What kinds of corn can be nixtamalized?
What kinds of corn are the standard for nixtamalization? I mean, do they use sweet corn, popcorn, dent corn, flour corn, flint corn, pod corn, something else, or some/all of the above? I'm guessing it would work with any corn, but some might be ideal for the purpose. Maybe it depends on what you want to do with that nixtamalized corn. Let's assume it's for masa de maíz, for use with tortillas and stuff.
Best Answer
Well, it looks like I found my answer:
Field corn is used for creating masa de maíz (see this link for my source). Field corn includes a few types of corn (dent, flour, flint, waxy). I'm not sure if all types of field corn are used for masa de maíz, however. So, if anyone has a more specific answer, feel free to give it.
I'm guessing really any kind of corn could be nixtamalized, however (but some kinds may be more ideal than others). Other kinds of grain besides corn can also be nixtamalized.
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Does all corn need to be nixtamalized?
Keep in mind that while any dried corn can be nixtamalized, not any dried corn makes good masa dough. More on that later. But if you just want corn in a stew or soup or whatever that tastes better than regular ole' corn, any field corn will work.How can you tell if corn is nixtamalized?
If corn hasn't been nixtamalized, masa made from it will barely form a ball, let alone survive the tortilla press and subsequent transfer to a pan or comal. And tamales made from regular cornmeal tend to be more crumbly when unwrapped.What grains can be nixtamalized?
Nixtamalization typically refers to a process for the preparation of maize, or other grain, in which the grain is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, usually limewater, and hulled. The term can also refer to the removal via an alkali process of the pericarp from other grains such as sorghum.Is all masa nixtamalized?
Both fresh masa and masa harina are made from nixtamalized corn, but the former is a fresh corn dough while the latter is dried and ground nixtamal, used as flour (harina means "flour" in Spanish).What is Nixtamalization?
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