So…there were NOT supposed to be two posts yesterday. My final recap of Birchie’s trip to Nova Scotia was scheduled for today. Well, I *thought* it was scheduled for today. Clearly I got my dates wrong.
I was going to skip posting, but then Lisa WhatsApped me with an important addendum. I cannot believe I managed to overlook asking this pivotal question.
I grew up without holders and mostly hated corn as a kid because I always burned the tips of my fingers and would get butter all over them. GROSS.
And then I met John, and he introduced me to corn skewers and I was like: WHERE HAVE THESE BEEN ALL MY LIFE!
We own a set similar to the ones pictured below and they are wonderful. (As a bonus, they slide into each other for safe, easy storage).
I am typically a minimalist in the kitchen, but fully support owning corn holders for the handful of times we have local, fresh corn each year. These are game changers.
One last corn question: How do you cook your corn?
Years ago someone told me the secret is to boil it with sugar, NEVER salt.
A quick reminder that tomorrow is Day #1 of the Cool Bloggers Walking Club.
Your turn.
- Holders or bare hands?
- Sugar, salt, vinegar…or just plain boiling water?
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No holders here-I guess were savages. 😀 I’m not messing with one more thing that I’d have to wash, let alone the mischief young kids could get up to with them. If you can be patient, though, the corn cools enough to be handled without burning the fingertips. And butter gets everywhere regardless.
If I cook corn in boiling water, I use sugar and a touch of salt. I don’t think I’ll do it that way again though- instapot saves so much trouble!
Good point about the potential danger with kids! Thankfully my kids haven’t thought of that…yet.
I don’t have an IP yet, but IT IS ON MY WISHLIST (I think I’m going to opt for an Instant Pot over an air fryer).
There are holders??!
I usually just boil corn in salted water, so now I’m very intrigued by your sugar + vinegar trick. I’ll try it out!
P.S. So nice that Lisa messaged you – I’ll take that as a good sign she’s on the mend.
There are holders!
Apparently, salt makes the corn tougher?? I’m not sure, but using sugar and vinegar has definitely made sweet, tender corn for me.
Bare hands here! But my husband grew up in a holder household.
I cook my corn in the microwave! Wrap each cob in a damp cloth/paper towel and microwave on high for about 3 minutes. Perfect every time!
I have done the microwave once. It’s harder to cook in a big batch for me, so I keep opting for a pot, but I should do this when just John and I are wanting some corn.
We always use cob holders – the handles are shaped like a corn cob – otherwise delicate fingers get burned
And if there is a copious amount of butter involved it goes all over your hands!
I just boil ours in plain water, with nothing added. I will try the recipe that you shared and see if there is any noticeable difference.
Please report back. Maybe it’s all in my head that this recipe makes it taste better??? I’d love feedback.
I hate getting butter on my hands. For that reason alone, I’d always opt for holders.
We have holders, but never use them. And grilled corn is the best corn in my opinion!
I’ve had grilled corn a few times, but it always seems to go a bit leathery? Maybe it’s just not been cooked right? I bet the “char” taste is next level.
The holders are a game changer for sure! Anymore though, I have to cut the corn off the cob before I eat it. My teeth have gotten sooo bad I avoid anything that might result in a visit to the dentist 🙂
Fair enough! Nothing is worth an extra visit to the dentist. And cut off the cob, it’s just as delicious and a lot less messy.
No one is complaining about two posts in one day, I’ll tell you that much!
Bare hands like an animal!!!
I love it – you’re living life on the edge 😉
I used to have holders but they broke so we’ve been using our hands. But, those holders look great and I may have to get some before next summer.
I roast my corn on the cob in the oven. Wrap each cob in foil with butter and roast on a sheet pan. You can grill it, too, but our grill was broken so I used the oven. Easy and no steamy kitchen.
That sounds like a neat and tidy way to prepare corn. I’ll have to try that next corn “season.”
Plain boiling water and no holders! I guess I’m a “corn on the cob minimalist.”
I got out for a walk this morning on the eve of Cool Bloggers Walking Club! I’m ready!
I love minimalism…just not as far as it extends to burning my fingers and getting them all buttery.
What a keener! I love it, Jenny. Can’t wait to hear about your walking adventures.
