Maize vs corn: difference, names and which word to use

• Same grain, one botanical name. IFCT 2017's English entry prints 'Maize, dry' for this grain, and a 2024 research review studies 'Pigmented Corn (Zea mays L.)'; both words attach to Zea mays.
• The real difference sits between types, not words. The numbers here are for the dry grain only; fresh sweet corn and popcorn are other types of the grain, with their own uses.
• Which word to use. Either, in the kitchen: COWBERRY's own pages write maize and corn side by side, and Hindi adds makki.

Botanically there is no difference between maize and corn: the two words point at one grain. IFCT 2017, India's official food composition tables, lists the dry grain under the English name 'Maize, dry', food code A006. The Hindi name in the same row is makka, the grain Indian kitchens call makki.

The word corn attaches to the same plant in science: a 2024 review is titled 'Bioactive Compounds from Pigmented Corn (Zea mays L.)' and notes more than 250 breeds of pigmented corn on the American continent. In world production terms, the ICAR millets review lists maize with paddy, wheat and barley ahead of sorghum, per FAO data of 2014. So the maize and corn difference is a difference of words, not of grain.

The differences that actually exist are between types of the grain, not between the two words. IFCT 2017's entry says 'Maize, dry', and that dry grain is what the nutrition numbers on this page describe: the kernels that are stored, milled into makki atta and boiled into katori servings.

Popcorn is another use: COWBERRY states its maize is intended for culinary use only and is not suitable for making popcorn. Fresh sweet corn on the cob is another product again; the numbers below belong to the dry grain only.

Because the two words name one grain, one table covers both: the dry maize figures from IFCT 2017, 334 kcal, 8.80 g of protein, 3.77 g of fat, 64.77 g of carbohydrates and 12.24 g of fibre per 100 g. The same 100 g also gives 2.49 mg of iron, 145 mg of magnesium, 291 mg of potassium and 25.81 ug of folate. The full table is below.

Cooked portions scale from that 100 g base: one katori of boiled maize cooked from 40 g of dry grain (about 200 ml) gives 133.6 kcal, 25.9 g of carbohydrates, 4.9 g of fibre, 3.5 g of protein and 1.5 g of fat, and one roti (40 g flour) gives the same numbers. Maize or corn, the maths does not change.

Per 100 g raw, edible portion. Composition: IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN). GI: University of Sydney GI database. — means not reported. These are average values for the food; the label on a pack gives the values for that product.

In the kitchen the two words keep overlapping. COWBERRY's maize flour is made by grinding dried maize (corn) kernels, and makki ka atta is the Hindi name of that same flour; the product page itself writes maize and corn side by side. So makki atta and maize flour are one thing under two names. COWBERRY sells both forms: the whole grain from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and the flour from Punjab.

Corn flour and cornstarch are where the words can mislead, and the makki atta vs corn flour page sorts out which is which. For the classic use, the recipe is makki ki roti, rolled from makki atta.

Use whichever word the recipe or the shop understands; both name the same grain. Official Indian tables say maize, science says maize or corn, and Indian kitchens say makki, the everyday Hindi name on COWBERRY's product page. All three point at Zea mays.

For the name in every Indian language, see the maize in Hindi page, and for the grain's full story, nutrition to recipes, the makki (maize) hub page.

Difference between maize and corn?

Botanically, none: both words name Zea mays, one grain. IFCT 2017's English entry prints 'Maize, dry' for it, while a 2024 review studies 'Pigmented Corn (Zea mays L.)'. The differences that matter sit between dry maize, sweet corn and popcorn, not between the two words.

Is maize and corn same?

Yes. One plant, two words: maize and corn both name Zea mays, and IFCT 2017 lists the dry grain under 'Maize, dry'. A research review calls it 'Pigmented Corn (Zea mays L.)', and COWBERRY's product page glosses maize as corn; same grain, same flour, same roti.

Which maize is used for popcorn?

Maize sold for popping, not the culinary maize this page describes: COWBERRY states its maize is intended for culinary use only and is not suitable for making popcorn. The numbers on this page are for the dry culinary grain only, so popcorn's numbers are not given here.

What is maize?

A major world cereal and the grain behind makki: IFCT 2017 lists it under food code A006 with 334 kcal, 12.24 g of fibre and 8.80 g of protein per 100 g, and the ICAR millets review counts maize among the world's major cereals by FAO production data.

Does maize contain fibre?

Yes: 12.24 g of fibre per 100 g of dry maize, and one 40 g katori or roti contributes 4.9 g of it. NIN's guidelines say fibre-rich foods such as whole grains improve satiety.

Does makki atta have gluten?

No. Maize is naturally gluten-free, and makki atta is maize flour; COWBERRY's product page says the same. The flour is made by grinding dried maize (corn) kernels, so the atta named makki and the grain named corn are one gluten-free thing.