Corn is an annual crop which takes from 3 to 5 months to mature. This is the familiar corn-on-the-cob, or sweet corn, plant. Commercial ‘corn flour’ is a finely ground form of the maize meal and ‘corn flakes’ are made from pre-cooked, flaked and toasted maize grain. Maize is a good source of starch but its protein has a lower nutritional value than other cereals.
The oil expressed from the seeds is reasonably priced with a mild taste. It is good oil for frying but most cooks consider it too heavy for mixing in a salad dressing. It is acceptable massage oil though not first choice. Vegetable oils on their own keep quite well but once essential oils have been added they tend to oxidize and turn rancid after a month or two. Corn oil has the least keeping qualities so if it is required for storage in mixtures; add 5% wheat germ oil to double its storage time.
