mike gregory - Posted - 09/04/2011:  21:04:45

Corn on the cob, when you're trying to boil it, up in the mountains, is a pressure cooker the way to go?

Brian T - Posted - 09/04/2011:  21:32:06

I don't think so, while the temperature of boiling water may be lower at 5,000', what's the rush?
Unlax, regard the scenery, swat some bugs, stare into the campfire, pick a little or a lot.
The pressure cooker is an awfully big, hard, heavy, bulky lump to haul along.
Buy one of those screen-mesh basket things on a stick and make popcorn over the fire instead.
Meshes perfectly with a couple of wobbly-pops.

BANJOJUDY - Posted - 09/04/2011:  21:35:17

I live at approximately 6000 feet elevation, and I cook the corn in the microwave.  On the grill works just fine too - pick the banjo and let'er cook.

Judy

Jim Cannon - Posted - 09/05/2011:  02:24:14

Corn on the cob?  I think the idea is to heat it rather than necessarily "cook" it.  You can put a little sugar in the water before hand...not salt, that makes the kernals turn tough'

Edited by - Jim Cannon on 09/05/2011 02:35:29

fivebranch - Posted - 09/05/2011:  07:49:31

OK folks grab them thar musical instruments and whip out that old tymey tune Jimmy Boils Corn In Mountain Air. Sing along if you a liken to. A one and a two

Jimmy boils corn in Mountain air

Jimmy boils corn in Mountain air

Jimmy boils corn in Mountain air .......

It may take him half the day

brokenstrings - Posted - 09/05/2011:  08:09:07

While the corn's cooking, you can smoosh some chile and lime into butter to decorate it with. A dash of salt and some chopped parsley (flat-leaf) and green onion wouldn't go amiss.

donc - Posted - 09/05/2011:  16:39:27

If the temperature of the water is over 212 F,but not boiling; why would it have to boil to produce the same results? I live on the side of a mountain but I've never actually hiked up top with cobs of corn. On the other hand, it could be a problem to cook corn if you were 1800 feet below in a submarine,without proper air compression. Would the water now boil away at a temperature well below 212 F ? These are questions I don't need to have an answer for right away?

KE - Posted - 09/05/2011:  17:10:16

The boiling point goes down as you go up in altitude, or down in barometric pressure.  A change of 5000 ft will lower the boiling point of water by about 10 F.  Or a change in barometric pressure of about 1.5" will do about the same.

Neither mountains nor tropical depressions/hyped-up hurricanes should stop you from enjoying corn this time of year.  Cook the corn until you start to get an abundant smell of fresh corn; it's a pretty clear marker.

BDCA - Posted - 09/05/2011:  19:25:21

I steam my corn. Steam will get hotter than boiling water at altitude, uses less energy, less water and is quicker.

Cya!

Bob

BConk - Posted - 09/06/2011:  17:23:35

Do like the ancient Inca indians used to do in their homes high in the Andes - chew enough coca leaves to make a paste to completely cover the ears of corn before you put them in the water. It won't make the corn cook any quicker - but after chewing all that coca you won't give a $%$# how long it takes.

bubbalouie - Posted - 09/06/2011:  17:29:58

I cut the stem off a little more and soak them in water for an hour or so.

Then I peel back the husks without removing them.

Pull all the silk off and grind up a bunch of spices.

I use cajun spice,cumin,mexican chile powder,garlic powder,onion powder or whatever I fell like. Smear on some butter or oil to help it stick.

Then I wrap the husks back on the way they came off & tie them up with butchers string .

It is a bit of work but I always get raves!.

Toss them on the off side of a 350 grill about 45 mins.

Me & a bunch of other crazy 20 year olds blew up a pressure cooker full of lobster back in 1980 so I've always been a little gun shy!

bubbalouie - Posted - 09/06/2011:  17:52:59

This is the best corn I ever ate!

canadabadlands.com/2011/07/cor...f-canada/

That corn stuffing sounds kinda crazy!. I tied with another kid in a corn eating contest at 8 cobs when I was 10. Don't forget to chew it really good. A scientist friend of mine got me laughing by saying corn was a good indicator!.

Brian T - Posted - 09/06/2011:  18:40:53

A (pseudo?) chef told me to microwave corn wrapped in wet T-towels. Never tried it.

Here's the quote but who said it? George Carlin?

"You never get to own corn. Borrow it, yes, but never own it."

bubbalouie - Posted - 09/06/2011:  19:46:47

I went to a party where I didn't know anybody but the guy I went with. There was a massive pile of corn and  & as i walked by a girl asked if I knew how to shuck corn . I jumped in & met everyone that was there. They boiled it up & had pots of hot water with a pound of melted butter that you'd dunk your cob in. 

We used to have these corn cob holders that you stick into the ends of your cob of corn.

Edited by - bubbalouie on 09/06/2011 19:50:04

dmiller - Posted - 09/06/2011:  22:18:11

As a kid - - - we grew our own corn on the cob.  It got boiled in water before eating.

Just a coupla weeks ago I was visiting the folks, and we had corn with dinner one night.

The difference?   Each cob was wrapped in a paper towel (dry), and microwaved.

One minute (or so) and it was done.  I had my reservations about it, but it was tasty.

Technology - - - - - - Go figure, eh?  

We still have those corn cob holders, but I use a knife to take the corn off of the cob.

