How to Pick Out the Best Sweet Corn to Buy

Buying Sweet Corn

The key to picking out good corn isn't so much a matter of what it looks like but rather how long it's been since the corn was harvested. The second those ears are pulled off the stalks, sugar in the corn begins to convert to starch. Once the sugar is gone, so is a lot of the flavor and delicate texture.

The trick to delicious grilled corn is no secret — use freshly harvested ears. The longer they sit on the shelf, the starchier and less sweet the kernels will taste.

Here's how to spot the freshest corn:

1. Look for silk that's pale in color, a little sticky, and brown at the very tips.

2. The tops of the ears should feel filled in with the kernels developed right to the ends.

3. The cut should be fresh, moist, and free of spots. Old cuts take on a rusty look.

4. Ripe kernels release a milky juice. An overripe ear is dry and tough.

Tags: Vegetables