What Are The Little Corns Called In Chinese Food?
Gary Woods
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It is not typical practice in the United States to cultivate baby corn, which is a type of small corn that is often featured in the cuisine of China. Growing young corn and then harvesting it requires careful attention to every aspect. Vegetable breeding specialist Jim Myers sends some to Debbie Elliott.
The host is DEBBIE ELLIOTT. From microbes to microgreens, this book has it all. This weekend’s Food Moment will focus on baby corn, otherwise known as the teeny-tiny ears of corn that are typically seen in stir-fries with vegetables like broccoli and bell pepper. Finding someone to talk about the tiny crop proved to be a bit more challenging than we had anticipated due to the fact that it is not extensively produced in the United States.
Even the helpful employees at the Department of Agriculture in Nebraska, also known as the Corn Husker State, were unable to provide us with the information we need. Then we tracked down Jim Myers, a professor at Oregon State University who specializes in the breeding and genetics of vegetables.
He has traveled all the way from his home in Corvallis, Oregon, to be with us right now. I hope you enjoy your time with us, sir. Professor JIM MYERS of the Oregon State University Vegetable Breeding and Genetics Department says: Okay, well, I appreciate it. ELLIOTT: Please, Doctor Myers, shed some light on this conundrum for us.
Is this a little kind of corn, or is it more accurately referred to as baby corn? I ask you, Professor MYERS: Regular corn is where baby corn originates from. It can originate from any one of a large number of distinct types of cultivars, but it is harvested at a far earlier stage, before the plant has ever been fertilized.
When you eat corn off of a cob, you are actually consuming the female component of the plant, which is the ovary. There is also a tassel that releases pollen, and that pollen needs to float onto the silks and then fertilize those individual kernels for them to proceed with the development process. However, you are harvesting this corn before the pollination and fertilization processes have actually taken place, so the kernels won’t develop properly.
It would be the same as going out and selecting an apple before the flower on the tree had even opened. ELLIOTT: What is the process of gathering it? Professor MYERS: The measurement is simply made by hand. After one or two days have passed after the silks have emerged, people will enter a field and just remove the ears.
- ELLIOTT: I see, but wouldn’t it be smarter to wait till the corn has reached its full maturity before harvesting it? Professor MYERS: Without a doubt, in terms of nutrition and the food that is available to you.
- If you wait until it is fully developed, you will obtain a considerably larger harvest.
- However, baby corn in and of itself is an extremely lucrative business.
It comes at a very steep cost. ELLIOTT: Now, throughout the course of our investigation, we came to the realization that the majority of the baby corn that is consumed in the United States is really imported. Where exactly does it come from? Myers, Professor: Thailand is an important region for the manufacture of goods.
That is the primary one that I am aware of. ELLIOTT: And why isn’t baby corn farmed in the United States to the same extent as other types of corn? Professor MYERS: Perhaps the most significant barrier is all of the labor that is required. It’s a crop that requires a lot of manual effort. However, we do not have any mechanized harvesting equipment for the smaller ears of corn.
ELLIOTT: I would want to discuss the flavor of this baby corn with you. It does not strike me as particularly acrid in the manner in which certain vegetables may be when they have not yet reached its full maturity, but in all honesty, it does not have much of a flavor.
No, it has the traditional corn flavor, but there is no sugar that has been deposited in the kernels yet, so it does not have any of the sweetness or starchiness that we generally associate with something like sweet corn. However, it does have the characteristic corn flavor. Professor MYERS: ELLIOTT: So in general, it’s just sort of adorable, but there’s not much in the way of nourishment or flavor there.
Mister MYERS: You are correct. It’s adorable in its own way. If you add it to a plate of food, it will make the dish more interesting to look at. ELLIOTT: Now, why is it that we are unable to get anything as fresh, you know, in the produce department of the grocery store with little baby husks and baby corn silk peeping up? Professor MYERS: Well, it, it’s available in farmer’s markets.
- You can look for it.
- ELLIOTT: Oh.
- Not at the normal food shop, Professor MYERS will tell you.