Easier to eat (with nothing stuck in your teeth), if it's off the cob.  



 

pandjlocke - Posted - 09/06/2011:  22:37:33

I just dampen the husks and either microwave or grill it in the husk. I de-husk the corn after it's cooked. I maintain that the corn has better flavor if cooked in the husk.

Mopick - Posted - 09/07/2011:  04:57:45

I thought you were talking about boiling "corn" at high altitudes.

BConk - Posted - 09/07/2011:  05:21:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by pandjlocke

I just dampen the husks and either microwave or grill it in the husk. I de-husk the corn after it's cooked. I maintain that the corn has better flavor if cooked in the husk.

---

I agree - it does seem to taste better cooked in the husk.

Pull off the extra silk coming out the end - open the husk only enough to make sure you're not cooking worms, run it under the faucet for a second or so and then nuke it or toss it on the grill. Once it's done, fold back the husk and use the husk itself as a handle to eat the corn.

BConk - Posted - 09/07/2011:  05:27:28

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian T

A (pseudo?) chef told me to microwave corn wrapped in wet T-towels. Never tried it.



Here's the quote but who said it? George Carlin?



"You never get to own corn. Borrow it, yes, but never own it."

---

With regards to "only borrowing it" I will take a sharp knife and score each lengthwise row of kernels before eating the corn. That breaks the skin so that, when you bite down, the kernel breaks. That lets the good, digestible stuff out but the skin itself stays on the cob....instead of going right through you undigested.

Edited by - BConk on 09/07/2011 05:29:27

Brian T - Posted - 09/07/2011:  08:24:27

BC: good idea. I am determined never to be in a hurry when I get to eating corn on the cob.
I will admit that I'm looking for that "corn taste" so the yellow, late season stuff is perfect.
If I wanted sugar, there's a sack of it in the cupboard.

gshall - Posted - 09/07/2011:  11:43:52

Okay, suppose water boils at 202 degrees rather than 212 degrees. I think that's sufficient for cooking corn. I never cook it over 8 minutes in any event; it tends to get tough if cooked too much.

pickNgrin - Posted - 09/07/2011:  11:47:40

I always put the ears in a pot of cold water and put it on high. Once the water starts to boil, let it go about a minute, then turn off the fire and let the corn sit in the water for another 5 or so minutes. Perfect every time. Unless you are going to be in the Himalayas, I think you will be fine.

-matt

Edited by - pickNgrin on 09/07/2011 11:48:19

fivebranch - Posted - 09/07/2011:  12:56:01

quote:

---

Originally posted by BConk

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian T

A (pseudo?) chef told me to microwave corn wrapped in wet T-towels. Never tried it.



Here's the quote but who said it? George Carlin?



"You never get to own corn. Borrow it, yes, but never own it."

---

With regards to "only borrowing it" I will take a sharp knife and score each lengthwise row of kernels before eating the corn. That breaks the skin so that, when you bite down, the kernel breaks. That lets the good, digestible stuff out but the skin itself stays on the cob....instead of going right through you undigested.

---

If you masticate longer then the good stuff stays with you.

BConk - Posted - 09/07/2011:  14:21:35

quote:

---

Originally posted by fivebranch

quote:

---

Originally posted by BConk

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian T

A (pseudo?) chef told me to microwave corn wrapped in wet T-towels. Never tried it.



Here's the quote but who said it? George Carlin?



"You never get to own corn. Borrow it, yes, but never own it."

---

With regards to "only borrowing it" I will take a sharp knife and score each lengthwise row of kernels before eating the corn. That breaks the skin so that, when you bite down, the kernel breaks. That lets the good, digestible stuff out but the skin itself stays on the cob....instead of going right through you undigested.

---

If you masticate longer then the good stuff stays with you.

---

 shoosh now - this is a family site

n1wr - Posted - 09/07/2011:  14:43:06

In case anyone wants to 'really' boil corn in the mountains:

COPPER KETTLE

words and music by Frank Beddoe



Get you a copper kettle

Get you a copper coil

Fill it with new made cornmash

And never more you'll toil



You'll just lay there by the juniper

While the moon is bright

Watch the jugs a filling

In the pale moon light



Build your fire with hickory

Hickory, ash, and oak

Don't use no green or rotten wood

They'll catch you by the smoke



My daddy, he made whiskey

And my granddaddy did too

We ain't paid no whiskey tax

Since seventeen ninety two

Love the Bill Harrell version. 

pandjlocke - Posted - 09/07/2011:  15:04:28

quote:

---

Originally posted by BConk

quote:

---

Originally posted by fivebranch

quote:

---

Originally posted by BConk

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian T

A (pseudo?) chef told me to microwave corn wrapped in wet T-towels. Never tried it.



Here's the quote but who said it? George Carlin?



"You never get to own corn. Borrow it, yes, but never own it."

---

With regards to "only borrowing it" I will take a sharp knife and score each lengthwise row of kernels before eating the corn. That breaks the skin so that, when you bite down, the kernel breaks. That lets the good, digestible stuff out but the skin itself stays on the cob....instead of going right through you undigested.

---

If you masticate longer then the good stuff stays with you.

---

 shoosh now - this is a family site

---

Yeah, you can't say "longer" here! Watch your mouth. 

Brian T - Posted - 09/07/2011:  15:10:31

Don't forget, masticators, even posts are edible for 15 minutes.