Boiled corn: useful properties and recipes for cooking

Corn is one of the oldest cereals known to mankind. Europeans got acquainted with it relatively recently. But it quickly gained popularity and on this continent. And this is not surprising, because from corn you can make flour and grits, and also it can be used in boiled form, and it will be a very tasty and healthy dish.

Which corn is healthier: raw or boiled

Theoretically, the greatest amount of vitamins and minerals are found in raw corn. But to eat it in this form would be at least difficult. First of all, raw corn has a very specific taste, and not everyone will like it. Secondly, it is more difficult for the body to digest such grains, and this can provoke certain problems with the stomach.

There are kinds of corn that you can eat raw. Their kernels have a relatively soft shell and have a sweet taste. The length of such a cob does not exceed 5 cm. But such varieties are not grown in Russia.

Corn is boiled for quite a long time, and during this time under the influence of high temperatures many vitamins are destroyed. According to scientists, boiled corn contains only 20-30% of the original amount of useful substances. But even so, it is good for the body. It perfectly preserves fiber, which helps to normalize digestion. Therefore, for people who follow a therapeutic diet, boiled corn is much healthier than raw corn, because it is better digested and gives less strain on the gastrointestinal organs.

In general, boiled corn is not only healthier than its raw, but also its canned counterpart, since it does not contain any additives. Canned contains vinegar, sugar and salt, so it is contraindicated in some diseases. As for the frozen corn, it is boiled before freezing, so it has all the properties of boiled corn.

Composition and calories

The energy value of boiled corn is 123 kcal per 100 grams. At the same time, it contains a lot of useful elements. First of all, this is fiber, which helps to normalize digestive processes. In addition, cooked corn contains:

1. Amino acids are a kind of building material for proteins. They play a crucial role in metabolic processes. Amino acids normalize heart function, improve brain function, promote accelerated excretion of toxins and heavy metals from the body, and protect the liver from harmful influences. Corn contains glycine, methionine, choline, tyrosine and other amino acids.
2. Ascorbic acid and vitamin E are two fairly strong antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, they have a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels. And vitamin E takes care of the skin, hair and nails, not without reason, they are enriched cosmetics.
3. B vitamins are responsible for normalizing metabolic processes.
4. Vitamin PP, is essential for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
5. Trace elements including fluorine, molybdenum, iodine, phosphorus, copper, etc. They are all involved in metabolic processes and help to oxygenate the cells of the body.

Curiously, there is even a microscopic amount of gold in corn kernels. It is the only food that contains this element.

Thus, boiled corn is a vegetable protein, vitamins and complex carbohydrates, which makes it an ideal product for dietary eating, especially since its grains do not contain gluten. This means they can be eaten even by people who suffer from celiac disease. Properly cooked corn does not cause any dyspeptic symptoms like bloating and flatulence due to the absence of this protein.

How boiled corn is good for you

General Benefits

This cereal, even in its boiled form, is beneficial to everyone. Regular consumption of corn:

1. Helps reduce cholesterol levels, prevent the formation of plaques and thus reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
2. Allows metabolic processes to be regulated.
3. Helps improve the conduction of nerve impulses.
4. Strengthens the immune system.
5. Relieves constipation and some other problems of the digestive system.

Young corn cobs help to cope with kidney and gallbladder stones. The boiled hairs of the culture, called stigmas, are also useful, so you should not throw them away during cooking.

For women

Corn contains amino acids that help reduce pain before menstruation, as well as get rid of migraines. In addition, the methionine present in the grains will be helpful for women who are taking hormonal contraceptives. The antioxidants in corn prevent the development of inflammatory diseases, including pelvic organs.

For men

Boiled corn is one of those foods that give a man strength. Men need it for strength training and physical labor. After all, corn contains amino acids that muscles need. And the grains of this cereal - the champions of the content of vitamin K, which is so necessary for the heart and blood vessels.

Pregnancy

For expectant mothers, corn is useful in that it allows you to eliminate swelling, which is often accompanied by pregnancy. In addition, corn is a low-calorie product, so it allows a woman to control weight, which is very important during pregnancy. But at the same time, corn provides the body with all the useful substances and perfectly satisfies hunger.

Fiber, which is contained in its grains, helps to improve digestive processes, so it is an effective prevention of constipation, which is often faced by future mothers.

In the early stages of pregnancy the use of corn helps to cope with toxicosis. And the iron in its grains helps normalize hemoglobin levels and prevent the development of anemia, which threatens a woman throughout pregnancy.

Of course, you should use boiled corn in moderation. In addition, it is worth to consult a doctor beforehand. The fact is that during pregnancy blood clotting may increase, and in such cases boiled corn is contraindicated.