- The husk is normally left on baby corn when it is sold, and my hypothesis is that the average person shopping at a grocery store does not want to deal with the additional effort involved in removing the husk.
- It is much simpler to go to the store and get a little jar of canned baby corn or something similar than it is to.
ELLIOTT: It’s far easier than attempting to remove the husks from a dozen tiny corns. Mister MYERS: You are correct. Yes. ELLIOTT: Jim Myers is a professor at Oregon State University, where he teaches about the breeding of vegetables and their genetics.
- I am grateful to you, sir, for your assistance.
- Professor MYERS: All right, let me begin by saying thank you very much.
- Copyright protected by NPR 2006 We reserve all of our rights.
- For further information, please see the permissions and conditions of use pages on our website, which may be found at www.npr.org.
An NPR contractor works under intense time pressure to provide transcripts for the broadcaster. This piece of writing might not be in its completed form yet; it might be modified or rewritten at some point in the near or distant future. There is no guarantee of accuracy or availability.
What are the mini corns called?
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- Baby corn, also known as young corn, cornlets, or baby sweetcorn, is a cereal grain that is obtained from corn (maize) that is harvested early when the stalks are still young and immature.
- Other names for baby corn include young corn, cornlets, and baby sweetcorn.
- It is often consumed in its whole, including the cob, in contrast to mature corn, of which the cob is typically inedible because of its harsh texture.
Raw and cooked preparations of it are also common. Stir fried meals frequently use baby corn as an ingredient.
What are little ears corn?
CORVALLIS, Ore. — If you produce corn in your own garden at home, then this summer you might wish to harvest some fresh “baby” corn ears for your table. The majority of baby corn sold in the United States comes from East Asia. Baby corn refers to the very young ears of corn that are commonly used in Asian cuisine and are a customer favorite at salad bars across the country.
It is often canned or stored in jars after being prepared and packaged for sale. Consumers mistakenly believe that baby corn originates from dwarf corn plants due to the product’s diminutive size. According to Jim Myers, a vegetable breeder at the Oregon State University, the small ears of baby corn are actually just immature ears that have developed on regular-sized plants.
Even though there are specific corn types that may be used for the production of baby corn, baby corn can also be obtained from many of the more common corn kinds. All that is required of you is to gather some of the sweet corn from your garden in advance.
Baby corn can be successfully cultivated from field, ordinary, sugary enhanced, or ultra sweet corn kinds. It is not necessary for you to purchase the more elaborate items from the store. However, keep in mind that according to Myers, sweeter types of corn do not result in sweeter baby corn. Because the ears of baby corn are taken before pollination and also before sugar has been stored in the kernels, baby corn does not have a sweet flavor because it has not had enough time to fully mature.
When growing baby corn, it is important to keep a close eye on how your corn ears are developing. Due to the rapid rate at which corn grows, timing the harvest is essential. In just one or two more days, the corn can reach a size that is unsuitable for use as baby corn.
This results in a more robust and substantial ear that is not ideal for use in a meal like stir fry or salad. It takes a lot of experience to harvest young corn at at the right moment. It’s possible that you won’t know precisely when the baby corn is ready for harvest until you pick a few kernels at varying stages every day for a few days.
This will allow you to get a better sense of when to pick them. To begin, collect ears from areas where silk has appeared on that day. It’s possible that each ear will reach this stage at a different time on each plant; thus, you’ll need to keep a constant eye on your plants.
- Whether cultivated with a regular or close spacing pattern, the optimal time to harvest baby corn ears is when they are between one-third and two-thirds of an inch in diameter and between one and four inches in length.
- If you aren’t going to utilize the baby corn right away, refrigerate it immediately after harvesting it with the husks still on.
Baby corn can be preserved by pickling, canning, or freezing after being blanched. Only a few firms that sell seeds have developed unique types of baby corn that can be cultivated specifically for this purpose. These maize plants are about the same size as their more common counterparts, but they produce potentially more ears per plant.
- These corn plants are not of the dwarf kind.
- According to Myers, the appearance of baby corn types after they reached full maturity would be comparable to that of a normal medium-sized ear of field or sweet corn.
