Fast delivery
Get in as fast as 1 hour
It’s all local
Shop your favorites
Direct chat
Connect with shoppers
Corn Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to corn products
About corn
Also known as maize, corn is one of the world's most widely distributed food crops. This cereal grain was first domesticated by people in southern Mexico more than 10,000 years ago. The leafy stalk of the vegetable produces ears that yield seeds of corn, which are fruits. An average ear, which is protected by a husk of tightly wrapped leaves, has 800 kernels on 16 rows.
Today, farmers grow corn on every continent except for Antarctica. It's America's top field crop, leading all others in volume and value. However, only 1% of the corn planted in the United States is sweet corn. The majority of the corn grown is field corn, which is used for livestock feed, manufactured goods, and ethanol production. You might be surprised to know that corn is in thousands of grocery items, such as shampoo, crayons, marshmallows, and toothpaste.
Corn has five different types of kernels, although you won't find all of them in the grocery store:
- Dent: This type of corn, also known as field corn, is easy to spot because the kernels have a dent in each crown. It has a high starch, but low sugar content and is not meant to be eaten fresh. Rather, it's harvested when the kernels are dry and then processed.
- Flint: Known as Indian or calico corn, flint corn is harder than dent corn. When you see decorative corn in the fall, it's often flint corn. Once the corn is dried, it can be used in polenta, cornmeal, and grits.
- Flour: Popular in the Southwest, flour corn has mainly soft starch. This allows the corn to be ground into a fine cornmeal.
- Popcorn: As the oldest type of domesticated corn, popcorn has kernels similar to flint corn. The popcorn kernel has a hard and brittle kernel that's almost glasslike. Once the kernel is heated, the moisture inside it turns to steam and builds up pressure to make the kernel explode.
- Sweet: This is the corn you're familiar with at the store. It has a high sugar content, making it desirable to eat, and is harvested while immature. That way, the sugar doesn't have a chance to turn into starch.
How to pick out corn
Picking the freshest corn is easier than you might think, especially when it's in season from May through September. Take a look at the husk, and find one that is bright green, wrapped tightly around the corn, and slightly damp. Avoid any husks that are starting to yellow or feel dry.
Examine the husk for small brown holes, which might signify that insects have begun to feast on the corn. Check out the bottom of the corn where the ear was broken off of the stalk. If this area is brown, the corn is probably a couple of days old and might not be the freshest choice.
As tempted as you might be, do not peel back the husk to check the kernels. Doing so can cause the corn to dry out and shorten its shelf life. Instead, squeeze the corn. By gently squeezing the ear of the corn, you can feel the kernels through the husk. Start from the bottom and work your way up. The corn should feel firm, and the kernels should feel plump.
The next time you need some corn, save yourself some time and order via Instacart. Open the app, add corn to your cart, and an Instacart shopper will begin working on your order, and you can receive your order on the same day!
Corn Near Me
Buy your favorite Corn online with Instacart. Order Sweet Corn, White Corn, Yellow Corn, and more from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
Browse more Corn categories:
FAQs about corn
Keeping fresh corn from drying out is vital. If you plan to cook the corn within a few hours, it's safe to leave it at room temperature. If you don't plan to prepare it for a day or two, place the corn in the refrigerator with the husks on. Make sure to wrap it tightly in a plastic bag.
Yes, and corn is one of the easiest vegetables to freeze. You can either remove the kernels or freeze the entire cob. With either option, you need to shuck the cob completely and trim the ends. Try to remove as much stray silk as possible.
Bring a large pot to a rolling boil, and add the ears of corn. Once the water returns to a boil, start a timer for nine minutes. Remove the corn from the pot, and transfer them into a bowl of ice water. After the corn is completely cool, you can remove the kernels with a knife. Place the cobs or kernels on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer for 1.5 hours. Remove them from the freezer, and place them in freezer-safe bags. The corn lasts for 12 months in the freezer.