Cutting corn off the cob

Cutting corn off the cobLove corn muffins and corn bread? What about soups, main dishes and even side dishes that include corn kernels among the ingredients? You know, like talakitok (trevally) belly and corn chowder or buttered corn and carrots. If you’re a corn lover like me, do you use canned or frozen corn kernels? I used to go for canned corn a lot but for the past year, whenever fresh corn is available, I go for fresh. Freshly cut corn kernels are tastier and creamier. And don’t think that cutting the kernels off the cob is lot a of hard work or that it requires a lot of expertise. Oh, no! All you need are two hands, a sharp knife and a cutting board.

Fresh sweet corn

Take a corn cob and hold it upright, the bottom pushing against the cutting board. With a sharp knife, slice off the kernels, taking care not to cut too close to the cob so that the tough tip caps (the thin “root” that attaches the kernel to the cob) are left embedded in the cob.

Japanese sweet corn

If there is no particular reason why the kernels should be cut whole, I suggest that you slice them in layers. That way, when the shredded corn is added to the pot or the pan, the kernels cook faster and more of the starchy cream gets mixed in. If, after slicing, you still see parts of the kernels attached to the cob, get a spoon or a teaspoon and use that to scrape off whatever there is left to scrape.

The oldies prefer to shred fresh corn by using a microplane grater. Personally, I’d rather not do that because grating squeezes out the juice in the process. I want as much of the juices to remain in the kernels and expelled during cooking, not before.

December 6, 2008  Print This Post   
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Comments

4 Responses to “Cutting corn off the cob”
  1. Crisma says:
    December 6, 2008 at 5:00 pm

    I have also done it your way, Connie… and that makes for tastier corn soup!

    Reply
  2. Dexie says:
    December 7, 2008 at 4:02 am

    you and me both. i prefer fresh corn. although i have the ones in can just for when I’m rushing…LOL. but yes, that’s exactly how i cut my corn kernels too.

    Reply
  3. kulasa says:
    December 7, 2008 at 1:34 pm

    Same process here. I use a plastic tray whose sides are about an two inches high. I scrape the corn there – less transferring from the cutting board and less corn pieces that “fly” out.

    Reply
  4. Connie says:
    December 7, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    Hooray for fresh corn! :)

    Kulasa, love your gravatar hehehehe

    Reply
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