Corn turns brown?????

[rwsmith]

We've been boiling sweet corn on the cob for decades and never had this. The last we had came from the store in a styrofoam tray with saran wrapping so we couldn't store it 'in the husk'. It looked good, nice corn.

When boiled a few of the kernals in each ear turned dark brown and looked really unappetizing. The were easy to get off with a knife, so I just took a few minutes to pick the brown kernels off and the rest of it was fine.

I looked it up on the internet and some people complained about the same thing. Somebody suggested it was some 'enzyme' action from boiling, that it was a 'super' variety of corn and my idea was that you don't know where any produce comes from anymore if it's not labeled and probably comes from China or Outer Mongolia.

Has anybody else seen this and do you have any insight as to what causes it? I'm sure you could probably eat it if you liked dark brown corn but it makes me wonder.

 

[pawngal]

Were the brown kernels in any particular area of the ear? Like the stalk end or the end where the silk would have been? Or just random? Certainly sounds funky to me.
Honestly, I have never bought sweet corn from a store and hopefully never will.

 

[Vtgw938]

Only brown corn I've had is after grilling it over charcoal. Remove the silk & loosen the husk, soak in water for 30 minutes and put on the grill. We use Cowboy chunk charcoal and boy is it good.

 

[Heinz]

When grilling corn, you do not need to loosen the husk or remove the tassels. I soak it in water about an hour. Throw it on the grill and turn it from time to time. When the husks start to burn, check for doneness.
You can remove the husks and tassels together once the cooking is done. They come off more easily when cooked and the corn gets a better steam with the intact husk. If you want some of the carmellization, pop the cookie corn ear back on the hot grill for a minute.
Nothing wrong with the other way but I think this is easier and faster.

 

[Greyman50]

We used to dig a hole in the sand at the beach put charcoal in , light it let it burn down put couple layers of tin foil over coals little sand and place soaked corn in the husk on top and cover with more foil. Talk about killer good corn to go with burgers……

 

[madmikeb]

I've always used the Vtgw938 method, but I'm going to have to try the Heinz method. Sounds much easier!

 

[Hair Trigger]

Sounds like the corn may have been a bit overripe and the heat from cooking denatured the proteins in the kernel. Probably wouldn't taste bad, but eye appeal is a lot when eating anything.

I grow my own corn and freeze about half of it on the cob. When I cook the shucked corn I prefer grilling it, wrapped in heavy foil and smeared with garlic butter, on the top shelf of the grill. Turn the ears every 5 minutes and they will cook done in the same time as a 1" thick steak to medium. Salt them to taste after cooking.

Since I use no chemicals in my garden, I don't cook unshucked corn, as I do get a few corn worms and would rather not cook them too.

 

[dave1918a2]

It's sweet corn time up here. I'm diabetic, but what the heck. It's only once a year, and fresh, and really good dripping in butter, salt and pepper. Never seen any brown kernels yet. Must be Your water.

 

[Rule3]

Nope never had corn turn brown?


Preferred method to cook fresh corn. Bring pot of water to boil, turn off stove and let corn sit in the water for Five (5) minutes
Over cooked corn is gross

 

[arjay]

I take the husk off,wrap the ear in a paper towel and run it under the faucet.Two of em in a microwave for 5 minutes. Delicious and easy.

 

[rwsmith]

It's sweet corn time up here. I'm diabetic, but what the heck. It's only once a year, and fresh, and really good dripping in butter, salt and pepper. Never seen any brown kernels yet. Must be Your water.

Only about 4 or 5 kernals on each end of the cob turned brown. Most of them were surrounded by good kernals so I had to pop them out with a knife. Unless the water has changed around here after 68 years, I kinda don't think that's it.

Oh, I'm diabetic, too, but corn doesn't count in my diet.

 

[rwsmith]

Both ends.....

Were the brown kernels in any particular area of the ear? Like the stalk end or the end where the silk would have been? Or just random? Certainly sounds funky to me.
Honestly, I have never bought sweet corn from a store and hopefully never will.

I should have taken a picture. They were on both ends and most were single kernals surrounded by good ones. I just picked them out with a pointy knife.

 

[BEEMER1]

I take the husk off,wrap the ear in a paper towel and run it under the faucet.Two of em in a microwave for 5 minutes. Delicious and easy.

That is my method also, better than boiling.

You have to experiment a little with the time though, I never go 5 minutes.

 

[DixieRanger]

GMO corn getting widespread. Who knows whats in it. Looks to be clone i'm thinking. Originated where?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Rpg]

The explanation for your occasional brown kernel is simple:

The corn on the cob that’s been de-husked and packaged for sale tend to be those that have been on display for a while. You’ll notice that they have trimmed off the tip of each cob: the part of the corn cob that first shows age and begins to deteriorate (turn brown) first.

The corn you bought was on its way to the trash: the prepackaged corn is the grocery’s attempt to get rid of its aging produce.

I suspect the corn you bought was carefully arranged in the packaging to conceal its blemishes.

 

[rwsmith]

That's probably it, but..

The explanation for your occasional brown kernel is simple:

The corn on the cob that’s been de-husked and packaged for sale tend to be those that have been on display for a while. You’ll notice that they have trimmed off the tip of each cob: the part of the corn cob that first shows age and begins to deteriorate (turn brown) first.

The corn you bought was on its way to the trash: the prepackaged corn is the grocery’s attempt to get rid of its aging produce.

I suspect the corn you bought was carefully arranged in the packaging to conceal its blemishes.

I think you got it right. But the corn LOOKED fine before it was boiled and it tasted fine when I ate it and was wishing I had another, so it wasn't TOO bad.

 

[Warren Sear]

The cause has to be Global Climate Change.

 

[tlawler]

It's sweet corn time up here. I'm diabetic, but what the heck. It's only once a year, and fresh, and really good dripping in butter, salt and pepper. Never seen any brown kernels yet. Must be Your water.

Ah! Fond memories of our Zellwood corn festival down here in Florida.

 

[Rule3]

Lived in Iowa for a while, My Sister had a small plot of Silver Queen . That corn was like nothing I ever tasted. Eat it right of the stalk, Like sugar!

 

[g-dad]

We've been boiling sweet corn on the cob for decades and never had this.

When boiled a few of the kernals in each ear turned dark brown and looked really unappetizing. The were easy to get off with a knife, so I just took a few minutes to pick the brown kernels off and the rest of it was fine.

Has anybody else seen this and do you have any insight as to what causes it? I'm sure you could probably eat it if you liked dark brown corn but it makes me wonder.

Interesting that you posted this as we experienced the same last night. Normally my bride air fries 2 ears in foil with butter and seasonings but the air fryer was employed with a couple of chicken thighs so she boiled the corn. Only 1 ear had a few of the brown kernels. The corn tasted fine but the brown kernels were not consumed. We figured it was getting old.