separating corn from cob [General]
Aug 4
I've always done the following:
Grab a fairly wide, round dish (at least a few inches deep) and stand up a corn cob (cooked or otherwise) on it's end. You can cut the very end of the cob off to ensure that it stands up easily.
Then take a grapefruit knife and work from top to bottom slicing off the kernels. This type of knife works really well, as it's thin and the curved blade catches an extra row or two of kernels with each swipe as opposed to a flat blade. I've also heard of people using a mandolin, but haven't tried it myself.
Grab a fairly wide, round dish (at least a few inches deep) and stand up a corn cob (cooked or otherwise) on it's end. You can cut the very end of the cob off to ensure that it stands up easily.
Then take a grapefruit knife and work from top to bottom slicing off the kernels. This type of knife works really well, as it's thin and the curved blade catches an extra row or two of kernels with each swipe as opposed to a flat blade. I've also heard of people using a mandolin, but haven't tried it myself.
^ where do i put the corn? 
Aug 4
Zym - you can buy an instrument called a corn cutter (corn kutter), which basically operates on the same principle as a mandoline, but it's curved to help get a nice close cut along the curvature of the cob of corn (say that 5 ten times quickly).
Aug 4
I saw Rachel Ray do a neat trick.
Take a big pasta server dish (the wide low style that usually comes with four bowls) and stand a cereal bowl upside down in the centre. Use the base of the cereal bowl to stand the cob on and slice carefully with knife. Through the magic of television all the kernels stayed in the bowl.
Take a big pasta server dish (the wide low style that usually comes with four bowls) and stand a cereal bowl upside down in the centre. Use the base of the cereal bowl to stand the cob on and slice carefully with knife. Through the magic of television all the kernels stayed in the bowl.
Aug 5
I've heard of people using a bundt pan, and standing the whole cob up in the middle (in the hole...har har..) to cut off the kernels. My parents got me a corn kutter a few years ago, and it works reasonable well.
Aug 5
Thanks for all the tips folks, but none of them address my original question of getting the kernels off whole, in tact. Like when you buy a can of whole kernels. I'm doing fine cutting the kernels off with the method I used. Just curious if there is a reasonable way at home to get them off whole.
Aug 6
This will do the job cleanly...
www.kuhnrikon.com
It can be ordered through Amazon but C.A. Paradis may have them (they carry Kuhn Rikon) or another kitchen supply store.
www.kuhnrikon.com
It can be ordered through Amazon but C.A. Paradis may have them (they carry Kuhn Rikon) or another kitchen supply store.
Aug 6
Concerning the Kuhnrikon product.
Looks like a mixed bag of reviews over on Amazon.com.
www.amazon.com
Of 24 reviews 15 were favorable and 9 would rather use a knife.
Aug 6
Zym - On the rare occasion when I've wanted my corn off the cob, I've used a knife. I do somewhere in my "gadget life" recall seeing a knife that was curved and was supposed to do a better job. Out of curiosity, I did a little googling, and came up with more info on those corn type mandolines. The WebSite says you can adjust it so it will take off the entire kernel.
www.leemfgco.com/corn.asp
www.leemfgco.com/corn.asp
Aug 7
Hey F&T .... When I took a peek at the corn stripper you found on google I nearly fell off my chair when I saw their "E-Z (Corn) Creamer" (see pic).
You use your power drill to turn a corn cob into a PVC pipe thingy.
"...let's do the HOKEY-pokey ..."
Aug 7
Captain C - I agree that contraption was beyond belief... but then again we are talking about a deep south invention. The whole concept is well lets just say more than a little HOKEY... like you I got the double entendre. LOL
The mandoline thingy on that same page, was what I was pointing out to Zym and it looks a lot more professional (and hence marketable).
The mandoline thingy on that same page, was what I was pointing out to Zym and it looks a lot more professional (and hence marketable).
Aug 8
Hey F&T : I wasn't trying for a double entendre .... but now that you mention it.
If I keep it up and I'll probably win a corney trophy.
Aug 12
If you're even a bit handy/dextrous, the Kuhn Rikon Zipper works very well. Negative reviews would be from those that might say something like..."People have recommended I use a hammer for nails but I just keep denting my freakin' wall up. Hammers suck." :)
Aug 12
LOL! This forum topic deserves a gold medal on several fronts:
* Most belly laughs per post
* Most double entendres
* Most... uh... corny
Somewhat distressingly, Captain Caper's picture of the Kuhn-Rikon product reminded me of a frightening device that my Mom used to have for cutting foot callouses (see photo). In addition to callouses it can be used for removing (you guessed it) corns.
On a more serious note, and as a vote of confidence for Kuhn-Rikon, I own a pressure cooker from them that is absolutely top notch even if it was a tad pricey. If they make a corn dekerneler, I'd expect it to work at least halfway decently.
zymurgist
Any ideas if this can be done at home, and if so, how?