Are you ready to take a fun quiz? It’s multiple choice and I promise to keep it super simple. It’s only one question. Did I mention that part? Easy peasy. Here goes:
You walk into a grocery store with a hankering for corn. You see two separate displays. Which one do you purchase?
A. 3 regular ol’ ears of corn, unhusked and untouched for $2. You do the work. OR…
B. 3 ears of corn that have been husked and prepared and are ready to throw on the grill or plop into a pot of water for $.99 more.
And there you have the easiest test ever. Leave your answer in the comments. Oh and I should mention that there are no wrong answers, as long as you justify them {do I sound like your high school math teacher yet?}.
Bottom line: Do you go for cheap or easy? Or does it depend on the day?
Corn. It’s what’s for dinner.
~Mavis
Wendy L. says
My son went to Bob’s corn stand in Snohomish, Wa on Friday and purchased 4 bakers dozen (52 ears) of corn for me. They have the best corn. Local fruit and vegetable stands are the way to go in my opinion. I am still enjoying the bounty.
Sheri Bauer says
We go to Hahn’s in Huron, OH, Farm stands and farmer’s markets are the only way to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables. And we can talk to the farmer to find out their growing practices to avoid those who use chemicals in/ on their produce.
Denise Kruse says
I love Bob’s Corn! We live in Snohomish and are so lucky to have the option of going right to the farm. Others may not have the chance to buy direct but corn really needs to be fresh for the best flavor. I would never buy pre-husked corn. It’s got to be older and tougher, less flavor, not sweet like it should be.
Mama Cook says
Wendy-My son just got his 1st job @ Bob’s Corn! Small World! ☺️
Charla says
With the husk. We grill them with the husks on so it would be pointless to buy the more expensive kind. Personally I prefer the corn the neighbors gave me. It was free, fresh and tasty!
VickiBee says
Always with the husk. Always. I’ve bought the pre-peeled version occasionally in the past and I’ve found it to be old and tough. Something about removing the husk makes it less fresh, I guess. All of my grandkids love to peel corn, so it’s not like I have a lot of extra work when I buy it (except sweeping the floor of the “hair” when it’s raining and they can’t peel it outside).
Laura says
Agreed! I hate husking but it goes bad so soon after you remove the husk (and bad corn tastes like plaster) that I wouldn’t want to risk it with the husked. Saving money is just a benefit!
On another note, why the heck has corn been so obscenely expensive this summer? Never saw a good deal all summer long. Boo!
Katie says
It depends. In this case, I would probably be willing to pay the 99 cents for ready to go corn. But we don’t eat corn that often and I hate taking the husk and everything off. In general I buy unprepped food because it’s cheaper and not that hard to prep it.
Amy Schmelzer says
Always with the husk because it means free matter for my compost bin.
Lynne says
With the husk. I microwave my corn in the husk and it’s perfect that way. Plus it stays fresh longer.
Molly says
YES!!!!
Melissa says
With the husk..I think it keeps it more moist and juicy when you cook it.
AJ says
With husk, if I have to buy it at all! 67 cents an ear sounds pricey since it was sometimes 15 cents over the summer. I have bought the pre husked kind on sale at Also but wouldn’t otherwise.
Also, I saw a bag of 6 pine cones for $5 on clearance at Walmart… made me think of you!
Jules says
Neither. That’s way too much to pay for corn. I’ve been selling ours for 4 for $1. Fresh from the garden is the way to go.
Kathryn says
Exactly. Well said.
Patty P says
I agree! We’re buying a dozen for $4 in our neck of the woods.
Linda says
Depends. Perhaps you are going somewhere and need them husked or maybe you can’t husk them yourself. The place I buy them you can husk them there and leave then the husk. I rather keep them in the husk as I think they stay fresher longer.
Em says
I see people doing that (removing husks in the store), and I don’t understand why. Can someone explain?
Tammy says
So they don’t have to dispose of the corn husks at home.
Em says
Thanks for the reply.
Judy Bee says
Cheap. I like to microwave it in the husk.
Shirley says
Neither one!! I only buy big-cor corn in husks at farmer’s market!
Gina says
Unhusked. I cook them in the microwave with the husk on for 5 minutes and that keeps the steam in and cooks them really nicely.
Gina says
Oh wait. Did I get that backwards? Leave the green part on and cook them in that. Is that husked or unhusked? Now I’m confused!
Molly says
you were right UNhusked means hush not removed yet. I also do it in micro in the husk, best corn ever, easy and fast!
