How to Cut Corn with Least Effort

The most labor-saving method for cutting corn is to use sharp cutting tools with correct cutting techniques, mainly including back tapping method, microwave heating method, half cutting method, vertical stabilization method, and refrigerated shaping method.

1. Knife back tapping method

Stand the corn upright on the cutting board, fix the top of the corn with one hand, and use the other hand to strike the middle of the corn cob with the back of the knife. After being impacted, the core of corn breaks and can be easily broken into two sections. This method utilizes mechanical principles to disperse cutting resistance, which is suitable for fresh corn and does not require pre-treatment, but attention should be paid to the impact force to avoid tool slippage.

2. Microwave heating method

Microwave heat the whole corn cob with husk for 30 seconds, and the high temperature softens the corn cob fibers. After taking it out, peel off the outer skin and easily cut it with a regular knife. This method changes the structure of corn through heat, which is particularly suitable for elderly people to operate, but prolonged heating time can cause corn kernels to dehydrate and harden.

3. Half open method

Place the corn horizontally, cut along the gap between the corn kernels from the side to the core, rotate the corn to complete the ring cutting, and then break it open. This technique can avoid the hard core and use the natural texture of corn to save effort, making it suitable for making corn kernels. However, it requires sharp cutting tools and precise operating angles.

4. Vertical stabilization method

Corn is vertically fixed in a container, and both hands hold a knife to apply force along the longitudinal direction of the corn cob and cut it downwards. Gravity assisted cutting makes cutting more effortless and suitable for handling large amounts of corn, but it is necessary to choose a container with sufficient depth to prevent the corn from tipping over. When cutting, be careful to avoid the blade trajectory with your fingers.

5. Cold storage shaping method

After refrigerating corn for 2 hours, remove it and let the low temperature make the starch structure more compact. At this point, the brittleness of the core increases, and the resistance to lateral cutting with a serrated knife decreases. This method is particularly suitable for processing glutinous corn, but refrigeration for more than 4 hours can cause the corn to become too hard and difficult to cut.

When processing corn in daily life, soak it in cold water for 10 minutes to increase the toughness of the outer skin. When cutting, place a damp towel on the cutting board to prevent slipping. Choosing a chef's knife or serrated bread knife with moderate weight is more effortless, and the corn cob can be dried and used as a natural cleaning brush after cutting. It is recommended to purchase specialized corn cutters for long-term large-scale processing, which can protect the cutting tools and improve efficiency. Pay attention to checking the stability of the tool grip before each cutting to avoid accidents caused by fatigue operation.