Yes, you can eat rainbow corn, but not in the same way you eat sweet corn. Rainbow corn, also known as Glass Gem corn or Indian corn, is a type of flint corn with a hard outer shell, making it less suitable for eating directly off the cob like sweet corn. Its texture is less sweet and juicy compared to sweet corn varieties.
How to Enjoy Rainbow Corn
While not ideal for eating fresh, rainbow corn offers several culinary and decorative uses:
- Popcorn: Rainbow corn makes excellent homemade popcorn. Its hard kernels are perfect for popping.
- Cornmeal: It's commonly used to make cornmeal, adding a beautiful colorful flair.
- Decorative Purposes: Dried rainbow corn cobs are a stunning addition to fall decorations.
Several sources confirm its edibility, highlighting its versatility beyond the typical sweet corn consumption:
- Eat Your Way Clean: Confirms that Indian corn (similar to rainbow corn) is edible and closer to the original corn varieties. https://eatyourwayclean.com/can-you-eat-indian-corn-yes-and-heres-how/
- Very Vegan Val: States that ornamental corn (another name for rainbow corn) is delicious and provides a method for preparing it. https://veryveganval.com/2022/11/17/can-you-eat-ornamental-corn-homemade-hominy/
- Multiple Reddit and Facebook posts: Discuss growing and using rainbow corn for various purposes including cornmeal and decorative uses. These corroborate the information from other sources.
In summary: While not as sweet or easy to eat on the cob as standard sweet corn, rainbow corn is indeed edible and offers various uses in cooking and decoration.