Karin says
In this case I would buy neither since it’s way to expensive! But if I had to chose, I would get with husks. I never but pre husked.
Lori says
Most corn in the stores is GMO. I would buy the 3 unhusked because the husks are a barrier to bacteria…after I inquired the source of the corn and if it is GMO free. If not pass it up and spend your $$$ elseware to get GMO free, such as farm to table markets or health food markets. And be sure to ask there also. Corn is one veggie Monsanto went ballistic on!
Sara says
Unless it is marked organic, it likely is either GMO from the moment of seeding or probably contaminated via wind pollination. Organic seed vendors have been having a hard time keeping seed providers as they are getting contaminated with GMO corn in the fields. Even organic corn on the cob might be contaminated.
Randi says
Husked . every time
Leslie says
At those prices, I pass right by. In general, price and convenience weigh differently depending on the day.
Carol says
I would always leave the husks on but would not buy it at that price!
Elise says
Our local market (not a chain) DID AWAY with the trash can next to the corn, leaving a nice laminated note that husks keep it fresh longer 🙂 I agree, I don’t buy corn unless it’s 33 cents or less, and ALWAYS with the husks on. Always.
Leslie says
Wondering where you live. I never saw people shuck corn in the store until I moved to Oregon (lived in 9 other states).
Cheryl says
You only buy corn that has recently been picked and cook it that day.
Julie P says
i would always go down the cheaper path and I’m sure it’s fresher with the husk on.
Linda says
If I bought one or the other….it would certainly be the one in the husks….fresher and more preserved and cheaper! But, I sincerely doubt I would pay that much for corn….especially at this time of the year. We raise lots of our own food and know that in season is fresher and cheaper.
Brianna says
Husk for sure. I enjoy husking corn and getting every little silk off of it. I am particular how I do it and I don’t want someone else to do it for me. Plus, you never know with all of the pre-prepped food about safety. I hope they washed their hands, but you never know. Did it come into contact with something else we might be allergic to or give it an off flavor? Will it sweat in the package and loose its moisture? The styrofoam and plastic is bad for the landfill and cannot be recycled here, too much waste.
Linda Sand says
Previously I would have bought the unhusked since I hate husking corn. Since I learned you can microwave it in the husks, cut off the bottom of the cob, hold the corn by the hairy end of the husks and the corn shakes out clean, I would buy the unhusked. If my body didn’t object to corn, that is. Too bad my taste buds still like it.
LD says
I hate extraneous packaging and would never buy the corn or any other vegetable or fruit packaged in the plastic… While I know it’s recyclable or reusable it’s just such a waste! Sometimes a local grocery store packages items on styrofoam trays and wraps them and plastic …it makes me crazy! Frugality and Thrift and the environment and our impact on it should go hand-in-hand.
Jo says
Amen! I really don’t understand all of the packaging for something that is perfectly packaged by the husk in its natural state. Corn essentially comes off the stalk prepackaged. So do a lot of vegetables with tough skins, potato, or wrapped in leaves such as a fresh tomatillo. When I can’t get it fresh, and my local farmers market now charges more than Whole Foods, I try to buy at Trader Joe’s because it is so much cheaper. But, everything is in a huge plastic package that then goes into the landfill. It drives me absolutely batty.
I’m sure the epeople behind me in stores that insist on wrapping your clothes in tissue paper must love me. I will refuse to let them wrap it and have had to physically take a sweater out of the clerk’s hands as she insisted on wrapping it.
Beth says
I think prepackaged ready to go produce is something many people think is easier for them, but there are other factors besides cost. The shucked ears will dry out. The packaging is all garbage going to the landfill or incinerator so if you care about minimizing waste, that is definitely not the way to go. I prefer to select corn that needs to be husked. I can pull the husks down an inch to check for kernel placement and also to check for freshness (stick a nail into a kernel and if it pops out juice, it is still fresh. If it doesn’t, don’t buy that one.)
Sue says
I never buy corn if I don’t no where it comes from so much gmo’s, such a horror. When I do it’s with the husk on, seems fresher.
Terry says
I would buy the ones with the husk. As some of the others have said, then I have the husks for my compost. That being said, I do not buy the already husked corn because it probably is older. Have you ever noticed the silks get kind of brown and sometimes slimey when the corn is older? Yuck
Elaine says
Always with the husk on! Our local farm grows the most delicious corn, I don’t even look at the price. Some days I’ve gotten it and it’s still warm from the field, having just been picked! I hardly buy anything prepackaged…I want to hand pick the fruits and vegetables I buy.
