S -6 3Enz y meschapter61
Keeping the Sweet Taste of Corn The sweet taste of freshly picked corn (maize) is due to the high level of sugar in the kernels
Store-bought corn (several days after picking) is not as sweet,because about 50% of the free sugar is converted to starch within one day of picking
To preserve thesweetness of fresh corn, the husked ears can be immersed in boiling water for a few minutes(“blanched”) then cooled in cold water
Corn processed in this way and stored in a freezer maintainsits sweetness
What is the biochemical basis for this procedure
Answer After an ear of corn has been removed from the plant, the enzyme-catalyzed conver-sion of sugar to starch continues
Inactivation of these enzymes slows down the conversion toan imperceptible rate
One of the simplest t