We just moved into a new home that has a garden area with a pretty good corn patch. There are still ears of corn on the stalks.
Is it ok to eat? Looks perfectly fine but there is some red discoloration on the husks and the husks are pretty dry. Any issue? Tonight is a pretty good freeze so I’m going to pull them all in if they are worth saving.
Thanks for any thoughts!
by tjean2009
12 Comments
I’d eat it.
edit *The plant was likely stressed .
It might be starchy, but it’s safe.
Thanks for the replies!
As long as they’re not rotting they’re fine.
Safe but overripe, the sugars will have converted to starch at this point.
It may not be sweet corn, which is the variety you normally buy at the store. It may be a variety that’s intended to make grits or corn flour.
Midwest corn farmer here, as long as the kernels arent dented and the kernels are white or yellow you should be ok. The husk color shouldnt matter.
Keep in mind though, field corn is also yellow and it tastes like dookie. Hopefully thats sweet corn.
That is completly normal and ok corn to eat, many corns will randomly accumulate anthocyanins and betacarotenes on the husk, it is more common amongst dark colored grains (i’ve harvested corn with husks +60% red) in non dark grain it can be at random or as a result from enviromental stress (usually too much radiation). As for the husk being dry it is also very common amongst non hybrid corns to begin to dry the ears long before the plant starts to dry. Tho at this point they would be bad eating as corn on the cob or grilled corn, your best bet is to let them fully dry (without the husk) and use the grain as well… Grain.
Hope this helps!
It’ll be the toughest most chewy corn that has ever been chewed by you, but you can eat it.
As long as it’s not hard lol
Don’t eat it right off the cob, it won’t be particularly sweet. I’d cut it off the cob, blend it, then mix it into a cornbread batter. I can give measurements if you want the recipe
You could season it like grits and eat the corn of the depression eara farmers