Varieties of Corn

Dent, popcorn and sweet corn are the most popular types grown in the United States. Corn is classified by its kernel type, with the exception of pod corn. Click on the images below to learn more about the six corn varieties.

Flint

Known as calico corn, this variety is harder than dent corn and sometimes used as decorative corn because of the multiple kernel colors. While the ears of this corn type are long and slender, grown in Latin America, South America, and parts of Europe, it has not been commonly grown in the United States since colonization. Flint corn is processed into cornmeal, hominy, and grits.

Flour

Flour corn has been traced back to Aztec and Incan civilizations, the soft kernels on this corn were grounded into flour after they had been dried.

Dent

Also known as field corn, it spotted by the dent in the crown of each kernel of corn. Dent corn is used in grain products, animal feed, and some liquors due to the high starch low sugar content. Almost always yellow, but sometimes the kernels can be white.

Sweet

Sweet corn is a variety with high sugar content and is the result of a naturally occurring mutation in the genes that control the conversion of sugar to starch in the corn kernel. While most corn is picked when it reaches full maturity so it can be turned into a grain, sweet corn is picked while it is immature so it can be eaten as a vegetable. Since it is harvested before the kernels dry out, sweet corn must be eaten fresh, canned, or frozen.

Popcorn

Regarded as the oldest surviving type of corn, this variety of corn that expands and puffs when heated. The kernels are shaped like rice, with pointed tips, and contain a certain amount of moisture and oil, which is why it can be popped as freshly popped corn and in popcorn confections.

Pod

This variety is not grown commercially and mainly used for ornamental purposes since each kernel is enclosed in a husk.

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