Popping Flint Corn

First be sure you purchase food grade flint corn. Ask the produce clerk in your local store to be sure it is untreated. Flint corn naturally contains less water than sweet corn and this time of year we see many colors- red, blue, yellow, orange and variegated varieties containing some or all of these colors.
You can pop flint corn just as you do standard popcorn kernels because standard popcorn kernels are closely related to flint corn.

Begin by removing the husks and setting aside.

Pull kernels from each of the cobs. This is a great fine motor activity.

For this activity we wanted to pop the corn separately to compare colors and taste so we put the kernels from each cob in a different bowl.

Wash the kernels, drain and allow to dry evenly on a cloth or paper towel.

Pop the corn just as you would popcorn kernels.

We measured a few tablespoons of kernels in a lunch sized paper sack.

Roll the top under and place with the curled side down. We listened for the popping to slow which happened at about 1 minute and 20 seconds in the microwave we used.
Add butter and salt as desired.

Popped Red Flint Corn

We also decided to give the miniature flint corn a try.

The smaller flint corn was more challenging to remove from the cob......

The different colors/types of kernels cook differently. To be safe, set your microwave to 3 or 4 minutes and listen, pulling the corn out when the popping stops to peter out.

The miniature flint corn pops better and is more tender but more difficult to remove from the cob and the larger flint corn is easier to remove from the cob but doesn't taste as good as the miniature.
Choose according to which positive trait is most important to your group.

Or forgo the whole kernel removal process and place the entire miniature cob in a brown lunch sack, rolling tight and placing the rolled side on the bottom. Start with 3-4 minutes and listen for the popping to slow. Popping flint corn is a great way to show children the difference between flint corn and sweet corn.

And you still have your corn husks to make a doll......

Visit teachersfirst.com for a great tutorial on how to make a corn husk doll.