What Is the Difference Between Flint and Dent Corn

In flint maize the hard endosperm comprises most of the grain and forms a cap over the germ. In dent maize the hard endosperm is present only as an open cylinder which partly surrounds the germ towards the base of the grain.

Is flint corn the same as dent corn?

Flint corn (Zea mays indurata) is named after its texture (as in hard like flint), and has less soft starch than dent corn. Native Americans grew flint corn for its hearty nature and high nutrient value; today heirloom varieties are grown for milling into cornmeal, flour, hominy, and the like.

How can you tell corn is flint?

Flint corn is distinguished by a hard outer shell and kernals with a range of colors from white to red. (You can remember that it has a very hard exterior by thinking of flint, the stone.) Today, most flint corn is grown in Central and South America.