{{Short description|Central core of corn ear}} {{for|the culinary term|Corn on the cob}} {{Tone|date=August 2023}} thumb|A cross-section of an ear of corn, showing the cob.A '''corncob''', also called '''corn cob''' or '''cob of corn''', is the hard core of an ear of maize, bearing the kernels, made up of the chaff, woody ring, and pith. Corncobs contain mainly cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gandam |first1=Pradeep Kumar |last2=Chinta |first2=Madhavi Latha |last3=Gandham |first3=A. Priyadarshini |last4=Pabbathi |first4=Ninian Prem Prashanth |last5=Konakanchi |first5=Srilekha |last6=Bhavanam |first6=Anjireddy |last7=Atchuta |first7=Srinivasa R. |last8=Baadhe |first8=Rama Raju |last9=Bhatia |first9=Ravi Kant |date=December 2022 |title=A New Insight into the Composition and Physical Characteristics of Corncob—Substantiating Its Potential for Tailored Biorefinery Objectives |journal=Fermentation |language=en |volume=8 |issue=12 |pages=704 |doi=10.3390/fermentation8120704 |doi-access=free |issn=2311-5637}}</ref> The cob is not toxic to humans and can be digested, but the outside is rough and practically inedible in its original form. The foamy pith has a peculiar texture when mature and is completely bland, which most people would find unappealing, due to the consistency similar to foam plastic.
However, during several instances of famine (especially in European countries throughout history), people have been known to eat the corncobs, especially the foamy middle part.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}} Dried and ground corncobs have a high fiber content and thus can be used in dietary supplements.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Njideka |first1 = Bede Evelyn |last2=Chijioke | first2 = Mmuoasinam Beluonwu |last3=Onuegbu | first3 = Ngozika Chioma |last4=Ahaotu | first4 = Ndidiamaka Nnennaya |last5=Peter-Ikechukwu | first5 = Anne Ihebuzaju |date=2020-07-30 |title=Maize cob as dietary fiber source for high-fiber biscuit Primary tabs |url=https://gsconlinepress.com/journals/gscbps/content/maize-cob-dietary-fiber-source-high-fiber-biscuit |journal=GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=138–144 |doi=10.30574/gscbps.2020.12.1.0203|doi-access=free }}</ref> Corn cob powder can also be mixed with flour to improve the nutritional quality of baked goods.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Islam |first1=Fakhar |last2=Imran |first2=Ali |last3=Afzaal |first3=Muhammad |last4=Saeed |first4=Farhan |last5=Asghar |first5=Aasma |last6=Shahid |first6=Sumaira |last7=Shams |first7=Arooj |last8=Zahra |first8=Syeda Mahvish |last9=Biswas |first9=Sunanda |last10=Aslam |first10=Muhammad Arslan |date=May 2023 |title=Nutritional, functional, and ethno-medical properties of sweet corn cob: a concurrent review |url=https://academic.oup.com/ijfst/article/58/5/2181/7807598 |journal=International Journal of Food Science & Technology |language=en |volume=58 |issue=5 |pages=2181–2188 |doi=10.1111/ijfs.16338 |issn=0950-5423|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Corncobs are used as biofuel, as they are an efficient, cheap and an environmentally friendly source of heat when burned,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Asonja |first1=Aleksandar |last2 = Desnica | first2= Eleonora |last3= Radovanovic |first3=Ljiljana |date=2017-01-02 |title=Energy efficiency analysis of corn cob used as a fuel |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/15567249.2014.881931 |journal=Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning, and Policy |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=1–7 |doi=10.1080/15567249.2014.881931 |bibcode=2017EneSB..12....1A |issn=1556-7249|url-access=subscription }}</ref> so they were traditionally used for roasting meat on the spit, barbecuing and heating the bread ovens, through the centuries. It has been used for its long and steady burning embers, making is suitable for use in ember irons.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
[[File:Pannocchia sgranata.jpg|thumbnail|upright|A corncob with attached corn kernels]]
When harvesting corn, the corncob may be collected as part of the ear (necessary for corn on the cob), or instead may be left as part of the corn stover in the field, which may improve soil quality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corn Cobs on the Job |url=https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/corn-cobs-job |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250419013417/https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/corn-cobs-job |archive-date=2025-04-19 |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.usda.gov |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Uses ==
=== Agricultural ===
* Bedding for animals — cobs absorb moisture and provide a compliant surface<ref name="Aston 2010" /> * Fiber in fodder for ruminant livestock (despite low nutritional value) * Diluent/carrier/filler material in animal health products, agro-chemicals, veterinary formulations, vitamin premixes, pharmaceuticals, etc.<ref name="UofCCP" /> * Soil conditioner, water retainer in horticulture<ref name="UofCCP">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rahiindustries.com/powder.html|title=Corn Cob Powder|website=www.rahiindustries.com}}</ref>