We have holders in our house– but some have broken over the years and so my kids always fight over who gets them! Sometimes, in an effort to keep the peace among all three, I have to distribute them as singles instead of pairs… and even a lopsided corn holding experience is apparently better than none at all! ha.
We also were getting low on holders (we had the ones shaped like corn cobs but they were quite flimsy), and then at the end of a summer season I found two packages of much sturdier ones on clearance at a local grocery store. I was hesitating to buy both (that would give us more than we needed), but have never regretted the purchase! They are WONDERFUL and so sturdy and I suspect will outlast me in terms of longevity.
I don’t bother with corn holders but my kids love to use them! I cook my corn in our instant pot! Add a cup of water and set for 2 minutes and perfect every time! You don’t have to worry about checking for doneness and you retain all nutrients that would be lost to the boiling water (though this is probably minimal). I used to dread boiling water for corn as it always seemed to take forever and you had to keep poking them back into the water and we really didn’t have the right size pot. We eat a lot more corn now!
I am going to get an IP. I think it’s going on my Christmas wish list this year.
I grew up with holders, so use them. Husband did not, so he uses his bare hands. Although I have to say that more often than not I just use one holder, in the ‘fat’ end of the corn rather than also trying to spear the ‘skinny’ end so I can use two.
As far as cooking, I put the corn in a pot big enough for the ears to lie flat, then add enough water until they float. Cook just until it comes to a boil (turning the ears with tongs if necessary to make sure both sides get submerged) and then turn the burner off and remove the corn to a platter. Or, if we grill it, leave the husks on and grill until the outer husks are dry and brownish (turn once during grilling).
It is hard to get the holder prongs into the skinny end!!
Growing up, holders for sure, and we called them Cob Knobs!
I’m laughing at all the varied answers.
Cob Knobs. Who doesn’t love kitchen tools that rhyme?
Oh definitely no holders! I do not need sharp pokey things at the dinner table with my kids. I tried holders once and almost impaled a finger. Props to folks who can use holders safely. Maybe I’m doing it wrong?????
These days I mostly grill my corn, but that’s a while other debate- do folks grill them in husks or shucked????
I had never really thought about their sharpness until these comments. Now it feels miraculous my kids have emerged from their youth with two intact eyes!
It is hard to get it into the skinny end. I also think that they aren’t all created equal in quality; our newest set of corn holders is much more robust than the old set.
I never grill corn so can’t add to that debate, but I see @Kris S. does it and grills with the husks on!
I want to like corn holders but alas, tend to find they never quite stick in right and then they feel in the way and like my corn is wobbly or off centre.
Guess what I just bought at the farmer’s market. I will be paying close attention to how everything feels and functions when I have corn at supper now that I’ve overrun the internet with corn questions 😉
I guess I’m a corn terrorizer—I shuck it, wet it and then wrap in a wet paper towel and toss it in microwave. About 3 or so minutes for 2 ears. And we don’t use butter anymore. Nor the corn cob holders. Just plain, nuked corn with bare hands!
This sounds so easy! Maybe I’ll microwave one ear tonight and boil the rest my regular way and see which one “wins”???
Definitely going to use my corn holders, though.
I grew up without corn holders, so I thought they were ingenious when I found out that my husband had grown up with them! We don’t have corn on the cob very often, though. We both prefer it cut off the cob.
I’d never heard of corn holders before I met my husband. They’re a well-kept secret!
We grew up with corn holders (the plastic ones that look like an ear of corn) and that’s still my preference, but somehow in my adult life I have never owned/bought them so we just hold our corn like animals over here. By the time everyone’s plates are served and everyone actually comes down to sit at the table the corn is cool enough 😉
I have just boiled the corn in water. I did try a recipe that called for boiling it in milk and butter and didn’t notice a difference (and it felt like a waste of milk!). But I will definitely try your sugar + vinegar version, and I will also try the IP way that some of your readers recommend! My absolute favourite thing to make in the IP is shredded chicken breasts (Love and Olive Oil has the best recipe). I can cook 5 lbs at once and they turn out perfectly for casseroles, soups, tacos, salads, etc etc. You should absolutely get one!
I know. It is going on my Christmas wist list!! And you’ll have to report back about the IP for corn!