Why Farmers Want You To Stop Peeling Back Corn Husks

Sweet corn on the cob is a summertime staple. This popular vegetable has the same season across the country, with those first ears making their way to our tables in May and the last summer corn gracing our backyard barbecues in September, per Food Network. The site goes on to share that the United States produces 40% of the world's corn. Whether we grill it, boil it, roast it, dream up the best ways to dress corn on the cob, or use the leftover corn cobs to make a stock, this is a food we want to savor and enjoy.

Of course, even though we love it, Click Hole reveals that 96% of corn on the cob eaters nosh on it like they are six years old and make a huge mess. That's right, our corn etiquette doesn't evolve as we get older. If we can't progress in how we chomp on the cobs, the least we can do is treat the corn nicely while shopping. Specifically, corn farmers would like to place a cease and desist on peeling back the corn husk when we are at the grocery store or farmers market, and here's why.

If you are beginning the shucking process as you browse through the corn section at the grocery store or farmers market, you are committing a major corn on the cob faux pas, according to Kitchn. The cooking site goes on to explain that beyond all the corn silk and husks that get all over the place, it is just downright rude. After all, who is going to want to buy an ear of corn, knowing someone else was handling it and removing the husk?

But there's another reason you shouldn't remove those husks, exposing the sweet kernels will cause the ear of corn to lose moisture, per Bon Appétit. For this reason, you want to keep your corn on the cob in its husk if you are storing it in your refrigerator. The food site further notes that when you buy corn, you want the husks to be green and not dry. Instead of peeling back the husk, Kitchn recommends making sure the corn is firm, feels heavy, and that the tassels at the top are either yellow, white, or light brown. If you truly can't resist messing with the husk, you can peel a side down to ensure the corn is plump, but be sure to pull the husk right back up to lock in that moisture.