BostonZest reports on the rebellion among some markets against people who peel corn in the store to see what it looks like and offers tips on checking for good corn without denuding it.
You can check for insect damage, rot or incomplete polination (ie unplumped kernels) just by peeling back a scant inch or so of the top without actually removing any husk. That causes the ear to dry out, start getting starchy, and makes it easier to damage. I'm always amazed to see people shucking ears in the store - it's like opening a loaf of bread or gallon of milk while still shopping!
Each silk attaches to a single kernel on the cob. The silks that attach to the topmost kernels are the last to come out/mature. Since the tassles (with the pollen) mature a bit earlier than the silks, if there is a timing issue (pollen too early/silks too late), it's those top rows of kernels that are left unpollinated. One or two unplumped rows are typical, but if there's more than 4-5, it makes sense to pick another ear.
The insects that ruin ears all go in through the top, so you'll spot that by peeking too. Any holes in the side are exit holes (and mean an instant pass, obv). Ditto for rot problems - the top is exposed to the outside, and will show problem signs before any other part of the ear.
I've never understood why people do this. Corn is so cheap -- just buy an extra ear if you're worried about it.
I saw this sign at the Dewey Square market and was so thankful to see it. As the article says, look and touch. I could sort of understand husking the corn after you buy it -- maybe you don't want to make a mess in your kitchen.
Different people have different standards. One person might peel a husk and reject it because of minor cosmetic issues that wouldn't bother someone else.
This is just a bunch of crap thought up by the grocery store to pass their losses on bad ears of corn onto the consumer. You aren't going to find fungal or worm damage without peeling the top couple of inches back. If you peel it back and there is nothing wrong with it and THEN you put it back . . .well that makes you crazy. However, when you peel it back and its unedible, why on earth should you have to buy it? If I were ever forced to buy the corn by this store, I would go through the register and then go to customer service and demand a refund for the crap they just sold me. I would like to take the owner of this store to any Safeway in DC where the customers not only peel back the top, they peel the entire cob and the leave the husk behind! I never understood why you would do this (you aren't paying by the pound) but it was customary, and any grocery store that didn't put out a barrel for husks did so at their peril.
Market Basket in Chelsea puts out a barrel for people to dump the huskings into. And people do. Nasty ears that get passed over bounce around in the bin until an employee comes by and tosses it.
I live in Chelsea and shop there, and I can't stand the perpetual stream of old ladies that stand around the bin and husk EVERY SINGLE EAR, making it near-impossible for me to just go in, grab 4 un-manhandled ears, and be off.
I never husk in-store (seriously, what the deuce?) and in all my years of buying corn, I have *maybe* brought home a single bad ear of corn.
I wish they would do this there!
You just get a nice fat piece of corn, and feel around the top end of the corn, where the silk is, and see if you can pop the kernels at the top of the stalk. If you press down and you feel the stalk, that piece is not going to be that good, the stalk will be skinny and missing kernels.
This is what I do, too - I don't even press down hard enough to pop kernels, just a gentle squeeze to make sure that the ear feels full and plump, and I can pretty easily feel if there's worm damage with a little pinch at the end near the silk.
And if there is a little bit of damage at the very tip, so be it - that's what knives are for. I shop at the farmer's market in order to get less pesticide-laden food, and I recognize that the trade-off is that the corn may in fact have been visited by pests.
I never peel it at the store- been buying corn for years and have never got a bad ear. I just pick out big ones that are still intact. I've also looked at many of the discarded ears over the years and usually find that there isn't actually any issue with the corn- the tip might not be aesthetically perfect, but then just don't eat that part!
What about the people who pick through the green beans or cherries? They pick up one at a time and inspect it top to bottom and side to side. Can't say enough about washing your fruits and veggies when you bring them home, especially after these nose pickers are doing the inspections.
..by this I mean the green pressed paper and cellophane-on-top packages that let you see the produce without it being picked through.
As for nose-pickers, everyone should think of that the next time they go to a salad-bar type place at a grocery store...I've sworn off them forever. eewwww.
Ask anyone in food service about salad bars. The problem is people who scratch their ass, then pick up the tongs and place veggies, lettuce etc. onto their plates. Then they place the tongs on top of the food in the bar. Big time cross contamination.
I do the small peel-back peek to check for bugs/rot (and that was taught to me by a farmer when I was a kid), but I only husk the ears I am taking home, and I do that because I live in an apartment without any outdoor space and the silk makes such a mess when I husk them at home. When I lived somewhere with a yard or porch, I never denuded my corn 'til I got home. Am I still in the doghouse?
Comments
What about insect damage?
I always looked at corn to check for insect damage. Worms can do a lot!
99% of damage visible by peeking at top inch
You can check for insect damage, rot or incomplete polination (ie unplumped kernels) just by peeling back a scant inch or so of the top without actually removing any husk. That causes the ear to dry out, start getting starchy, and makes it easier to damage. I'm always amazed to see people shucking ears in the store - it's like opening a loaf of bread or gallon of milk while still shopping!
