What Is the Difference Between Hominy and Corn?
The difference between hominy and corn is that hominy is a corn product and corn is the raw ingredient. Hominy is made from dried corn kernels soaked in a lime or lye bath, according to the Huffington Post.
The lime or lye bath adds alkaline to the corn, softens kernels, loosens the hulls and makes the kernels expand. This gives the corn a chewier texture and makes it possible to knead ground hominy into a dough.
Hominy is commonly used to make corn masa, notes The Kitchn. Masa is the key ingredient in foods such as corn tortillas and tamales. Cooks can grind hominy to make grits. People also eat it on its own or in foods such as stews. In Mexico, people make a drink called “atole,” which is hominy mixed with water, milk and sometimes chocolate.
Hominy is very nutritious. Corn contains a nutrient called niacin, and the alkaline reaction that occurs during hominy production allows the body to absorb it.
Hominy comes ready to eat in jars or in a dried form. It is beneficial as a dried food, as the alkaline in the corn prevents it from sprouting if conditions get moist. People can prepare dried hominy using the same process they would use to prepare dried beans.