In addition, you should choose only high-quality corn and boil it at home by yourself. Buy boiled cobs somewhere in the bazaar or on the beach (as is often the case in the southern regions) is impossible to say in what conditions it was boiled.

For breastfeeding

For young mothers boiled corn is useful in that it helps to quickly return to normal after childbirth - to reduce weight, improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails. But you can introduce it into your diet only after the child is one month old, because before that any such product can provoke colic.

For Babies

Pediatricians have no consensus on the age at which a child can be given boiled corn. Some say that from the moment when the baby is two years old, while others say that you should wait until the age of 2.5-3 years. The fact is that the child's gastrointestinal tract needs to mature in order to be able to digest corn. Even if the cob was cooked properly, the digestive enzymes of a one-year-old baby just can't cope with the dense coating of grain. Many parents can share an experience - when a child takes a cob of corn, as they say, to grind his teeth, tempted by its bright color and smell, but then the grain "comes out" virtually unchanged.

So, corn in boiled form is given to the baby at 2.5-3 years. In this case, it must be very well boiled. And it is best to give a child kernels, already cut from the cob. And you should try to trim them just above the place where they are attached to it, because the cob itself has a very hard and dense shell of kernels, the child's stomach simply can not digest it.

Children over the age of three can be given whole cobs of corn. But you still need to ease the process of digestion a little and spend a sharp knife directly on the kernels on the cob. Then the baby will eat the soft content of the kernels, and the densest part of the shell will remain on the cob. Of course, any grain has the greatest number of useful elements in its shell. But a child's body is still not able to assimilate them, because they are poorly digested. So you have to compromise in a sense. The maximum amount of boiled corn that can be given to children is 100-150 g.

Is it possible to eat boiled corn when losing weight

Although boiled corn has a fairly high glycemic index, in the absence of direct contraindications it can be eaten by those who are on a diet and want to lose weight. The fact that its grains contain many vitamins and amino acids that speed up the metabolism. In addition, with a relatively low caloric content, it helps to relieve hunger, and its use allows you to control appetite. Finally, the use of corn helps to normalize digestive processes, which is very important for weight loss.

You only need to know the measure. It is enough to eat up to 150 grams of boiled corn per day, with a little salt and, if possible, no extra fat. As a last resort, you can allow yourself a little butter.

Boiled Corn in Medicine

The substances contained in boiled corn help strengthen blood vessels and heart muscle. A unique set of trace elements and vitamins helps to keep the body toned. But in some diseases you will have to give up boiled corn.

For Diabetes Mellitus

Although corn is considered a low-calorie product, it is strictly prohibited in this disease. We are talking not only about boiled, but also about canned corn and even flakes of it, because they can have a negative impact on blood sugar levels. The glycemic index of cooked kernels is 70. This is even higher than that of canned corn!

For pancreatitis.

In the stage of exacerbation of the disease, boiled corn is not recommended to eat, because it requires a lot of enzymes for digestion, and this creates an additional load on the pancreas.

As for the remission stage, even then it is not recommended to eat boiled corn. Unless we are talking about a very small amount of kernels - up to 100 grams and not more than twice a week. Moreover, corn should be well boiled to minimize the load on the pancreas.

With gastritis

In the acute stage of this disease, a special diet is prescribed - in fact, it is a therapeutic fasting, and boiled corn is not included in the diet at this time. It is possible to consume it only in a state of remission. And in this case it is better to choose young cobs, as they are easier to digest and do not create additional load for the gastrointestinal organs.

For the intestines

Even in an adult, corn is digested in the body for quite a long time. This creates an additional load on the intestines, so with inflammatory diseases of this organ in the stage of exacerbation, it is not recommended to use this product. But on the other hand, corn has a beneficial effect on the healthy intestines.

With constipation

Grains of this cereal contain a large amount of fiber. This component helps to cope with constipation. You just need to regularly include boiled corn in your menu.

If you have gout

The substances contained in the cereal grains help to normalize salt metabolism. That is why boiled corn is advised to eat with gout. Only you should choose young cobs, they are not only tastier, but also faster cooked, and useful substances from them are better absorbed. Only with gout you can not eat boiled corn with salt, as many people like to do. It is better to eat it with a small piece of quality butter.

Good for the Liver

Many people believe that only boiled corn stigmas (hairs) are good for the liver. Indeed, their use facilitates the course of hepatitis, has a positive effect on the liver and gallbladder. But such properties also have boiled corn. Only it should be eaten in moderation.

For hemorrhoids

In this disease, it is very important to normalize digestive processes to prevent constipation. To do this, it is necessary to establish a proper diet, including the inclusion in the diet of boiled corn, which contains a large amount of fiber. In addition, its grains contain substances that strengthen blood vessels, and this is also very important in hemorrhoids.