Mimi says
I’d buy the option without all the ridiculous and unnecessary packaging.
bobbi dougherty says
with the husk. No brainer for me, haha.
Diana says
Neither. I only buy organic produce and locally grown when possible, preferably from my own garden. If I had to choose I would buy the corn with the husks. It would probably be fresher since it was not processed, so hopefully it would be sweeter. Also why buy something in plastic?
TJD says
Neither. those prices are WAY TOO HIGH for a few ears of corn.
Debby Darling says
Not to be preachy but I’d go for the corn that is not GMO.
Chris M says
First of all, I never buy corn in the store! Midwestern, corn snob here! So I would say, “neither!” Second, I don’t need to peel down the husk to pick out a fresh ear of corn, but you didn’t ask about that. However, of all the things people do to produce in stores and then leave it, that irks me the most!
Suzy says
Someone on the thread mentioned corn is expensive this year. I heard on the news yesterday that there is an 8% decrease in corn production this year. Also, did you know there is only one ear per stalk? I’m not surprised it isn’t more expensive then it is for that reason.
And why would anyone buy corn in that big plastic container. Bad for the environment.
Leslie says
I grew up next to a corn or soy farmer. Never saw corn stalks with only a single ear. Maybe that’s a certain variety?
Teckla says
Was going to say the same thing! We always had multiple ears on the stalks.
Rebekah U says
In the husk!
Ruth says
No husk. Fresh (in the chiller case) at our local farm stand.
April says
I always buy the corn with the husks; they can go in my compost. And I get far too many products with packaging so I like to avoid that. And I take the husks off to the last round and cut off the tassels and stick it in the microwave for 2.5 minutes per ear. Yummy and quick every time for just my hubby and me.
Vickie says
I know this isn’t one if the answers but neither. That price is very high. I would probably pass them up! But if I desperately wanted corn then it would be in the husk.
Sherry says
With the husks. But I agree with others that corn has been rather pricey this year so at that price I pass it up.
Emily says
In this situation husk on for sure. Keeps the corn fresher too. In other situations I do choose easy over cheap. Would it be marginally cheaper to make mac&cheese from scratch? yes. When I’m in a pinch for a speedy week night meal however, I’m happy to “splurge” and pay the whole 99 cents to not have to grate cheese, etc.
Cheri says
Buying with the plastic on is incredibly wasteful of both packaging and money. With the husks always.
KW says
With the husk. Otherwise, just buy frozen.
jam says
the already husked one. i have a new baby and am too tired for anything. with the husk on it might sit in my fridge till it goes bad.
Valerie B. says
I prefer the one with the husk because it will be fresher than the unhusked one that was exposed to the light and the sugars are already changing….
At my indie grocery store corn on the cobb is 4 for a dollar….Usually quite delicious and less wasteful because I can buy only what we will eat…..
Sue says
With the husks on.
For two reasons (neither of which is price).
First, it’s more hygienic to husk it myself and know that no one else has touched the kernels with questionably clean hands.
Second, because I don’t want the plastic to discard. Husks can go in the compost so they’re not a negative.
Julia says
With the husk on. Cheaper, moister, and compostable packaging not plastic!
Tami says
Neither…both are him and corn is one thing I buy organic!
Deborah from Texas says
In the husk is the best way for us! I also cook our corn in the microwave.
Earlene says
I would chose neither as a dozen ears of corn here in northern Wisconsin is $4.00. I will peel and husk this dozen!!
Kathie S. says
Husk on because it is cheaper and I put the natural wrapper in the compost pile. 🙂
JC says
With the husk. The chickens like it. Also the pre-husked tend to be dried out in my experience.
Christy says
I always go with the husk on. The husks make great mulch around roses, hydrangeas and other shrubs in the garden.
Lace Faerie says
If I were to buy cob corn, I would only buy it with the husk on for freshness. The thought of GMO corn really gives me pause, seed corn that has to be listed with the EPA because it has pesticides in its genetic make up?
I live in Whatcom country, Washington state. Years ago, we used to have corn fields everywhere and it was 12 ears for a buck or two, that $.10 each or less. Kills me to pay 3/$5 which was an advertised sale price this summer! Yikes! I bought cob corn once this past season (as it was requested after I responded yes to an invite and asked if I could bring anything) and paid $.79 each for Washington grown ears at our local produce stand.
Anna says
3 for $2. Always with the husk. I assume it is fresher and has more moisture. I suspect the produce prepared by the grocery store is not the best of the crop.