=== Culinary === Corncobs are not frequently consumed after the corn has matured. Young ears of corn are harvested while the cob is still tender and are eaten whole. Baby corn is common in stir fries and Thai cuisine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coelho |first=Steph |title=Baby corn, explained: What it is and where it comes from |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/what-is-baby-corn |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> The cob can still be used for cooking, after the corn has matured: * Corn cobs are used to flavor stock.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hunt |first=Tom |date=2022-08-13 |title=How to turn spent corn cobs into stock – recipe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/aug/13/how-to-turn-spent-corn-cobs-into-stock-recipe-zero-waste-cooking |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> * Corn milk is made utilizing whole ears of corn.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Andrea |date=2023-09-21 |title=Vietnamese Corn Milk Recipe (Sua Bap) |url=https://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2023/09/vietnamese-corn-milk-recipe-sua-bap.html |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Viet World Kitchen |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Pest control ===
* Powdered corn cob is used as an environmentally-friendly rodenticide.
=== Industrial ===
* Industrial source of the chemical furfural<ref name="Engineers 2006 p. 173" /> * Absorbent media for safe disposal of liquid and solid effluents<ref name="UofCCP" />
=== Other products === * Ground up and washed (then re-dried) to make cat litter * A mild abrasive for cleaning building surfaces, when coarsely ground * Bowl material for corncob pipes<ref name="Tobacco Leaf 1907" /> * As a biofuel<ref name="Roth 2014" /> * Charcoal production<ref>{{cite news |title=Corncob briquette: Students in Somalia discover alternative to charcoal |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/corncob-briquette-students-in-somalia-discover-alternative-to-charcoal/2456246 |access-date=19 January 2026 |work=aa.com.tr}}</ref> * Anal hygiene<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ruane|first=Michael E.|date=18 Mar 2020|title=Toilet paper takes center stage amid coronavirus outbreak. Be thankful we no longer use corn cobs and rope ends.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/03/18/toilet-paper-takes-center-stage-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-be-thankful-we-no-longer-use-corn-cobs-rope-ends/|url-status=live|access-date=31 July 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318120423/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/03/18/toilet-paper-takes-center-stage-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-be-thankful-we-no-longer-use-corn-cobs-rope-ends/ |archive-date=2020-03-18 }}</ref> * The body of a doll<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zeltwanger |first=Alicia |date=2018-12-07 |title=Make Your Own Corn Cob Dolls DIY |url=https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/make-your-own-corn-cob-dolls-diy/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Little House on the Prairie |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == <references> <ref name="Engineers 2006 p. 173">{{cite book | last=Engineers | first=N.B.C. | title=Wheat, Rice, Corn, Oat, Barley and Sorghum Processing Handbook (Cereal Food Technology) | publisher=Asia Pacific Business Press | year=2006 | isbn=978-81-7833-002-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mQK3AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA173 | page=173}}</ref> <ref name="Aston 2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.alnmag.com/articles/2010/11/bedding-laboratory-animals|title=Bedding For Laboratory Animals|last=Aston|first=Andrew|date=November 14, 2010|publisher=ALN Magazine|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927020107/http://www.alnmag.com/articles/2010/11/bedding-laboratory-animals|archive-date=September 27, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name="Tobacco Leaf 1907">{{cite book | title=Tobacco Leaf | issue=v. 44 | year=1907 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nCNLAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA12-PA36| access-date=October 29, 2015 | pages=36, 38}}</ref> <ref name="Roth 2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.extension.org/pages/26619/corn-cobs-for-biofuel-production|title=Corn Cobs for Biofuel Production|last1=Roth|first1=Greg|last2=Gustafson|first2=Cole|date=January 31, 2014|publisher=Cooperative Extension System|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910035739/http://www.extension.org/pages/26619/corn-cobs-for-biofuel-production|url-status=dead}}</ref> </references>
== External links == * [http://web.mit.edu/mmadinot/Public/corn-cob.pdf Making charcoal from corncobs]
{{corn}}
Category:Maize