The Best Way to Remove Corn Silk From Corn on the Cob

Ears of corn in the shucks

Fresh sweet corn when picked at the peak of perfection is always a treat at the table. One of the main complaints when cooking fresh corn involves removing the corn silks. According to the University of Illinois extension service, this can be accomplished using running, cold water and a stiff vegetable brush.

Things You'll Need

• Vegetable brush

Instructions

1. Remove or pull back the husks to expose the corn.

2. Remove as much corn silk as possible by grasping the silks and pulling them away from the kernels.

3. Hold the ear of corn by the base under cold, running water.

4. Use the vegetable brush in a circular motion over the kernels to remove any remaining silks.

5. Pull the husks back up around the corn to cook it on the grill or roast in the oven. Otherwise, remove the husks completely to boil the corn. The corn also can be sliced off the cob using a sharp knife and cutting in a downward fashion from the top of the ear to the bottom.

Tips & Warnings

• Corn should be cooked the day it is picked or purchased. Storage changes the sugar into a starch and much of the sweetness is lost.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Corn
• University of Arkansas: Home Gardening Series - Fresh Corn (PDF)

Resources

• Ways to Prepare Fresh Corn