For cholelithiasis

It is believed that corn is useful for cholecystitis. And even in those cases where it is accompanied by the formation of stones. But we are talking only about young corn cobs. They are boiled and eaten, but the decoction is not thrown away, but drank a glass a day.

Harms and contraindications

Although in general corn is useful, in some cases it can bring harm. As already noted, you should not consume it with diabetes mellitus. Also boiled corn is contraindicated in high blood clotting and some vascular diseases (such as thrombosis and thrombophlebitis).

Corn should not be consumed in case of exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases. It is not recommended for people with pathologically low body weight.

How to store boiled corn

As a rule, corn is cooked at once in large quantities. In this connection, there is a question about how to store its cobs, so that they don't go bad. For example, if the corn is boiled for dinner, it can be reheated for breakfast. It will keep at room temperature for 10-12 hours, and you won't even need to put it in the fridge.

In the latter case, it can be stored at low temperatures for 2-3 days. To keep the cobs from losing moisture, each of them is wrapped in clingfilm. If there is free space, you can put in the fridge the whole pot in which the corn was boiled, along with the water.

Another option - from the cooked corn cobs select the kernels and put them in pre-prepared glass jars, which have been sterilized. Then, salt is thrown into the boiling water (at the rate of 1 tsp. per liter of water), the resulting solution is poured into the jars with corn and sealed with airtight lids. When the jars cool down, they are put in the refrigerator, and in this form they can stand for 2-3 months.

Can you freeze

If you want, boiled corn can be frozen and kept in the freezer for a year - until the next season. In this case, after boiling the corn should be taken out of the boiling water, wait until it cools, and then each cob should be wrapped in clingfilm and put in the freezer. Afterwards it is cooked in the following way: take it out of the freezer, put it into a pot with boiling water and boil it for 10 minutes.

How to boil corn

Corn cobs can be cooked in a pot and in a multicooker. The main thing is to choose them correctly. The cobs should have light-colored kernels (this is the milky ripeness) and juicy leaves. If they are dry, it means that the cobs were picked a long time ago. If you want them to be juicier, you can add a little sugar to the water.

In a pot.

The cobs are washed, the top leaves are removed and soaked for a couple of hours in water to make the grains softer. Boil them without adding salt, it just gives hardness. Young corn after soaking is boiled for literally 20 minutes. Overripe cereal boils for a long time - almost 2 hours. The readiness can be determined only by taking a sample - if the kernel has become soft, you can turn off the gas. After this, the pot is removed from the stove, the water is poured out of it, covered with a lid and wrapped in a terry towel, so that the cobs have reached the desired maturity and the grains have become more tender.

In the multicooker

Corn cobs are prepared in the same way as described above. Pour water into the multicooker to the maximum level. Then place the cobs in the bowl, cover them with the top leaves, set the high temperature mode and turn on the device for 15 minutes.

In a pressure cooker.

Remove the top leaves from the cobs and rinse them thoroughly under running water. The more delicate leaves and stigmas, which are close to the kernels themselves, are also washed and placed on the bottom of the pressure cooker.

The cobs, cleaned in this way, are placed on top of the hairs and leaves and poured with a small amount of water. As long as it does not boil, no salt is added, so that the grains do not become rigid. On the device set the appropriate mode and turn it on for 10-20 minutes. The duration of cooking depends on the corn itself. If we are talking about young cobs, then 8-10 minutes will be enough. This applies to such devices as a pressure cooker. If we are talking about an ordinary pressure cooker, which is placed on the stove, then it is poured boiling water so that it completely covers the cobs. Cooking time for corn of milky ripeness is the same 8-10 minutes after boiling.

How to boil corn for fishing

Experienced fishermen claim that boiled corn is an excellent bait. It bites almost any non-predatory fish, many use it to catch carp, crucian carp, roach, amur. But carp especially like corn.

However, it is necessary to take raw corn, not pickled. That corn that is sold in supermarkets in cans, firstly, contains vinegar, and secondly, for it is usually selected small grains. This means that such bait will mostly attract all sorts of minnows. In addition, manufacturers usually notch the grains, so they are worse held on the hook.

So, it's best to cook raw corn for these purposes. Its kernels should be washed and left in water for 1-3 days. During this time they should swell noticeably. Boil the corn in a pot, over medium heat, so that it does not burn, at least for an hour. It is also recommended to add sugar to it, literally 20-40 grams per 1 liter of water. Ready grain is considered when it has already become soft, but has not yet had time to boil.

