Tis The Season... for Corn-on-the-Cob!
Ever since Jim cooked us up some delicious corn-on-the-cob during our recent camping expedition, we've been eating corn-on-the-cob at least once a week.
Or at least I have. You see, Jim won't eat corn-on-the-cob as a MEAL. It has to be served with something else. And since I haven't been cooking much lately, he's been finding something else to eat while I enjoy my own ears of corn... as a meal!
But it wasn't until recently that I discovered not everyone eats corn-on-the-cob the way I eat corn-on-the-cob...
TIP: To make corn-on-the-cob even sweeter, simply add a little bit of milk or a pinch of sugar to the boiling water!
How To Prepare Corn-on-the-Cob
The proper way to cook corn-on-the-cob is this:
Start with some fresh WHITE sweet corn (none of that yellow, one-step-above-field-corn variety).
Unfortunately, sweet white corn is nearly impossible to find around these parts, so I'm usually forced to buy the yellow version...
Then, you remove the outer "protective covering" (otherwise known as the corn husk), and all of the attached "corn threads" (a.k.a. the cornsilk... no I mean corn silk -- one word refers to the makeup... good stuff, by the way!).
Did You Know?... A dampened paper towel or terry cloth fabric brushed down toward the stem of an ear of corn will remove every last strand of corn silk.
Then, dampen a paper towel (you'll need the beefier variety for this task, not those thin ones that disentigrate in your hand as soon as they get wet), and wrap one entire ear of corn tightly in it.
Finally, microwave on high for 4-5 minutes (depending on how many ears of corn you cook at the same time), rotating each ear of corn at least twice throughout the process.
Did You Know?... Even if you intend to cook the corn on the grill or roast it in its husk, you still need to remove the corn silk.
Well, there you have it. My best tips for cooking corn-on-the-cob.
Note: This will NOT work with those tiny ears of corn-on-the-cob (like those found in Thai or Chinese restaurants). For detailed instructions on how to eat THAT variety of corn-on-the-cob, I suggest that you watch the movie Big, starring Tom Hanks -- and fast-forward to the "fancy cocktail party" scene.
How To Eat Corn-on-the-Cob
The proper way to serve corn on the cob is this...
First, invest a small fortune in specialty corn-on-the-cob utensils like these: (...a brilliant move when an ear of corn only costs 25-cents itself!)
...You have your corn-on-the-cob holders, grabbers, picker-uppers... whatever you'd like to call them.
...And your corn-on-the-cob plates, servers, dishes. (These things are shaped like an ear of corn, and prevent the corn from wandering all over your plate!)
...And don't forget your corn-on-the-cob butter dispenser!
Enjoy!
Other Corn-on-the-Cob Resources
Should you feel that you still have questions about corn-on-the-cob, then I invite you to check out this site -- they've got everything you could ever want to know about choosing, cleaning, preparing, cooking, and serving corn-on-the-cob!
And here's everything you want to know about corn... and more.
What I Learned Today...
People often like to make things out of the discarded corn husks... like these voodoo dolls (errr, I mean "corn husk puppets").
You can purchase Zellwood Sweetcorn online at http://www.longandscottfarms.com/Market.htm or you can visit them while you are in Florida at Scott's Country Market, conveniently located at Long & Scott Farms, is the home of Scott's Zellwood Sweet Gourmet Corn and Scott's Maze Adventures. The Market offers a variety of freshly harvested produce from the farm and local growers, potted plants and sod. We also carry our own line of delicious jams, jellies, relishes and syrups and our customized, one-of-a-kind gift boxes and baskets are sure to please everyone on your list.
You can also purchase our Zellwood Sweet Corn at our Highway Stand on Highway 441, just South of Zellwood Station and across from the Orlando Country Airport! The guys are out there 7 days a week during the season, starting at about 10:30 to 5:00.
I have found corn on the cob plates at flee markets, and by searching online. Mine are ceramic and painted to look like actual corn. I LOVE them. They're beautiful and they work fantastic. Be careful when you buy online. The ones I ordered were too narrow to hold any corn (except those tiny ones from the movie Big (hee hee). Good plates are close to flat, barely curved.
I'd like some Zellwood corn before the festival! Is there some available now, 19 April if I drive to the town? Thank you...
Mark Williams
I enjoyed your web site.......I love corn!!
I have been looking everywhere for corn cob serving plates. Where can I get some of the great white ones on the web site???
Thank you,
Debbie Warren
Debi -
I'm not familiar with a "corn scraper". Is this, by chance, what you're referring to?...
Corn Slitter
The only other cool corn-on-the-cob gadgets I could find were these corn cutters:
Horizontal Corn Cutter
Vertical Corn Cutter
Another item... one I'm adding to my "corn wish-list" is this:
Corn Brush ... great for removing all the corn silk!
Have you ever heard of or seen a corn scraper?? It is a curved head on a handle that you run down an ear of corn to tenderize it. A friend found one in Florida and we have looked everwhere for more. It makes corn tender enough for a person with dentures to eat it off the cob. Can you help??
where can i find the corn on the cob plates? I have been looking everywhere.
Phyllis -
I got the butter dispenser from Bed Bath & Beyond. It cost something like $1.99 I believe.
My friend also has one she got from Pampered Chef... it cost $4.00.
Where did you get the butter dispenser. I have one that uses the same concept and have several friends who want one but I have had so long that I don't know where they might find it.
Thanks for your help.