by Nikki Willhite
There are 2 types of corn on the cob. One of them
is full of bloated and hard kernels that taste like cardboard. The other type of
corn on the cob has tender, fresh kernels that have a delightfully
sweet taste.
Don't waste your money on "bad corn on the cob." Be frugal and do your
best to only buy fresh, sweet tasting corn. There is a way you can check for
freshness. Use your fingernail to puncture one of the kernels on the corn. If
the liquid that comes out looks like water, the corn is old. The sugar has
turned to starch and it will not taste good.
However, if the liquid comes out looking like milk, the corn is fresh and sweet.
When you find (or grow) such delicious corn, you may want to go back to the
store every day to buy more of it. Corn on the cob is not in most stores year
round, and you never know when it is going to be fresh when it does appear.
When you find this delicious corn, think about freezing it. It is very easy and
frugal to do, and you will preserve the freshness and flavor. Here is how you do
it.
First you must husk the corn and remove all the silk. Next, you must blanch it.
Put it in boiling water for 5 minutes. This will stop the enzymes from changing
the corn. As soon as it is blanched, put it in ice water to stop the
cooking process.
Then it is just a matter of drying it off, and storing it in the freezer. Most
people freeze the cobs individually, and then put them in a big bag for
convenience. If you put plastic wrap around each cob before you freeze it, when
they are all frozen you can easily put them in a large freezer bag.
When you find great corn on the cob, you must act! It doesn't take long for the
sugar in the corn to turn to starch. Keep your schedule flexible during corn
season. It is well worth it.
About the Author: Nikki Willhite,
mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing
articles on the topic of
frugal living for over a
decade. Visit her at
www.frugalhappyfamilies.com
- where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal
Happy Families- more than just money!