After cooking the grain is left in the water for a couple of days more. Experienced fishermen say that at this time it is necessary to give the bait a more pronounced flavor, such as adding honey to it. This is done exactly when the grain is ready, because honey should not be subjected to prolonged heat treatment - it loses its properties.

Is it possible to heat boiled corn in the microwave

The main problem faced by those who want to heat boiled corn in the microwave is how to preserve its juiciness. After all, the microwaves quickly evaporate moisture from the food, and this can make the corn too dry and almost inedible. To prevent this, you need to add some water to the container in which the cereal is heated and heat with it. The liquid will give a steam effect, and the cobs will remain juicy. It is also recommended to cover them with a special hood designed for microwaves.

How much boiled corn can be eaten per day

A healthy person can eat two medium-sized cobs of corn a day. That is approximately 150-200 grams of corn.

Can I Eat at Night

Theoretically, it is better not to eat anything at night. However, not everyone can adhere to this rule. In such cases, nutritionists are advised to eat some boiled corn. This is one of the few foods that you can eat at night. In addition, it reduces the level of "bad cholesterol" and helps prevent the formation of fat deposits.

How to puree

There are two ways to peel cooked corn. The traditional way is to boil the cobs in the usual way and cool them down to the point where it is comfortable to hold them in your hand. Then they take a small sharp knife and carefully, with one end of it, pick the grains out of one row. Having reached the end, they repeat the same procedure for the other row. This, of course, is quite time-consuming, but the grains remain whole and beautiful.

The second option is suitable for those who do not want to gnaw kernels out of the cob. They take boiled corn and divide the cob into several shorter pieces. Then a knife is used to pick one row of kernels. After that, a thumb press on the adjacent row of kernels - they are separated literally as a whole strip.

Can we give boiled corn to pets?

Some pets are very fond of boiled corn. But what do veterinarians say about it - can we give animals this cereal?

Dog

Many ready-to-eat dog foods include corn. It does contain many useful elements, but sometimes it does more harm than good. After all, it can cause allergic reactions in the animal. This also applies to cooked corn. Unlike raw, it will not block the intestines, and it is cooked without the vinegar that is present in pickled. Still, dogs are given it in small quantities, watching carefully for reactions.

Cat

Many cats love boiled corn. But you should not give them this product in large quantities. It is better to let it be a treat that the cat gets a little at a time. The fact is that corn is poorly digested in the cat's stomach. On the other hand, it helps to cleanse the intestines, so a spoonful of grains is enough for medicinal purposes. In addition, corn should not be given to cats with digestive disorders. And you have to watch carefully for the reaction of the pet, since some cats can be allergic to corn starch.

Rabbits

These animals are given not only boiled corn kernels, but also its leaves, but only in the amount recommended by the veterinarian, as overeating eared beauties should not be allowed.

Parrot

Birds are given boiled corn in small quantities - no more than a quarter of a cob a day.

Hamsters

These rodents are often bought dried corn kernels, but they actually prefer to chew on the cob. So boiled corn can and should be given to them, but it should not be their main food.

Guinea Pigs

Corn is useful for these animals, but you should only give them young cobs. Veterinarians advise to give corn in combination with alfalfa.

Rats

These rodents will benefit from boiled corn kernels. It is only necessary not to overfeed them.

Interesting facts about maize

1. Corn is a cereal that was brought to Europe from the New World, where it was called maize. And, by the way, it is the only cultivated cereal of American origin. It has been cultivated in Mexico for 5,000 years. However, in those days corn cobs were very small, literally 5-7 cm in length.
2. The common perception of a cereal is always an ear, but corn is not like wheat or rye. It has no spike, but rather cobs sticking out of the leaf axils. Of course, corn also had a wild ancestor. But now this cereal is not found in nature, so botanists the ancestor of maize is unknown. Although there is a theory that it was a cereal - teosinte Mexicana, which resembles corn in appearance, although it just has spikelets, not cobs. This plant grows as a weed in South America.
3. It is also interesting that modern corn does not go wild, unlike other grains. And the reason for this is the cob, because the grains do not fall to the ground and do not sprout on their own.
4. In general, the grains of this crop are an ideal dietary product. Vitamins and oil are concentrated in their flesh, but amino acids and trace elements are in the hard shell. Their specific content depends on whether the corn belongs to the group of varieties - vegetable or cereal. By the way, the former contains more sugars.
5. Although there are many amino acids in corn kernels, they lack lysine (if, of course, maize is the only cereal in the diet). But they are high in another amino acid, tryptophan. Of course, the Mayans knew nothing about these substances. But at the same time, they experimentally determined that it is best to mix corn with beans, because they have a lot of lysine, but not enough tryptophan. So it is also better to include in the modern diet of Mexican cuisine, where corn neighbors with beans.

Photo of boiled corn