Corn on the cob is one of the best things about summer. You can’t even argue with me! It’s convenient, delicious, and corn is in plentiful supply.
So I love these corn on the cob hacks, which make one of our summer favorites even more fun. Whether you’re planning a Fourth of July bash, a big backyard barbecue, or you just want to try something new, check out these tips.
The best method for removing corn silk from corn on the cob
Fact: No one likes husking corn and removing all the tiny threads and there’s no perfect way to do it. Lucky for us, Matthew Jedeikin tested out a few corn silk removal hacks for Buzzfeed, so we didn’t have to make our own mess.
His shelf liner method seems promising, or you can also try my technique: get someone else, preferably a kid, to go shuck corn on the porch while you have a quiet moment to yourself inside finish cooking the rest of the meal. (Not kidding, it is the best trick ever.)
How to cut corn off the cob with less mess
Cutting corn off the cob can be a messy task, but our favorite method for mess-free corn kernel removal involves a bundt pan. Don’t worry, you won’t have to turn on the oven and heat up your kitchen for this one.
Skip the corn holders.
Those little corn holders are cute but always get lost, and they’re a pain to wash, right? Follow Southern Living’s easy instructions to turn the husk into a handle for corn on the cob.
Cook corn on the cob the right way.
Cooking corn is an art, and you can learn by following these steps to boiling corn on the cob perfectly. Liz swears by it, her guests all swear by it, and now we have hundreds of readers swearing by it, judging from Pinterest!
Or, don’t cook your corn at all. If you dare, Clare Lower on Lifehacker extolls the virtues of deliciously uncooked fresh corn.
Don’t throw away the cobs. Make stock!
You can use corn cobs to make corn stock instead of tossing (or composting). Making stock at home is every frugal cook’s trick to adding flavor and getting the most out of everything we buy, and corn stock is perfect as a base for soup. You can also use it in place of water when you cook rice, grits, or grains like farro. Just think of corn stock as something you can use anywhere you’d use vegetable broth.
Related: How to preserve herbs: 5 quick and easy methods to avoid food waste and save money
Don’t serve corn on the cob the same old way.
Southern Living offers quite a few different recipes for grilled corn. So why not make up your own, and tailor it to compliment whatever you’re serving?
Remember when bacon was a total trend? (Kidding. Bacon is always in.) I think wrapping corn on the cob in bacon before grilling sounds like a great way to enjoy it.
Related: Fast and fresh: 7 sweet corn salad recipes that celebrate the best of summer.
For one more recipe, may I offer up a South Carolina classic? Some people call it Lowcountry Boil, others say Beaufort Stew — it’s easy to make and a great way to enjoy corn on the cob. Gwen Fowler’s Frogmore Stew recipe for Discover South Carolina (above) is as easy as it gets, and suddenly it turns your corn on the cob into a lot more than just a side dish.
