Ina’s Method for Cutting Corn Off the Cob Is Brilliant (Of Course)

“How do you get the kernels off your corn cob without getting them all over your kitchen?” … is a question you’ve likely pondered once or twice in your lifetime. It’s a messy, thankless task — but if you have any intention of enjoying corn salad, sauteéd corn, or corn chowder this summer, then someone’s got to do it. Yes, there are corn stripping uni-taskers and the oh-so-clever bundt pan method, but Ina recently weighed in on the dilemma with an ingenious solution of her own.

So how does Ina make all of her beloved, corn-forward side dishes (like Confetti Corn), without actually throwing the corn all over the kitchen… like confetti? Here’s how:

First, Ina lays a clean kitchen towel over a cutting board. Then she slices the end off of the cob and uses a sharp knife to strip it of its kernels. Instead of bouncing out of reach, the kernels congregate on the towel. (GENIUS.) Then Ina simply picks up the towel and relocates them to a bowl for further prep.

Watch and learn from the master:

And there you have it: “Easy corn kernels, with no mess.”

As you can see, only Ina Garten can make the laborious and messy task of cutting corn kernels off the cob look fun — JOYFUL, even. This video is so soothing, I have been watching it on loop. It makes me want to drop everything, go to the farmers market, purchase 10 dozen ears of corn, and make confetti corn for the masses.

Honestly, where was this method back when I had braces and could not partake in corn on the cob for six consecutive summers?