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Top Summer Corn Tips

Posted Mon, Jul 16, 2007, 9:34 pm PDT
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It's hard to beat the taste of corn bought from a roadside stand. What if it's not organically grown? Corn doesn't absorb pesticides as easily as more delicate produce like spinach or berries, so you may want to save your money for other foods. Either way, here are some of my favorite tips for purchasing and preparing corn:

  • Pick ears whose outer leaves cling tightly to the cob. They are the most freshly picked. And avoid buying corn wrapped in plastic or trimmed on both ends for "easier" eating. They tend to be dry and less fresh tasting.
  • If husking, remove the outer to leave an inner layer of silk. Then wipe the cob with a damp cloth to remove stubborn excess strands that may cling directly to the kernels.
  • If boiling, match the amount of salt added to the cooking water with brown sugar to intensify the taste.
  • If roasting the corn in the oven or cooking it directly on the grill, leave the ears encased in their husks, rotating their position as they cook for 15 to 20 minutes. This method gently steams the corn, leaving it juicy and imparting a light smoky flavor.
  • For a more intensely "charred" corn -- a great ingredient for a homemade salsa or a salad -- hold a shucked ear of corn upright on a flat surface and slice the kernels off in rows. Drop them into a preheated sauté pan and toast them dry until they start to darken on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Add a touch of butter, a pinch of sugar, salt, and cracked black pepper to finish, then remove from the heat.
  • To use the cobs after they're cleaned of their kernels, make a corn stock! Simply arrange them in the bottom of a pot and cover with water and a touch of salt. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, strain and reserve the liquid. Discard the cobs. Use as a base for a soup, rice pilaf, or sauce. It freezes nicely as well.


  • 1. Posted by nancy b on Sun, Jul 22, 2007, 9:30 pm PDT

    If BBQing on the grill.. don't forget to soak your ears in water to prevent the husk from catching fire.

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  • 2. Posted by rochelle t on Thu, Jul 26, 2007, 7:02 am PDT

    you can also microwave corn with the corn in the husk it steams it and the husk and silks are easy to remove it is a quick way to cook corn if you dont want to boil it just put it in a plastic bag and microwave

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  • 3. Posted by kim e k on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 1:38 pm PDT

    Hi~ a lot of ppl over boil their corn.. Only 3-4 minutes after it starts to boil again! then the kernels are just right. Happy Summer~

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  • 4. Posted by Charles N on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 1:40 pm PDT

    How do you deal with the silks? I shuck mine and toss them right onto the grill. A little bit of blackening doesn't hurt the taste at all, in fact it brings out the sweetness.

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  • 5. Posted by Cindy P on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 1:47 pm PDT

    Thank heavens someone mentioned how long to boil..the article never addressed that, thanks

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  • 6. Posted by Jane U on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 1:49 pm PDT

    When I grill my corn, I shuck it, butter, salt, pepper it and wrap it in foil and toss it on the grill! If you're having a Mex meal, add some cumin and chopped fresh cilantro!!! Yummmy!

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  • 7. Posted by goodkid1 on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 1:50 pm PDT

    Everyone says leave the corn in the husk when grilling outside, but I get a much more flavorful result by leaving only a couple of the inner most leaves, exposing some of the kernels to the coals. As the kernels turn a little brown, the high sugar content of the corn caramelizes the kernels a bit. The result is a more desirable sweeter, smokey taste. Just keep an eye out to prevent over-browning....you'll like the result.

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  • 8. Posted by Jim P on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:01 pm PDT

    Why on earth would you boil corn? Just steam it for 8-10 minutes and you're done. Oh -- and the most important tip of all -- eat corn the same day it is picked, and don' buy corn that has been more than a few hours at room temperature. The sugar all turns to starch very quickly.

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  • 9. Posted by rlacross@att.net on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:06 pm PDT

    Olive oil and rosemary wrapped in foil in the oven or the grill rocks !

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  • 10. Posted by tada2 on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:12 pm PDT

    For juicy sweet corn that won't be scorched, Wrap the husked corn in a paper towel, wet the towel under a faucet until dripping wet then wrap in foil. Put it on the grill, It won't burn and will be juicy. You can add butter and salt before wrapping for extra flavor.

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  • 11. Posted by Bill W on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:16 pm PDT

    And the butter!...Mash some herbs.....or chili powder....or whatever flavors you like, with butter....I add a little salt, eliminating the need to salt each ear, thus using far less salt, and not sacrificing flavor.

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  • 12. Posted by sarahdoogood on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:16 pm PDT

    NEVER add salt to the water. It toughens the kernels. Put the corn in gently boiling water and cook 8 minutes if you like it crisp, 10 minutes if you like it a bit softer. To keep it hot, but not overcooked, add a couple of glassfuls of cold water to the pot to stop the cooking process.

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  • 13. Posted by Jamey T on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:17 pm PDT

    Quite the incomplete article, Ms. Gaurnaschelli. As one reader posted, soaking the corn in water before grilling is indeed a good idea, and when camping, river water seems to make it extra sweet. Another way to grill it is to shuck the ears, then butter/salt/pepper them, and then wrap them individually in aluminum foil. Put those on the grill, rotating ever so often for the requisite 10 mintues or so; this is also a mighty delicious way to go!

