Pick the Best Sweet Corn

1. Check the husk

First, take a look at the outside of the corn, the husk. You want the corn husk to be bright green, wrapped tightly against the corn and slightly damp. These are the freshest cobs! Don’t choose any husks that are starting to yellow or feel dry. You’ll want to check the husk for small brown holes, which mean insects and should be avoided. Take a peek at the bottom of the corn where the ear was broken off the stalk in the field. If this area is brown, the corn is probably a couple days old and not the freshest choice.

Pro Tip: As tempting as it might be, don’t peel back the husk! This shortens the shelf life of the corn, causing it to dry out.

2. Pay attention to the tassel

The cute little fluff of stuff at the top of the corn is pretty important. It’s actually the corn silks sticking out of the husk, and it’s called the tassel. When choosing your corn, keep in mind that the tassel should be light brown or gold, and slightly sticky to the touch. Take a good whiff of the tassel—it should smell sweet with no signs of decay. Avoid corn that has a dry or black tassel, or a tassel that feels mushy. These are all signs the corn is old.

3. Give the corn a squeeze

Instead of peeling back the husk to peek at the corn kernels, give it a squeeze instead. By gently squeezing the ear of corn, you can feel the kernels through the husk. Start from the bottom and squeeze the whole cob, working your way to the top. The ear of corn should feel nice and firm, and the individual kernels should feel plump. You shouldn’t be able to feel any voids where kernels are missing. Be sure to pass on any cobs that have soft spots.

4. Keep it fresh at home

Once you get home, it’s fine to store your corn at room temperature if you’re going to cook it within the next few hours. If you don’t plan on eating it for another day or so, it’s best to refrigerate the corn in the crisper with the husks on, tightly wrapped in a plastic bag.

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