- If you want to produce a patch of corn exclusively for baby corn, you may save room by planting corn seed considerably closer together than they would normally be planted.
This will allow you to grow more baby corn in the same amount of area. Plant each seed around 10 centimeters apart in the row. Maintain the standard row spacing of 30 to 36 inches between each plant. When compared to full-sized ears of corn, baby corn seems to have less issues with pests.
Corn earworms and cucumber bugs typically cause harm later on, when the corn ear has already fully developed and filled up, respectively. According to Myers, those who grow their own corn at home can get both baby corn and adult sweet corn ears from the same plant. “They might want to pick the lower ears for baby corn, and then let the top ear on a plant grow for sweet corn,” he added.
“That way, they can have the best of both worlds.” The majority of different types of sweet corn may be successfully used to make baby corn. According to research conducted at the University of Minnesota, maize used for animal feed that is starchy and has a propensity to produce many ears may also be harvested successfully as baby corn.
Is baby corn healthier than corn?
Why are corn and baby corn considered to be such significant crops? – Dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, popcorn corn, flour corn, and sweet corn are the six varieties of corn that are available. Maize is consumed both in its natural state as a whole kernel and also in the form of cornmeal, which is a dried and powdered variant of corn.
- It is a staple food in Mexico and may be found in any meal that can be made with the country’s cuisine.
- Huitlacoche, which is a fungus that grows on corn and is considered a delicacy in Mexico, is another specialty food of the country.
- Corn kernels contain a high amount of carbohydrates and calories, as well as 76% water by weight.
Corn is an excellent source of several essential nutrients, including vitamins A, B, and E, thiamin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and folate. These vitamins and niacin contribute to the expansion of cell nuclei. Individuals who are malnourished are more likely to suffer from a lack of these nutrients.
- Panthothenic acid is required for the body’s metabolism of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, making it an important nutrient.
- Folate is critical for pregnant women to consume in order to reduce the risk of malnutrition in their newborn children.
- Because it contains a lot of fiber, eating it can help avoid digestion-related problems, such as constipation.
In addition to this, it serves as a reservoir of antioxidants, which prevents an excessive amount of oxidation from occurring in the cells of the body. These antioxidants can also act as anti-carcinogens in some situations. [Causes of cancer] Corn oil may have a beneficial influence on the body’s cholesterol levels, preventing the development of atherosclerosis.
- This lowers one’s chances of developing a variety of cardiovascular ailments.
- Baby corn is a vegetable that has less calories and less starch than its mature counterpart, corn.
- It also has a lower carbohydrate content, which contributes to its overall healthiness.
- It has a very high fiber content.
- This fiber helps you feel full longer and protects you from eating more than you need to.
In addition to this, it maintains a healthy heart and protects against any disorders that are associated with the heart. Additionally, it has obtained a sizeable quantity of protein, which, when coupled with the other components of a meal, makes for a healthy and well-rounded meal.
Is baby corn a special variety?
It is not typical practice in the United States to cultivate baby corn, which is a type of small corn that is often featured in the cuisine of China. Growing young corn and then harvesting it requires careful attention to every aspect. Vegetable breeding specialist Jim Myers sends some to Debbie Elliott.
- The host is DEBBIE ELLIOTT.
- From microbes to microgreens, this book has it all.
- This weekend’s Food Moment will focus on baby corn, otherwise known as the teeny-tiny ears of corn that are typically seen in stir-fries with vegetables like broccoli and bell pepper.
- Finding someone to talk about the tiny crop proved to be a bit more challenging than we had anticipated due to the fact that it is not extensively produced in the United States.
Even the helpful employees at the Department of Agriculture in Nebraska, also known as the Corn Husker State, were unable to provide us with the information we need. Then we tracked down Jim Myers, a professor at Oregon State University who specializes in the breeding and genetics of vegetables.
- He has traveled all the way from his home in Corvallis, Oregon, to be with us right now.
- I hope you enjoy your time with us, sir.
- Professor JIM MYERS of the Oregon State University Vegetable Breeding and Genetics Department says: Okay, well, I appreciate it.
- ELLIOTT: Please, Doctor Myers, shed some light on this conundrum for us.