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  • 14. Posted by kenjofrey on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:24 pm PDT

    The best way I have found to do corn is, buy fresh, then soak in ice water for at least 1 hour.Then I steam the ears, in the husk for 30 min. in a turkey fryer.I put a couple of small wire baskets in the bottom to hold the ears above about 1" of water.When it starts to boil, steam for 30 min. then remove and place in a cooler for at least an hour. I use heavy cotton cloves to husk, sliding the gloves over the corn to remove the silk. I am doing 5 doz. for a cookout tomorrow. Enjoy !!

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  • 15. Posted by summerc517 on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:26 pm PDT

    So, do you boil it for 3-4 minutes or 8-10 minutes?

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  • 16. Posted by 2 Dollar on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:35 pm PDT

    I like to leave the husks on and soak the fresh ears in cold water with some salt added to the water. Soak for two-three hours. Grill the corn with the husk on. Turn often so they don't burn. Man, is it good this way!!

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  • 17. Posted by musciconcretefun on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:38 pm PDT

    i like to place an ear in foil with about 1 tpsn olive oil and a pinch of salt & pepper, then close up the foil and grill for 20 or so minutes at moderately high heat... add flavored oil or other spices for variety... unkay!

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  • 18. Posted by soccergirl122 on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:42 pm PDT

    The best way I've ever had corn was to place one ear in a piece of foil, add a little bit of butter salt and pepper and a tad of minced garlic, add a few pieces of crushed ice, fold up the foil and toss them on the grill for 10 minutes or so. When the ice melts it steams the corn. AMAZING.

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  • 19. Posted by ts_budman on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:43 pm PDT

    slightly open the husk and pour in about a 1/2 cup of beer. close the husk and wrap in aluminum foil and place on the grill. best way i have found to grill corn. so good it will make you want to slap your mamma.

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  • 20. Posted by waxfaerie on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:43 pm PDT

    Boiling for 3-4 minutes leaves corn with a nice firmness and wonderful flavor. 10 mins and it would be too soggy.....and who likes soggy corn? blech! :-p

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  • 21. Posted by wacotexan on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:47 pm PDT

    Mix some Old Bay seaonsing in butter, coat the ears in the mixture. Double wrap in foil, put it on the grill. Ya'll will love it!

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  • 22. Posted by dave_iowa on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:54 pm PDT

    The key to good corn is to get the freshest. There's lots of ways to cook it and they can all work. Pick one that doesn't dry or overcook the corn. Some say boiling for as little as two mins. I'd never go over 7 minutes. Don't add anything to the water. You want the corn taste. Add any seasonings later. Take it from an Iowan.

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  • 23. Posted by valenciarussell on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 2:57 pm PDT

    IF you can purchase fresh (first day picked) try eating corn raw - add salt, butter and chile as needed!

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  • 24. Posted by Jerry s on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 3:04 pm PDT

    When cooking a couple corn, I leave the husks on them and pop them into the microwave. They come out tender and juicy.

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  • 25. Posted by gadget 3569 on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 3:11 pm PDT

    peel the husk back clean and wrap with bacon. pull the husk back up wrap in foil and constantly roll on the grill. its mmmmmmmmmmm good

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  • 26. Posted by sfc1mo on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 4:38 pm PDT

    Pull the husks back but don't remove. Remove all the silk, soak in cold water for about 1/2 hour, add butter or whatever you like, put the husk back on, wrap in foil and grill. 10 to 15 min is enough. About enough time to get your steak ready and cook with it. Yummm!! (Very HOT when you try to remove the husks. Be careful.)

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  • 27. Posted by golfinana on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 5:45 pm PDT

    I am a one person household. I buy the frozen ears..on the supermarket. I put, my butter, and salt, and spices...including garlic, on the frozen ears, and wrap the corn, in tinfoil. I cook them on the grill,(slowly) for 1/2 hour--to-- 45 minutes, turning every 15 minutes or so. Tastes, like you just got it out of the garden! YUM--YUM...this is good for a single person...as since, it is frozen, first...nothing goes to waste!

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  • 28. Posted by golfinana on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 5:52 pm PDT

    I am a one person household. I buy the frozen ears..on the supermarket. I put, my butter, and salt, and spices...including garlic, on the frozen ears, and wrap the corn, in tinfoil. I cook them on the grill,(slowly) for 1/2 hour--to-- 45 minutes, turning every 15 minutes or so. Tastes, like you just got it out of the garden! YUM--YUM...this is good for a single person...as since, it is frozen, first...nothing goes to waste!

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  • 29. Posted by Nick on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 6:56 pm PDT

    I put my corn in aluminum foil with season all and parmesan chesses and grill it till the parmesan gets crispy about 10 min.

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  • 30. Posted by Nick on Fri, Jul 27, 2007, 7:00 pm PDT

    I put my corn in aluminum foil with season all, butter and parmesan chesses and grill it till the parmesan gets crispy about 10 min.

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