It’s August, and that means that local corn-on-the-cob is here! There’s nothing like a freshly husked cob on the side of any dinner to indicate that it’s summer in Ontario. It is especially a favourite at barbecues and pig roasts – an easy way to feed lots of people while still maintaining freshness and quality.
In Ontario, we grow three types of sweet corn: normal, sugar-enhanced and super-sweet; each with three different colour groups: yellow, bi-colour (yellow-and-white) and white.
You might be tempted to pull back the corn husks at the market or local food stand to check how ripe the corn can be, but this just causes the corn to go bad quicker. Ripe sweet corn has bright green, moist husks, so if you’re looking for corn that’s ready for tonight’s dinner, look for silk that’s stiff, dark and moist. You should be able to feel individual kernels by pressing gently against the husk.
Because corn’s natural sugar begins to decline immediately after it’s picked, it’s best to cook and eat it as soon as you’ve picked it. If you can’t pick it yourself, but you’re buying from a local market, be sure to have plans to cook and eat the corn that evening.
If you aren’t able to eat the corn right away, be sure to keep it moist and cool and try to use it within two or three days.
Corn is a great source of folate and contains fibre, vitamin C, niacin and thiamine. An average ear of corn has 83 calories. Of course, sometimes the calorie content goes up when you start slathering on the butter; but hot corn with melted butter is such a classic combination! How can you not?
We particularly love to add a gourmet element to fresh, local corn with different flavoured butters. You can flavour butter with just about anything you desire to add a bit more flavour to your cob, but we highly recommend chipotle, herb, or chili-lime butter. If you know you’re going to be having corn, try making the flavoured butter the night before so the flavours can really meld together overnight and the butter has a chance to re-harden with the added ingredients.
Enjoy! And be sure to stop by our Food Shoppe to pair your corn with one of our ready-to-eat entrees.
Image: tiverylucky / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