Each silk attaches to a single kernel on the cob. The silks that attach to the topmost kernels are the last to come out/mature. Since the tassles (with the pollen) mature a bit earlier than the silks, if there is a timing issue (pollen too early/silks too late), it's those top rows of kernels that are left unpollinated. One or two unplumped rows are typical, but if there's more than 4-5, it makes sense to pick another ear.
The insects that ruin ears all go in through the top, so you'll spot that by peeking too. Any holes in the side are exit holes (and mean an instant pass, obv). Ditto for rot problems - the top is exposed to the outside, and will show problem signs before any other part of the ear.
thank god
I've never understood why people do this. Corn is so cheap -- just buy an extra ear if you're worried about it.
I saw this sign at the Dewey Square market and was so thankful to see it. As the article says, look and touch. I could sort of understand husking the corn after you buy it -- maybe you don't want to make a mess in your kitchen.
If Corn Is So Cheap For The Buyer...
... then it follows that it is even cheaper for the seller, therefore even less of a loss.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Unsalable, all right
Because somebody rejected it because it has worms, bugs, or rotten kernals.
Different people have
Different people have different standards. One person might peel a husk and reject it because of minor cosmetic issues that wouldn't bother someone else.
Bunch of crap
This is just a bunch of crap thought up by the grocery store to pass their losses on bad ears of corn onto the consumer. You aren't going to find fungal or worm damage without peeling the top couple of inches back. If you peel it back and there is nothing wrong with it and THEN you put it back . . .well that makes you crazy. However, when you peel it back and its unedible, why on earth should you have to buy it? If I were ever forced to buy the corn by this store, I would go through the register and then go to customer service and demand a refund for the crap they just sold me. I would like to take the owner of this store to any Safeway in DC where the customers not only peel back the top, they peel the entire cob and the leave the husk behind! I never understood why you would do this (you aren't paying by the pound) but it was customary, and any grocery store that didn't put out a barrel for husks did so at their peril.
Market Basket
Market Basket in Chelsea puts out a barrel for people to dump the huskings into. And people do. Nasty ears that get passed over bounce around in the bin until an employee comes by and tosses it.
I live in Chelsea and shop
I live in Chelsea and shop there, and I can't stand the perpetual stream of old ladies that stand around the bin and husk EVERY SINGLE EAR, making it near-impossible for me to just go in, grab 4 un-manhandled ears, and be off.
I never husk in-store (seriously, what the deuce?) and in all my years of buying corn, I have *maybe* brought home a single bad ear of corn.
I wish they would do this there!
I always find good corn, and I never peel it.
You just get a nice fat piece of corn, and feel around the top end of the corn, where the silk is, and see if you can pop the kernels at the top of the stalk. If you press down and you feel the stalk, that piece is not going to be that good, the stalk will be skinny and missing kernels.
You don't have to tear it apart, either
Most problems are visible at the nose end of the stalk. That's why this is so dim - you don't make it unsalable by peeking!
Same here
This is what I do, too - I don't even press down hard enough to pop kernels, just a gentle squeeze to make sure that the ear feels full and plump, and I can pretty easily feel if there's worm damage with a little pinch at the end near the silk.
And if there is a little bit of damage at the very tip, so be it - that's what knives are for. I shop at the farmer's market in order to get less pesticide-laden food, and I recognize that the trade-off is that the corn may in fact have been visited by pests.
Me three...
I never peel it at the store- been buying corn for years and have never got a bad ear. I just pick out big ones that are still intact. I've also looked at many of the discarded ears over the years and usually find that there isn't actually any issue with the corn- the tip might not be aesthetically perfect, but then just don't eat that part!
Produce
What about the people who pick through the green beans or cherries? They pick up one at a time and inspect it top to bottom and side to side. Can't say enough about washing your fruits and veggies when you bring them home, especially after these nose pickers are doing the inspections.
All great arguments for packaged produce
..by this I mean the green pressed paper and cellophane-on-top packages that let you see the produce without it being picked through.
As for nose-pickers, everyone should think of that the next time they go to a salad-bar type place at a grocery store...I've sworn off them forever. eewwww.
Salad Bars
Ask anyone in food service about salad bars. The problem is people who scratch their ass, then pick up the tongs and place veggies, lettuce etc. onto their plates. Then they place the tongs on top of the food in the bar. Big time cross contamination.
That's only ONE of the problems
But I will spare the board the details of every other scenario I've seen in person.
With prepackaged produce, if
With prepackaged produce, if one thing in the package goes bad, they have to toss the whole package.
This is a great thing. If you're a dumpster diver.
No they don't.
They can remove the bad item and re-package it.
I peek, then only peel what I'm buying
I do the small peel-back peek to check for bugs/rot (and that was taught to me by a farmer when I was a kid), but I only husk the ears I am taking home, and I do that because I live in an apartment without any outdoor space and the silk makes such a mess when I husk them at home. When I lived somewhere with a yard or porch, I never denuded my corn 'til I got home. Am I still in the doghouse?