If you live in a place where you can grow and harvest your own organic corn, then you’ve likely been eating delicious sweet corn for years. Unfortunately, most people only realize this if they travel to a different country or start a small side garden. If you’re looking for the sweetest corn you’ve ever tasted, then you might want to consider buying some GMO sweet corn.
Roundup Ready sweet corn is one of the most popular GMO foods on the market. When it’s planted, the crop is resistant to glyphosate-based herbicides such as Roundup. That means that farmers can spray their crops with these chemicals without damaging or killing their plants. This is not just a good thing for the farmers, but it makes it easier and faster for them to grow their crops.
What it also means, however, is that the corn itself is going to be more susceptible to the chemicals. So if you’re thinking that this GMO corn might be hurting your health, then you’re probably on to something. GMO crops are typically doused in chemicals that are used in the fields.
What Is Roundup Ready Sweet Corn?
Roundup Ready sweet corn is GMO corn. More specifically, it’s a type of seed that is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate. Glyphosate-based herbicides are commonly sprayed on crops to kill weeds and other plants growing in between the rows of the crop.
This herbicide has been linked to a number of specific diseases and health concerns. It can be especially damaging for those who have weak immune systems or are sensitive to chemicals. The problem with GMO crops is that they are typically doused in these chemicals during the growing process. This means the corn has to have this herbicide in it to survive.
The effects of being exposed to this chemical can vary. Some people have reported weight gain, drastic changes in metabolic rate, and a number of other issues. The obvious concerns with GMOs include toxicity and most importantly, the lack of independent research on what these foods really do to our bodies.
Why Roundup Ready Crops Have Lost their Allure?
Roundup Ready crops do have advantages. They allow farmers to spend less time weeding and more time harvesting, which is ultimately a good thing. However, the effects of glyphosate herbicide are starting to outweigh the benefits. As far as I’m concerned, you can’t put a positive spin on this crop if you’re worried it might give you digestive problems or cause cancer in your family.
There are many farmers and scientists who are starting to look for other ways to eliminate weeds without the use of glyphosate. They’ve discovered that rotating crops and weeding by hand actually both work very well in eliminating weeds. There is no reason why you can’t have a successful garden or farm while eliminating this herbicide from your growing processes.
Uses Of Roundup Ready Sweet Corn
- Corn on the Cob
The most obvious (and delicious) use of corn is to eat it raw. You can just go out into your garden, pick some sweet corn and have a wonderful snack. There is no cooking involved and it’s perfectly healthy. You can have it on the cob or you can cut it off for some great homemade dishes.
- Canned Corn
If you don’t like eating sweet corn raw, then you can always cook it up and put in bottles for later use. The corn will last for years in your pantry. This is a great way to save money and have a healthy alternative to canned vegetables. I highly recommend it and so do a number of other food bloggers.
- Pickled Corn
A number of people are starting to experiment with pickled corn, too. That’s exactly what I did when I picked up some extra sweet corn this week. I made some pickled corn and it was surprisingly good. If you’re looking for a new way to use up some of your extra sweet corn, then this is a good idea.
- Corn Chips
You can also make corn chips by actually making tortillas out of the cobs and then either frying them or baking them in an oven. If you’re looking for a way to use up some extra corn, then I really recommend trying this and experimenting with different flavors. You can also create a “veggie chip” by chopping up hot peppers in with the corn.
- Corn Tortillas
You can make corn tortillas out of sweet corn if you want them to have a little more flavor than just plain old corn meal. This is exactly what I did when I had picked up some extra sweet corn last week. I don’t use corn tortillas very frequently, but they were delicious and it was a great way to use up the extra corn I had.
- Corn Soup
There are a number of ways you can make corn soup. You can cut up the corn and cook it with broth or make creamed style soup with heavy cream and seasonings. It’s also delicious if you just simmer in most any stew or soup recipe in place of some of the other vegetables that go into the dish.
- Corn Bread
Corn bread is another common use for sweet corn. If you have an extra ear or two on your hands, then this is a very good way to use it up. Of course, you can also make corn muffins or other types of bread with sweet corn as well. I always thought it would be delicious to create a sweet corn bread with some chocolate chips or raisins mixed into the batter. Corn bread is a very good side dish for almost any meal.
- Corn Salsa
Finally, you can make some corn salsa if you want to use up some of your extra sweet corn. This is a great way to use it up and it’s always nice to have a new salsa recipe. You can add different types of peppers and seasonings and make this your own particular recipe. It’s easy to make and much healthier than the store-bought kind.