Corn husk is the outer shell of the sweetcorn plant when the cobs have grown and are ready to be harvested, the green peel is usually thrown away. However skilled artisans are making great use of this material and are leaving the husks in the sun to completely dry and turn brown.
Once ready they are able to weave them together by hand; creating something that instead of just ending up in the bin as waste can be made into something beautiful like a rug that actually becomes the centrepiece of a room. They can also be naturally dyed using Hyacinth to make colour variations.
Husks shouldn’t be thrown away as they can have many uses in the kitchen such as for cooking food inside, and making tamales (a popular Mexican dish) - a dough is cooked inside a corn husk or banana leaf, afterwards, the corn husk can be used as a plate.
Corn husks can be preserved for later use, you will need to wash them with clean water, remove excess water from them by blotting with a cloth and finally rub a little oil on them and place them in the grill until dry and preserved. Explore natural eco-friendly corn husk fibre rugs that are handwoven and carefully dyed with hyacinth.
Corn husk: Frequently asked questions
Corn husk uses
- They can be used as a wrapper for grilling and steaming food
- Great for fertilising the soil attracting worms
- As a powder it is edible and has a great flavour
- Useful to start a campfire
- Food source for racoons and reindeers
- Craft material that can be weaved into area rugs
What is corn husk powder?
Corn husk powder is made from burnt corn husk that is then grinded to a powder, it can then be used to flavour and colour food. It is said to have a similar taste to coffee, although, I have not tried it.
How long do dried corn husks last?
Dried corn husks can be stored in a sealed dry place for one year.
Is corn husk a waste?
Since corn husk is seen by farmers to have no commercial value it is seen as agriculture waste. Hopefully as the crafts made with it become more popular, the value will increase and we can start seeing it as a common material that is natural and eco friendly.
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