How are corn kernels processed by wet milling?

Wet milling is a specialized industrial process used to separate the components of corn to produce cornstarch and other valuable byproducts. The process involves several key stages:

• Cleaning and Steeping: The corn is first dry-cleaned to remove impurities. It is then steeped in warm water treated with sulfur dioxide, which softens the kernels and facilitates the removal of the outer skin and germ.1
• Degermination and Grinding: The softened corn is coarsely ground in degerminating mills. The resulting slurry undergoes further wet-grinding and sieving to isolate the germ from the starch.1
• Separation: The germ, which is rich in oil, is dried and pressed to extract corn oil, a versatile edible oil used in cooking and manufacturing.1
• Starch Recovery: The remaining starch suspension is thickened and processed through centrifuges to achieve high purity. Finally, the starch is dried without undergoing gelatinization.1

This method is distinct from dry milling and is essential for creating products used in both food and industrial applications.21