Is this a little kind of corn, or is it more accurately referred to as baby corn? I ask you, Professor MYERS: Regular corn is where baby corn originates from. It can originate from any one of a large number of distinct types of cultivars, but it is harvested at a far earlier stage, before the plant has ever been fertilized.
When you eat corn off of a cob, you are actually consuming the female component of the plant, which is the ovary. There is also a tassel that releases pollen, and that pollen needs to float onto the silks and then fertilize those individual kernels for them to proceed with the development process. However, you are harvesting this corn before the pollination and fertilization processes have actually taken place, so the kernels won’t develop properly.
It would be the same as going out and selecting an apple before the flower on the tree had even opened. ELLIOTT: What is the process of gathering it? Professor MYERS: The measurement is simply made by hand. After one or two days have passed after the silks have emerged, people will enter a field and just remove the ears.
ELLIOTT: I see, but wouldn’t it be smarter to wait till the corn has reached its full maturity before harvesting it? Professor MYERS: Without a doubt, in terms of nutrition and the food that is available to you. If you wait until it is fully developed, you will obtain a considerably larger harvest. However, baby corn in and of itself is an extremely lucrative business.
It comes at a very steep cost. ELLIOTT: Now, throughout the course of our investigation, we came to the realization that the majority of the baby corn that is consumed in the United States is really imported. Where exactly does it come from? Myers, Professor: Thailand is an important region for the manufacture of goods.
- That is the primary one that I am aware of.
- ELLIOTT: And why isn’t baby corn farmed in the United States to the same extent as other types of corn? Professor MYERS: Perhaps the most significant barrier is all of the labor that is required.
- It’s a crop that requires a lot of manual effort.
- However, we do not have any mechanized harvesting equipment for the smaller ears of corn.
ELLIOTT: I would want to discuss the flavor of this baby corn with you. It does not strike me as particularly acrid in the manner in which certain vegetables may be when they have not yet reached its full maturity, but in all honesty, it does not have much of a flavor.
- No, it has the traditional corn flavor, but there is no sugar that has been deposited in the kernels yet, so it does not have any of the sweetness or starchiness that we generally associate with something like sweet corn.
- However, it does have the characteristic corn flavor.
- Professor MYERS: ELLIOTT: So in general, it’s just sort of adorable, but there’s not much in the way of nourishment or flavor there.
Mister MYERS: You are correct. It’s adorable in its own way. If you add it to a plate of food, it will make the dish look more interesting. ELLIOTT: Now, why is it that we are unable to get anything as fresh, you know, in the produce department of the grocery store with little baby husks and baby corn silk peeping up? Professor MYERS: Well, it, it’s available in farmer’s markets.
You can look for it. ELLIOTT: Oh. Not at the normal food shop, Professor MYERS will tell you. The husk is normally left on baby corn when it is sold, and my hypothesis is that the average person shopping at a grocery store does not want to deal with the additional effort involved in removing the husk. It is much simpler to go to the store and get a little jar of canned baby corn or something similar than it is to.
ELLIOTT: It’s far easier than attempting to remove the husks from a dozen tiny corns. Mister MYERS: You are correct. Yes. ELLIOTT: Jim Myers is a professor at Oregon State University, where he teaches about the breeding of vegetables and their genetics.
I am grateful to you, sir, for your assistance. Professor MYERS: All right, let me begin by saying thank you very much. Copyright protected by NPR 2006 We reserve all of our rights. For further information, please see the permissions and conditions of use pages on our website, which may be found at www.npr.org.
An NPR contractor works under intense time pressure to provide transcripts for the broadcaster. This piece of writing might not be in its completed form yet; it might be modified or rewritten at some point in the near or distant future. There is no guarantee of accuracy or availability.
Do you cook baby corn?
Article Downloading Available Article Downloading Available Baby corn is a type of sweet corn that has been collected at an earlier stage, when the kernels are still quite little. Baby corn can be eaten raw or prepared as an ingredient in other recipes, such as stir-fries with an Asian-inspired flavor profile. However, it can also be cooked and served on its own if you like.