Corn On or Off the Cob

Do you find that your corn on the cob it is rather tough and not very tasty after you've cooked it? It might be because you add salt to the cooking water when boiling your corn. When you are cooking corn on the cob, or corn that you have cut off the cob, always make a point of not adding salt to your water that you are cooking in. Adding salt to the water makes corn tough and takes away from its flavor. Wait until after your corn is cooked to sprinkle it with salt.

If your corn is not as sweet as you would like, add a bit of milk or a pinch of sugar to the boiling water. It will sweeten up your corn without overpowering its natural flavor.

Try some new flavorings on your corn. You probably already use regular salt and pepper, but what about lemon pepper, cayenne pepper, or chili powder? Experiment with some of your favorites for a special treat.

You can end up in such a mess when buttering corn, so here are three ways to have less mess when buttering corn on the cob.

• Use a piece of bread and butter. Simply roll your corn in the butter that has already been spread on the bread.
• Melt some butter in a bowl and then pour the butter over your corn with a spoon.
• Put a patty of butter on your plate and then roll the corn in the butter.

Are you looking for a new way to cook your corn? Try baking it in the oven instead of boiling it. All you need to do is leave the husk on your corn and bake it in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about half an hour. Rotate them two or three times during cooking. This little trick will be your secret to great-tasting corn!

You can also throw corn on the grill with the husks on (medium heat on most grills will be about right—try to keep it around 400 degrees). Keep a squirt bottle with water on hand: if the flames start to char the outer layers of the corn husk, just spray the corn with some water to avoid a flare up. (If you find that your corn is constantly catching on fire when you roast it on the barbecue grill, soak your corn in cold water for at least 10 minutes beforehand.) Rotate the corn every few minutes so all sides get cooked evenly. This is a great addition to your next barbecue!