Ears of corn aren’t all born equal. Some are short and stubby, like a grumpy thumb. Others are long and lean, like a rockstar’s microphone.
A bushel is a volume measurement, not a count. It’s 8 gallons or 1.25 cubic feet. So if you have tiny, skinny ears, you’ll need more of them to fill that space. Big, fat ears? Fewer.
Most experts say you’ll land between 70 and 80 ears for a standard bushel. But don’t quote me at a county fair unless you want a fistfight with a farmer named Hank.
What about sweet corn? Oh, you opened a whole other can of kernels.
Sweet corn is the juicy, tender version you eat at barbecues. Field corn is the hard, dented stuff for cows and ethanol. They’re not the same beast.
Sweet corn ears are usually heavier because they’re full of moisture. So a bushel of sweet corn might only need 50 to 60 ears. Yes, fewer ears! It’s weird, but corn is weird. Deal with it.
If you’re buying sweet corn by the bushel at a market, ask the seller how many ears they’re counting. They might look at you like you just asked for the secret recipe for ketchup. Ask anyway.
how many ears in a bushel of corn? - Test Food Kitchen
