Kitchen Tip: Silk-Free Corn

With summer in full swing, sweet corn is starting to appear on the menu.  We LOVE sweet corn – and my family does too.  My dad grew up on a farm, and tells stories of entire meals of sweet corn and garden fresh tomatoes.  Yum, yum. 

One thing that makes sweet corn a challenge to eat is the silk.  You know – all those little fine “corn hairs” that coat your cob.  You know what I’m talking about, right? 

Botanically, these are the stigma – or the part of the corn plant that is responsible for receiving pollen in order for the plant to be pollinated. 

Regardless. They are a pain.  They get all over the floor when you try to husk the corn.  They get stuck in your teeth if you don’t get all of them off the cob. 

Well, here’s a tip from my dad for how to get all that silk off your corn cob: 

1. Microwave the corn (husk and all) for 4 minutes per ear. 
2. Remove the corn from the microwave using a hot pad or oven mit. 
3. Slice the end off the corn.

It should look something like this. 

4. Pick up the corn by the top of the husk and give it a few shakes.

The cob will slide right out & will be silk free!

Two tips for success:

(1) It’s important for you to slice and remove the husks right away after you take the corn out of the microwave.  If you wait too long, it will be harder for you to get the husks off.  Still possible – just harder. 

(2) Be sure to shake the corn over a plate & not the floor… otherwise you’ll be picking corn up off the floor!

Now, I haven’t figured out how to do this if you plan to boil the corn or grill it… but I’ll be playing around with it this summer. 

Thanks, Dad!