Friend of Julie: About Corn

I bought corn at a local farm this week and I enjoyed every bite of my fresh sweet corn. This morning one of my key-friends mentioned it isn't corn season yet. What? Say it isn't true! This morning I searched online to find out when is corn season and where does off-season corn come from. Here's what I found, along with some great tips for cooking corn...
When is corn season?

• Corn season is mid-July to early October.

Where does off-season corn come from? 

• I couldn't find the answer to this question. If I really want to know, I'll need ask the farm where I bought the corn.

Tips for cooking corn*

• Buy and eat corn on the same day. The older the corn gets the starchier it will become.
• Try to not to refrigerate fresh corn. Like tomatoes, when corn is chilled it loses some of its sparkle.
• If you prefer to boil corn instead of steaming it in the husk on the grill like I suggest, try this:
  1) Cut the top of the ear off with a sharp knife about 1 to 2 inches below where the silk appears.
  2) Next peel down the husk one section at a time and carefully tug the silk along with the husk. 3) Continue until you are all the way around the cob. This is the best way to remove the silk.
• If you are in polite company or just got your new false teeth, you always can shave the kernels off the cob (after they have been seasoned) with a sharp knife. Simply make sure the top and bottom of the ear have been cut flat, then hold the corn vertically on a cutting board and run the knife down the ear about 1/2 inch into the cob removing just the kernels. If you get into rough territory and the knife just won’t go through the kernels, that means your knife is too far into the cob and all you have to do is start again with the blade closer to the kernels.
• Always use fresh lime with this dish. The additional acidity makes this go from a good dish to a sublime taste experience that will change your life forever.

How much corn are we allowed on program?

• Do you want to eat three ears of corn? Go ahead, but make sure you eat three steaks along with it. Eat as much corn as you want - as long as you have an equal amount of protein to corn. 

Related Posts

• Barbecue Mexican Corn
• Grilled Corn on the Cob
• Mexican Corn Salad
• Spicy Roasted Corn & Feta Salad
• Corn Chowder with Sausage
• Roasted Corn, Pepper, and Tomato Chowder

*Source: Corn, Mexican Style, by By Rocco DiSpirito, MassLive