How do you buy corn?

Question

I assume that we all peel down some of the stalk and hope for healthy-looking kernels. But what else?

Someone once told me in passing to go for small kernels, but I always gravitate to larger ones.

Answer

I don't peel the corn, that's an insult to the vendor.
I can generally feel if the ear is full without needing to pull it anyway.

If you aren't buying "that day" corn from a good market, you're not getting real corn.

Answer

We don't all do that, as that corn becomes unsaleable.
I go to farm stands I know and trust them.

Answer

I don't peel either. I look for fresh green husks and look for heavy ears. Usually works well

I'm not buying ears that have been peeled down and dumped back in the bin

Answer

In bags of petite frozen kernels.

Answer

Personally I've always gone for a nice heavy head because it will have kernels all the way round - immature cobs often are only half there, and older dried-out cobs are lighter because the moisture has evaporated... and I make sure it doesn't look like it's pest-ridden, but I don't bother to peel the cob.

Answer

I don't understand why any one needs to peel. I look for fresh silk and husks. I gently feel the ear for firmness and developed kernels and I'm good to go!

It's just been over the last 15 years or so that I've noticed people shucking corn at the markets - to the extent that many have trash cans next to the corn. It boggles my mind since the husk is helping to keep the corn fresher.

But I seem to be in the minority at the market since probably 90% of those I observe are shucking. Not like they are saving money/lb. when the corn is being sold priced by the ear.

Answer

Weight, smell and firmness.

Answer

I go by the feel and weight of it. If the ears feels thin and light, small delicate kernels. If thicker and heavy, bigger kernels. I like big kernels and my Mom likes small. We have great farm stands here in Long Island and they stand behind their produce. If we are not happy with something we bought they will gladly replace it or refund it. As far as peeling back the husk a bit, the only thing you can do is smell if it's sweet and you will smell it. I can eat it raw when it's really sweet. Some people look for worms but that means it's really sweet too! Gross but sweet and you know it's a good batch. Our farm stands and markets do not seem to mind this peeling thing. In fact they are now putting out garbage pails so you can shuck the ears completely before you bring them home. Unless you are going to cook them right away I would not do this because my feeling is they will lose a lot of flavor. My family and I are corn freaks (crabs and clams too) so I hope you become one too.

Answer

Nice "heft" for the size.Feel around the cob, then toward the tip. A full tip means not too much worm damage. NO worm damage means they have been sprayed. I never peel the leaves. because I wouldn't but it likd that. Worse that could happen for me and the vendor? I'm out 50 cents a cobb and I don't come back.

Answer

frozen

Answer

I look over the outer husk leaves and the silks for clean, moist, lovely green color & condition. I then smell the corn. Also, fresh corn should feel heavy in the hand from moisture. If the outer leaves and silks are fresh picked looking and the corn's sweetness can be noted, I don't have to open it to look at the kernels. Once corn begins to decay, it is very obvious. Large or small, white, yellow, mix breed and even pink corn (which I had for the first time this summer) all falls into the same fresh-not fresh boat. If it doesn't smell like corn, that piece is aging. Large ears can be just as delicious as small ears of corn. Some of the tiny corn we had from South NJ this year was bland and under developed. The pink corn was a real treat. http://www.rareseeds.com/sabina-s-rainbow-pink-corn/

Answer

For me, the most important factor is the source of the corn, so when I'm buying from my local produce farm, I know that quality and freshness is a given. The corn is identified by variety, so I'm able to choose my favorite -- yellow Mirai. I select ears that have moistest corn silk and seem heavy for their size. I don't peel them back, but I feel the tips of the ear for fullness and firmness. And that's it -- that's all that's necessary to choose perfect ears of corn every time.

Answer

During the season (and almost always) I look for the biggest ears. Right now I'm buying it fresh from my next door neighbor who has a dairy/beef/hay farm, but who has also spread out into sweet corn production supplying local supermarkets and keeping his kids busy at their farm stand down the road. In this age of supersweet varietals you're pretty well assured of getting a sweet tasting ear, and a tender bite especially during the summer. I like the bigger ears for their fuller flavor. I steam corn for about four minutes in a big pan using one of those metal folding steamer baskets, and I prefer to eat it with nothing on it.

Answer

I've found that consistently the best test, and one that doesn't involve peeling down at all (which I agree with others is poor form) is taking the base (i.e. above the stalk end) and grasping it firmly in the hand, as though holding a handle. The best is always the thickest, heaviest-feeling. The other things to look for are, no signs of deterioration on the top (no dryish silk or ragged-looking, splitting top husks) and a very white, milky stalk end (not dry or browning) If you smell the stalk and it has a fresh, vegetal smell that's a good sign.

Small kernels vs. large kernels in sweetcorn are, I suspect, a matter of preference on flavour vs texture. The big ones usually have more flavour and are generally sweeter if fresh (although much starchier if not particularly fresh) but at the expense of being somewhat tougher. The small ones have a "fresher", more vegetal flavour and are invariably tender but sweetness is usually less and they aren't as juicy. There are also arguments on yellow vs. white vs multi-coloured. What I've found is that the yellow seems to have the best flavour, white is more neutral which can give it the illusion of being sweeter but from my experience you can find varieties that are equally sweet in both colours, while the multicolour varieties, typically with some purple mixed in, have a flavour even when mature which is closer to very young, small, kernels, that is, more vegetal and fresher, not quite as sweet, although they are if anything tougher than mature yellow or white sweetcorn.

Answer

I don't peel. I look for brown and tacky silk tassels, then I feel the ear to make sure there are kernels to the end.

Answer

how do i buy corn?

with money.

Answer

I peel the corn. I've bought corn both ways, where I peeled the husk off in the store and brought it home w/ the husk on. No difference whatsoever in terms of freshness or staying power but I usually buy and cook it when I get home so it's not in the fridge for the most part. 

A couple of times I have bought the corn home untouched, I did find little caterpillars hanging out. One was caught in the silk and I almost smashed it wish my hand when it came time to remove, the other time the little punk was resting in a u-shape having eaten his way to make his bed.

I prefer big yellow corn with large fat kernels.

Answer

No. I buy from the farmers market. No shucking, peeling.

Cooking:
Cut off silk, place in oven at 375 for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove, let rest five minutes, then carefully remove husk, add butter and salt.

No muss no fuss.

Answer

With produce bags over my hands, unless I can coax a helpful fellow shopper into bagging it for me. Severely allergic to the husks, so I don't get a chance to inspect it closely. Shame, too, because I love me some corn.

Answer

So how does the board feel about peeling back the banana peel a bit to see if the banana is any good? :)

Answer

I guess that I am the only one who peels it back to look for rot and then takes a bite!.. If sweet I load up, if not I move on and just buy the one i snacked on.

Answer

I go to the farmers market for corn.

Answer

I buy it from one of the farmers at my local market. It is always good and I do not peel back the husk. If there is a wormy one (extremely rare), they'll replace it the following week or offer credit. Supermarket corn, even in season, pales in comparison.

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