How to Peel Corn
Corn on the side, on the cob or added to a favorite dish is enjoyed by millions year-round. Sweet corn, or corn on the cob, is especially popular at summertime barbecues and picnics. Corn on the cob is sold in the husk, or the heavy green leaves covering the corn. To dig into the tasty yellow kernels, the cob must first be peeled, or shucked. The process can become a bit messy, but with some preparation, a quick and clean shucking is simple. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Place a garbage bag or can near the preparation area. If you're peeling multiple ears of corn, sitting is easier than standing.
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Leave the husk intact and cut off the stalk with a knife. The stalk begins at the thicker end of the ear of corn and is a whitish color. Also cut the very tip of the cob off with the knife.
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Slice gently with a knife through the husk long ways on two sides. Be careful not to slice into the corn, only through the husk.
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Peel away the husks using your fingers. Because of the slices, the husk should peel away easily. The husks can be peeled without any pre-slicing by grabbing hold of the top of the cob, where it is the thinnest, and peeling the husks downward. The stalk also can be removed by breaking it off, but is not as neat as slicing it off with a knife.
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Remove the silk strings left underneath the husk by running the cob under water rather than trying to pull them away from the corn using your hand. A vegetable brush or damp paper towel also will work to remove the silk.
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Tips & Warnings
A fresh ear of corn will have damp and dark corn silk at the top. If the silk is dry or gone, the corn is likely fairly old.
When corn is picked, the sugar begins to convert to starch, which reduces sweetness.
Many will cook or grill corn on the cob inside the husks after peeling them down, applying butter, and re-wrapping the ear. The husks should be removed before consumption.
References
- Photo Credit corn-cobs image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
