For good corn on the cob, read this 1 month ago!!!

[elleng]

For good corn on the cob, drop it in boiling water. For perfect corn on the cob, drop it in boiling water—and then turn off the heat.

Boiled corn might seem like something you don’t need a recipe for, but fresh-corn season is too short to eat corn that’s anything but perfect. So a few years ago, Cook’s Illustrated test cook Lan Lam cooked hundreds of ears of corn in pursuit of a method that produced crisp, juicy kernels every time.

That method involves bringing a measured amount of water to a boil; shutting off the heat; dropping in the corn; and letting it stand in the water until the kernels are snappy, not starchy or shriveled.

The key to success isn’t time, it’s temperature. In uncooked corn, the starches inside the kernels are raw and taste chalky. But as the corn reaches 150 degrees, those starches begin to gelatinize and take on a silkier texture. When cooked beyond 170 degrees, the pectin that gives the kernels their structure starts to break down, which makes the corn seem mushy. So for perfectly cooked corn, the sweet spot is 150 to 170 degrees.

https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3335-for-the-best-boiled-corn-don-t-boil-it-at-all?

[niyad]

1. And there is the added bit of advice: "When is the best time to pick corrn?"

Answer: "When the water is boiling."

Alas, most of us do not have that luxury.

[elleng]

2. No doubt! And I used to buy it at a patch of corn along road on my way home,

and ate it raw, outside!!!

[niyad]

5. I thought I was the only one!

When I did have gardens, I used to plant the cucumbers and snap peas and beans to climb the corn stalks. Very handy.

[elleng]

8. VERY handy!

My neighbors had veg and herb gardens, when their triplets were still living here/home, before colleges and professions, and they'd give me fresh vegs, asparagus and tomatoes particularly. When they were away, I'd snack on their little tomatoes, and use fresh basil from their kitchen garden beside my house to feel good!

[niyad]

14. Yummmmmmm. That would cefinitely make me feel good.

[Dave in VA]

15. Your reply reminds me of the

Native American tradition of the three sisters.

https://www.nativeseeds.org/blogs/blog-news/how-to-grow-a-three-sisters-garden

[niyad]

16. I was thinking about that as I was typing, but I only learned about the Three

Sisters a few years ago, and was fascinated by it. When I had those gardens, I was just doing biointensive/companion planting (I forget sometimes that not everone knows to plant marigolds, onions, garlic, around one's tomatoes, as one simple, non-deadly oesticide answer to invaders). Companion planting is, of course, antithetical to our monopoly/monoculture agricultural systems.

[LisaM]

3. I always cook it that way (I cover it).

Then I finish cooking everything else. Doesn't matter if it's five minutes or an hour. The corn is always perfect.

[Abolishinist]

4. Interesting. I've often wondered about

the 'boiling' process, not for corn but other items. It started to seem weird to me that if I'm boiling shrimp, for example, and they're done after 3 or so minutes, internal temp of say 145 degrees, why do I need to wait for the water to reach boiling, wouldn't 175 work as well?

The corn thing is interesting regarding how the corn breaks down, definitely going to try it next time (although I typically grill them).

[gab13by13]

6. I bring the water to a boil,

put in the corn, when the water starts boiling again, remove it from the heat and cover it for 4 or 5 minutes.

My usual supplier of corn had none because we had so little rain in central Pa. so I had to buy from the Amish who carried their water in.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

9. I miss silver queen corn from back there

Best corn I’ve tasted.

[elleng]

10. It's not available any more. ;-(

I agree, was the BEST!

[3Hotdogs]

17. --- its still wonderful. Sorry you ain't around to get it. But

can I have yours?

[jmbar2]

7. My favorite method

Remove outermost leaves of the shuck, but leave the rest on. Pop into microwave for 3 minutes, then wait until it cools enough to take off the rest of the husks.

Nearly always perfect (for me).

[Nittersing]

11. Agreed!!

I actually zap it for 4 minutes. I think I read an article about zapping numerous cobs and just kinda whittled that down to 4. I may try 3 minutes next time.

[jmbar2]

12. I like mine still crunchy

Cooked just long enough to release the sugar.

[TlalocW]

13. One weird way I've heard

Is grill the corn while it's still on the stalk. Never done it, but I've heard some people swear to it.

[LoveTheDU]

18. Another method

If you have an Instant Pot, steam the corn on the cob. It only takes a minute or two. Best method I've tried vs grilled or boiled.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. I always steam mine. I have a large enough steamer to

hold 2 or 3 ears. It is truly divine.

I also steam potatoes for potato salad instead of boiling them. The taste just explodes in your mouth!

[hippywife]

20. I never thought to do them that way

since I started wrapping them unhusked in wet paper towels and steaming them in the microwave for 3-4 minutes. If I ever have more than a couple to do, I might try this.