We were busted at the sweet corn bin at Union Square Greenmarket yesterday.
"I hate it when people strip them all down," preached the woman standing next to us. She was referring to the corn on the cob, of course.
She caught us pulling back the husks to make sure each ear of corn looked good. She started a loud conversation, announcing to us corn shoppers that peeking into each ear of corn makes a mess, is unsanitary, and "really just isn't necessary."
She's right, we realized.
Here's some corn on the cob shopping tips we picked up from the the man running the stand: Look for corn with tassels that are brown and sticky to the touch. If the tassels are black or dry, the corn is old. Feel each ear through the husk, without peeling it, to check for even plump kernels.
"But what about bugs?" another shopper asked.
Uh, whatever. I'll continue to make sure what I'm buying is fresh and good, like with all produce. Several times I haven't checked and there were bugs or the corn was shrivled. I always pull back and check now.
view Monkeyme's profile
Messy and unsanitary, maybe, but I think the biggest reason not to do it is that it dries out the corn. So if you peel the husk back and decide it's not the perfect ear, the farmer is probably not going to be able to sell it.
view Anne in Chicago's profile
The Prospect Park vendors usually put up signs asking you not to do that - I'm a total wuss so always obey.
view CMcB's profile
It's inconsiderate! Don't peel the husk back, it'll go bad faster, and no one will buy it - it won't be able to be sold...
view thebeahive's profile
if you must take a peek, then gently use your fingernail to separate the husks down to the hair and you'll get a glimpse of the inside. When done peeking, smooth that part of the husk out so that it is once again covered.
view Sassy in SF's profile
i can't wait to hit the greenmarket tomorrow morning for fresh corn! i'm so excited.
view universal mod's profile
I raced down there Wednesday morning to get a pot full of corn but I got kind of sad when a stand that I went to had a big sign that said something like "NO HUSKING!" Oh well, I took the risk and just bought the ears that seemed ok. They were delicious, but I did miss the old hands on approach.
view Likey's profile
My local (NJ) farmers market has big trash bins out so that you can peel your corn right there before you take it home. Since I usually buy corn within a day or two of eating it, drying out has never been a problem.
view robyn's profile
I always heard that husking turns the sugars into starches, and the reaction begins immediately. I never husk and I rarely have any problems with the tassle/feel approach described.
view beccaz's profile
I like to cook my corn still in the husk, so husking prior to purchase just doesn't make any sense to me.
Try it like that, it's good! Either grilled or even just microwaved. Much tastier than boiled corn.
view moiety's profile
The best way to choose sweet corn is to have a boyfriend who works at genetically engineering corn to make it sweeter. Which I had for awhile, and still miss, but only this time of year {sigh}
view josie's profile
Absolutely no reason to husk it. I worked at a farm stand in high school and it was usually the annoying suburban moms who didn't know any better that wrecked all the corn by shucking each ear in search of the perfect dozen.
And if you get one home with a bug in it....BIG DEAL. That's what fresh-from-the-farm means - you're not paying for perfectly pristine, homogeneous, tasteless supermarket produce!
view willson's profile