How many dozen are in a bushel of corn?

In this brief guide, we will answer the question ‘how many dozens are in a bushel of corn?’ and discuss the bushel unit and other units and measurements associated with corn.

How many dozens are in a bushel of corn?

In a bushel of corn there are about 9 dozen corn ears dozen corn. A bushel of corn weighs 56 lb or 25.4 kg (1). Each 8-inch ear of corn weighs about 0.5 lb of corn grains (2). So, you will need:

65 lb (1 bushel) / 0.5 lb = 112 units of corn ear

While a dozen equals 12 units, 112 units equals:

112 units / 12 = 9.3 dozen

Therefore, a bushel of corn equals the amount of more than 9 dozen corn ears.

What is a bushel?

Bushel is a measure of capacity used for edible and dry items. Wheat, oats, and barley; all have different weights, hence hold a different number of the bushel (1).

The common measurement units used to measure grains are kilograms, pounds, tons and metric tons. A bushel of corn has 56 lb or 25.4 kg or 0.0254 metric tons.

For instance, a bushel has different meanings for different grains:

  • For barley, 1 bushel = 0.021772 metric ton = 21.7 kg
  • For wheat, 1 bushel = 0.0272155 metric ton = 27.2 kg
  • For corn and sorghum, 1 bushel = 0.0254 metric ton = 25.4 kg

What determines how many corn ears are in a bushel?

What determines how many corn ears are in a bushel is the yield of a single corn ear. In turn, the yield of a single corn ear varies depending on its weight.

The amount of corn ears to make a bushel corn can vary, depending on the weight of each corn ear. While a bushel is a fixed amount of 56 lb, a ear of corn can vary in size and weight (3).

The main factors that determine how many corn cobs are in a bushel are (2,3):

  • The moisture content of the corn grains: during storage, the kernels lose water, leading to weight loss
  • Harvest time: different harvest dates can influence on the weight of the corn grains yielded, due to the difference on moisture
  • The losses during harvest: damage of the corn cobs and other situations can lead to grain loss
  • Environmental conditions, such as soil moisture, rain, sun incidence during plant development, soil fertilization
  • Losses caused by pests and insects

What to do with a bushel of corn?

With a bushel of corn, you can make boiled corn, baked corn, grilled corn or many dishes containing corn, such as pudding, stews, breads and cakes.

To boil corn on the stove top, follow the instructions (adapted from 5):

  1. In a large cooking pan, add enough water (the amount sufficient to cover the corn cobs) and bring to boil
  2. Add 3 tablespoons of sugar and a teaspoon of skim milk (according to studies, milk and sugar improve the nutritional properties of corn)
  3. Add peeled corn ears and remove after about 30 minutes of boiling.

To cook corn in the microwave oven, follow the instructions (adapted from 5):

  1. Remove only the outer husk of the corn cobs, maintaining the inner husks and wash them
  2. Microwave each corn ear for about 2 or 3 minutes (or longer, depending on the microwave and size of the corn cob) on high potency 

Citations

  1. Converting grain units. US Grain Council
  2. Berger, A. Estimating Bushels of Corn on the Ground by Counting Ears Prior to Grazing with Cattle. University of Nebraska.
  3. Coulter, JeFF, et al. Corn production. Risk Management Guide for Organic Producers 23 2010.
  4. Basalan, M., et al. Corn maturation: changes in the grain and cob. Animal Sci Res Report, 1995, 92-98.
  5. Ferretti, P. Boiling Down The Best Methods To Prepare Corn On The Cob. Pennsylvania State University.

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