I had been clueless about how to pick ears of corn at the grocery store or farmers market.
Bigger is better, right?
Both have farmed since they were teenagers and are now in their 60th crop season.
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People like sweet corn at different stages of maturity.
I like it really young and tender, says Buis.
People often sort through the corners to find the biggest, fullest ears.
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That corn is more mature and can be a little chewy.
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He chooses the smaller ears.
Go for the smaller ears with kernels not as filled out because that means its sweet and tender.
But not too small, says April Robertson ofRobertson Family Farmin King, North Carolina.
They grow about 35 acres of produceeverything from seed and sell at their community farm stand.
Huge fat ears can tend to be tough, so pick the average-size ears instead, she says.
Skinny ears tend to be not filled out completely.
When choosing fresh corn at the market, pick the ears that are the freshest and not dried up.
As the husk dries, the corn dries out, says Robertson.
At our place, the corn is freshly picked two times a week.
At the grocery store, stay away from the dried-looking husks.
Look for green husks and avoid ears with brownish husks or brownish silk.
Those are signs that the corn was picked a while ago.
Anytime you take an ear off the stalk, youre taking it away from its nutrients and habitat.
It’s like an umbilical cord, and its going to start drying out, says Buis.
The longer its away from the stalk, the drier it will get.
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Should You Remove the Husks at the Store?
My grocery store always has a big bin next to the fresh corn so customers can shuck the ears.
Maybe a little bit of both.
you oughta leave the corn in their husks until ready to eat, says Robertson.
Then, the wet shucks help steam the corn and make it tender.
The other secret to selecting the best ears of corn is purchasing it right after its been picked.
Buying it directly from a farm stand or farmers market is the best bet for finding the freshest corn.
Robertson adds, Corn is the freshest right after picking.
It is best to buy it straight from the farm.
