Can You Dehydrate Sweet Corn?
Sweet corn, also known as maize, has been eaten in the Americas for thousands of years. While modern gardeners are accustomed to eating corn fresh on the cob, traditional food preservation techniques included drying corn for storage through the winter. Does this Spark an idea?
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Simple Dehydrated Corn
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For basic dehydrated corn, boil ears of fresh corn for 4 minutes, then cut the kernels off the cobs and dehydrate. Corn can be dried in trays in a warm oven overnight or in a food dehydrator. If you use a dehydrator, check the size of the kernels against the width of the spaces in the dehydrator trays to ensure that the kernels will not fall through.
A Traditional Recipe With Cream and Sugar
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According to Mother Earth News, this method of drying sweet corn has delicious results. Cut 8 pt. of corn kernels off the cob without blanching first. Combine the corn with 1/2 cup of sweet cream, 6 tbsp. of sugar and 4 tsp. of canning salt; boil for 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Spread the corn out on trays and dehydrate as described previously.
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How to Store Dried Sweet Corn
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Make sure that your sweet corn has been thoroughly dehydrated before storing it. The kernels should be light and crisp and should rattle when shaken together. Store in glass jars with tight lids, and keep in a cool, dry place.
Eating Dehydrated Corn
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Although dried sweet corn makes a tasty snack on its own, it can also be used in recipes that call for regular corn. Rehydrate the corn by soaking it in water for a few minutes, then drain the excess water before using the corn as you would use canned corn. Or add the corn directly to your dish, but include extra liquid for the corn to absorb.
Cornmeal
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Dried corn can be made into cornmeal at home by using a food grinder or a food processor. Cornmeal made from dehydrated sweet corn may be sweeter than you are used to cornmeal being; take this into consideration when using it in recipes.
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