corncob
{{Short description|Central core of corn ear}}
{{for|the culinary term|Corn on the cob}}
{{Tone|date=August 2023}}
File:6925Corncobs in the Philippines Putok na Bigas 33.jpgA corncob, also called corn cob or cob of corn, is the hard core of an ear of maize, bearing the kernels, made up of the chaff, woody ring, and pith. Corncobs contain mainly cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.{{Cite journal |last1=Gandam |first1=Pradeep Kumar |last2=Chinta |first2=Madhavi Latha |last3=Gandham |first3=A. Priyadarshini |last4=Pabbathi |first4=Ninian Prem Prashanth |last5=Konakanchi |first5=Srilekha |last6=Bhavanam |first6=Anjireddy |last7=Atchuta |first7=Srinivasa R. |last8=Baadhe |first8=Rama Raju |last9=Bhatia |first9=Ravi Kant |date=December 2022 |title=A New Insight into the Composition and Physical Characteristics of Corncob—Substantiating Its Potential for Tailored Biorefinery Objectives |journal=Fermentation |language=en |volume=8 |issue=12 |pages=704 |doi=10.3390/fermentation8120704 |doi-access=free |issn=2311-5637}}
However, during several instances of famine (especially in European countries throughout history), people have been known to eat the corncobs, especially the foamy middle part. The whole cob or just the middle used to be ground and mixed with whatever type of flour was available (usually wheat or corn flour). It served as a sort of peculiar "filler", to extend the quantity of the original flour and as such, it was used even in production of bread.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
The cob is not toxic to humans and can be digested, but the outside is rough and practically inedible in its original form. The foamy part has a peculiar texture when mature and is completely bland, which most people would find unappealing, due to the consistency similar to foam plastic.
Corncobs are a particularly good source of heat when burned, so they were traditionally used for roasting meat on the spit, barbecuing and heating the bread ovens, through the centuries. In the olden days, it was especially appreciated for its long and steady burning embers, also used for the ember irons.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
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When harvesting corn, the corncob may be collected as part of the ear (necessary for corn on the cob), or instead may be left as part of the corn stover in the field.
Uses
= Agricultural =
- Bedding for animals — cobs absorb moisture and provide a compliant surface
- Fiber in fodder for ruminant livestock (despite low nutritional value)
- Diluent/carrier/filler material in animal health products, agro-chemicals, veterinary formulations, vitamin premixes, pharmaceuticals, etc.
- Soil conditioner, water retainer in horticulture{{Cite web|url=http://www.rahiindustries.com/powder.html|title=Corn Cob Powder|website=www.rahiindustries.com}}
= Culinary =
Corncobs are not frequently consumed after the corn has matured. Young ears of corn are harvested while the cob is still tender and are eaten whole. Baby corn is common in stir fries and Thai cuisine.{{Cite web |last=Coelho |first=Steph |title=Baby corn, explained: What it is and where it comes from |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/what-is-baby-corn |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} The cob can still be used for cooking, after the corn has matured:
- Corn cobs are used to flavor stock.{{Cite news |last=Hunt |first=Tom |date=2022-08-13 |title=How to turn spent corn cobs into stock – recipe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/aug/13/how-to-turn-spent-corn-cobs-into-stock-recipe-zero-waste-cooking |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
- Corn milk is made utilizing whole ears of corn.{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Andrea |date=2023-09-21 |title=Vietnamese Corn Milk Recipe (Sua Bap) |url=https://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2023/09/vietnamese-corn-milk-recipe-sua-bap.html |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Viet World Kitchen |language=en-US}}
= Pest control =
- Powdered corn cob is used as an environmentally-friendly rodenticide.
= Industrial =
- Industrial source of the chemical furfural
- Absorbent media for safe disposal of liquid and solid effluents
= Other products =
- Ground up and washed (then re-dried) to make cat litter
- A mild abrasive for cleaning building surfaces, when coarsely ground
- Bowl material for corncob pipes
- As a biofuel
- Charcoal production
- Anal hygiene{{Cite news|last=Ruane|first=Michael E.|date=18 Mar 2020|title=Toilet paper takes center stage amid coronavirus outbreak. Be thankful we no longer use corn cobs and rope ends.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/03/18/toilet-paper-takes-center-stage-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-be-thankful-we-no-longer-use-corn-cobs-rope-ends/|url-status=live|access-date=31 July 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318120423/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/03/18/toilet-paper-takes-center-stage-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-be-thankful-we-no-longer-use-corn-cobs-rope-ends/ |archive-date=2020-03-18 }}
- The body of a doll{{Cite web |last=Zeltwanger |first=Alicia |date=2018-12-07 |title=Make Your Own Corn Cob Dolls DIY |url=https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/make-your-own-corn-cob-dolls-diy/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Little House on the Prairie |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite web|url=http://www.alnmag.com/articles/2010/11/bedding-laboratory-animals|title=Bedding For Laboratory Animals|last=Aston|first=Andrew|date=November 14, 2010|publisher=ALN Magazine|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927020107/http://www.alnmag.com/articles/2010/11/bedding-laboratory-animals|archive-date=September 27, 2015|url-status=dead}}
{{cite web|url=http://www.extension.org/pages/26619/corn-cobs-for-biofuel-production|title=Corn Cobs for Biofuel Production|last1=Roth|first1=Greg|last2=Gustafson|first2=Cole|date=January 31, 2014|publisher=Cooperative Extension System|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910035739/http://www.extension.org/pages/26619/corn-cobs-for-biofuel-production|url-status=dead}}
}}
External links
- [http://web.mit.edu/mmadinot/Public/corn-cob.pdf Making charcoal from corncobs]
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