How To Shuck Corn.........

[Littleman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQIK8f...

[mike9]

This time of year the corn around here is picked fresh daily. I never boil in a pot of water I just steam a pot full in an inch or two of water. When it smells like corn they are done. I also like to shuck and roast on the grill. They caramelize a little and take on an extra dimension flavor wise. I've never put corn up for freezing. I can get a bag of 52 ears for $15 at the moment. I might look into that this winter is going to be a tough one price wise.

[wyogal]

I've been home alone this week, got some corn at the farmer's market on Saturday. I tried the microwave method, and was really pleased with it! I just put in one ear, 4 minutes, cut off the ends. I couldn't shake it out, but even peeling the husks of , the silk came right off with the husk, much easier than with raw corn.
It was especially great for doing one ear at a time.

[geminigirl]

I found mine needed a little more time in the microwave before it would shake out, but when it did it worked beautifully!

[alc]

I ususally cook corn in the pressure cooker -- bring it up to pressure cooker and quick release right away. Would it work to put the corn unshucked into the pc?

[tcamp]

I do mine in the pressure cooker too. Very quick, doesn't heat the kitchen up excessively. But I shuck them first, just peel off the husks and rub to remove silks.

[kseiverd]

I just pull the husks off. Then run under cold water and rub to remove as much "hair" as possible. My ex would get super anal and pick EVERY LAST piece of silk off?!? Never made sense to me, cuz ya always needed floss afterward even with completely nekked ears?!?

[greygarious]

Then you are making a lot of extra work for yourself, as well as wasting water and losing flavor.
Unshucked ears cooked in the microwave pick up extra goodness from being steamed in the husk and the silks come off in one fell swoop whether you then use the technique linked to above or just peel the husks back from the top as you would when shucking raw corn. Of course you need to wait a moment until you can handle the hot ear, but the husk and silk will come off in one piece or sometimes one side, then the other.

[angelsmom]

How do you do a dozen at a time? How long do you cook for more than 2?

[greygarious]

I do 3 at a time, arranged in a triangle. Depending on size and whether the ears are room temp or cold, anywhere from 4-8 minutes. So it would typically take a half hour to do a dozen ears. The last thing I want to do in summer is boil a big pot of water.

[geminigirl]

I agree, this is my go to method and will never go back to boiling a pot of water for corn. I tried the above method as well cutting off the end and shaking it out and that worked very welll too! I found that it needs to come out pretty soon after cooking or it got a little stuck.

On a side note. Anyone save their corn cobs? I was thinking I could make a stock for corn chowder, and i am also finding some interesting recipies for corn cob jelly....

[debbiel]

Ooh! I've never made jelly, but I do save the cobs for corn cob stock. Off to google corn cob jelly...

[geminigirl]

Ok, probably crazy question, but do you just fill pot with cobs, cover with water and boil away? Also, wondering if I can freeze up a few cobs at a time till I have a full pot worth?
Thanks

Ps, here's one of the jelly recipies I found
http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/...

[debbiel]

Sometimes I make it that simply, corn cobs and water, simmer for about 40 or 45 minutes. Sometimes I add a bit of onion, and/or carrot. Sometimes some thyme. And yes, absolutely freeze until you have enough. I usually make it when I have 6 to 8 cobs.

Thanks for the corn cob jelly post! I really would have just never, ever thought of that. Might have to try it.

[debbiel]

We never used water. Just pull as much off as you can, then rub your hand up and down the ear of corn to get most of the silk off. The only time it really seemed a bother was the one or two Saturdays a year when we put up corn and were doing 12-15 dozen in a day.

But I agree with greygarious, steaming in the husk is a nice way to cook corn. If you're going to do it that way (whether in the microwave or in a large steamer), you might as well de-silk afterward.

[katecm]

I do it like Debbie. Since I most often eat corn raw or cut off the cob before cooking, this is the best method for me. I can also shuck an ear with two pulls, so it's speedy.

[wyogal]

Is this the microwave deal? Several previous threads on this.
http://www.chow.com/search?query=shuc...
No, not going to click on your link without the explanation.

[drongo]

Yep, it's that same guy who microwaves then cuts off the stem end and shakes the corn out (leaving the silk behind with the husk). But this one posted by someone who is Vietnamese.