It’s corn season, which means you can grab ears of corn on the cob in the husk for just pennies right now. That’s the good news. The bad news is you have to shuck corn before you can eat it, and shucking corn is messy and leaves strands of silk all over your kitchen.
Before COVID, grocery stores used to set out bushels of corn in the produce section with a huge box. Shoppers would gather around the corn and shuck it right in the store. I miss those days. It was a fun communal moment where you got to chat with your neighbors. And, all the mess stayed in the store.
I haven’t seen any grocery stores bring that back. Probably because they didn’t like the mess of silk strands everywhere either. So now we’re stuck shucking corn at home.
How to remove corn silks cleanly
Fortunately, there is a secret method to shucking corn that allows you to remove the husk and silks all at the same time. It starts in the microwave.
After you bring the corn home and give it a quick rinse, microwave each ear for about 3 minutes. If you’re shucking more than one ear, microwave corn for about 2 minutes per ear.
Transfer the corn to a cutting board and cut off the end about 1-inch up from the bottom.
If the corn is still hot, grab both ends of the corn with a paper towel or clean dish towel. Squeeze the tip and start to twist it and pull it up. The corn should start to reveal itself from the bottom. You may have to peel back a few layers to get it started.
As the husk slides up the kernels, keep squeezing it tight. This way, the silks stay within your grip. Continue until the husk is removed. Now you’re ready to enjoy it.
As an added bonus, your shucked corn is already pre-steamed, so you can mix it into salads right away or you can throw it straight on the grill. If you stock up on corn while it’s on sale in the fall, you can also freeze it at this point and enjoy it year round.
Grilled Corn
Bring out the natural sweetness of corn by following this one simple step before you cook grilled corn on the cob.
Grilled Corn Ribs
Grilled corn ribs brushed with a savory butter sauce and charred on the grill. A fun handheld BBQ side or appetizer.
