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grains and pseudograins

Corn: how do I get the kernels of the dry cob?

pollinator

Posts: 1497

Location: Zone 10a, Australia

posted 19 hours ago

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How do I get the kernels of a dry cob? We had unexpected success growing corn (no deer found it, and the rats left it alone, too), but I need to get it off the cob.
It's already super dry I did not get around, maybe it's too late? When is it done best?

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Burra Maluca

out to pasture

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posted 19 hours ago

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My other half 3D printed up one of these for me, which works very well even when the cobs are very dry. It's a bit like a giant pencil sharpener - classic corn sheller

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Joao Winckler

Posts: 119

posted 19 hours ago

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Twist the cob in your hands while holding it over a bucket, works fine even when fully dry. Takes a bit of effort on the first few kernels to get started but once you break the seal they come off pretty easily. If you've got a lot of cobs it gets tedious fast though, that's when a sheller like the one mentioned is worth it.

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Joylynn Hardesty

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Location: Due to winter mortality, I stubbornly state, zone 7a Tennessee

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posted 18 hours ago

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A few years back we were given a lot of dried cobs, from folk who couldn't figure out how to remove it from the cob.

I felt a bit guilty when I discovered all that was needed was to rub 2 cobs together. The kernals fell off pretty easy. And my wrists are not very strong. So easy means easy.

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Anne Miller

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posted 16 hours ago

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As a kid, we always left the dry cobs until needed then we did as Joao suggested.

I like Joylynn's suggestion and wish I had known that back then.

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Nicola Bludau

pollinator

Posts: 1497

Location: Zone 10a, Australia

posted 16 hours ago

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I'll have a try. I fear my carpal tunnel, though!

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Nicola Bludau

pollinator

Posts: 1497

Location: Zone 10a, Australia

posted 15 hours ago

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I found a video and this looks really good, just a piece of timber, some screws and some holes:

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Doug McEvers

Posts: 80

posted 11 hours ago

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Decker Corn Sheller

https://www.deckermfg.com/store/c9/hardware-specialties/p69/50-cs/

The best way to dry corn is to leave it on the cob until you need it, corn cribs used to dot the landscape. I use one of these hand shellers to strip kernels from my MN 13 heirloom field corn. I cut off the narrow end of the cob as these seeds are the least developed, the butt end kernels are fine and possibly the most highly developed but may not be the best for using in a mechanical planter. The flats are the standard of the industry if you are looking to conform, I may be jeopardizing my lifelong counterculture status with this.

Thom Bri

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Location: Illinois

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posted 6 hours ago

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I use my thumbs. Do a few a day over the months of winter. Great relaxation job while reading on the internet.
It can help to break the cob in half.

I found some pretty shells, some sea glass and this lovely tiny ad:

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