How to Prepare Sweet Corn

Preparing sweet corn on the cob ensures that the corn cooks efficiently. Once harvested, the husks and silk do not need to be removed until you are ready to cook the corn. Removing all the silk from the sweet cork requires time and patience. If you do not remove all the silk, it can affect the taste of the corn once cooked. To make the corn eatable, heat needs to be applied to the kernels to make them soft. You can prepare the corn ears using a variety of methods such as boiling and baking.

Things You'll Need

• Sweet corn on the cob
• Knife
• Paper towels
• Water
• Large pot
• Aluminum foil
• Butter
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions

Boil Sweet Corn

1. Remove the husks from the corn. Gently pull back each leaf of the husk and remove it from the corn.

2. Remove the silk from the cob. Once you remove the husks, moisten a paper towel, and hold it against the cob. Move the towel down the cob to make the silk stick to the towel.

3. Cut off any remaining stalk on the corn.

4. Wash the corn thoroughly under cool water.

5. Fill a large pot half way with water.

6. Bring the water to a boil. Place the ears of corn in the boiling water. Allow the corn to boil until it reaches your desired firmness.

7. Test the firmness of the corn kernels by carefully lifting an ear of corn out of the pot with tongs. Poke three to four kernels with a toothpick. If it requires a slight amount of pressure to pierce the kernel, then the corn will be slightly firm. To boil corncobs to a soft texture, allows them to cook for at least 10 minutes.

8. Let the corn cool for five to 10 minutes.

Bake Sweet Corn

1. Remove the husks and silk from the corn. Cut off the ends of the corn. Remove the ends if they look dry or if you notice some of the stalk attached.

2. Wash the corn under cool water to remove any foreign debris.

3. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place each ear of corn on a piece of aluminum foil. Season the corn. Add butter, salt and pepper to the corn.

4. Wrap the ears of corn in the foil lengthwise. Twist the ends to keep the corn intact.

5. Place the sweet corn ears in the oven. Bake the corn for 25 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow the corn to cool before eating it from the cob. The hot corn ears can burn your hands and tongue.

References

• Reluctant Gourmet: Corn on the Cob: Buying and Cooking Tips
• Soul Food and Southern Cooking: How to Cook Corn on the Cob
• Recipe Tips: Prepare and Cook Corn on the Cob

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish