition for the longest corn cob, and some of the past winners included cobs that extended over 50 centimeters in length.

Geography/History

Corn is a descendant of a wild species native to Mexico that has been naturally growing for over 7000 years. Experts believe the wild corn species was grown from teosinte, an ancient grass, and teosinte can still be found wild in Mexico in the present day. Throughout Mexico, corn was domesticated by indigenous Mesoamericans in prehistoric times. The oldest known remains of corn were discovered in Mexico’s Valley of Tehuacan, dating back to 2750 BCE. Over time, migrating peoples brought corn with them on their journeys, spreading the crop across the Americas. Corn was often sown by civilizations in a system of planting called the three sisters, growing beans, squash, and corn. The crop was cultivated throughout Mayan, Incan, and Aztec civilizations, and with each season, corn was selectively bred to exhibit improved characteristics. Christopher Columbus and other Spanish and Portuguese explorers were primarily responsible for introducing corn to the rest of the world, and since its evolutionary spread, corn has become one of the most cultivated crops worldwide. Today White corn is cultivated on every continent, except for Antarctica, and in the United States, White corn is mainly grown in Nebraska and Texas, with smaller quantities being produced in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. Worldwide, White corn can be found fresh through farmer’s markets, specialty grocers, and supermarkets.

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include White Corn. One  is easiest, three is harder.

The Foodie Affair		Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob with Cilantro Lime Butter
Bon Appetit		Sweet Corn and Ricotta Raviolo
Making Thyme for Health		Vegan Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder
International Buddhist Society		Kombu and Agaricus Blazei (Brazilian Mushroom) Soup
What’s Gaby Cooking		Beet, Corn and Quinoa Salad
What’s Gaby Cooking		Charred Corn and Goat Cheese Avocado Toast
Healing Tomato		Quinoa Veggie Boats with Yucca Root
My Colombian Recipes & International Flavors		Bollos de Mazorca (Steamed Fresh Corn Rolls)
Rhubarbarians		Corn and Black Bean Tacos with Smoky Sour Cream
Butter Your Biscuit		Grilled Corn with Cilantro Lime Butter