Sweet corn season is here and for me it is my favorite time of the year. Bring on the sweet corn! From Mid-July until the end of August you will find the absolute best tasting sweet corn in Northern Illinois. You are not gonna find this in your local super market, but you will find it area roadside corn stands and at local farms.

Mark Charvat / Townsquare Media
Mark Charvat / Townsquare Media
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I know this from personal experience. During these six weeks, which I consider sacred, you can the best tasting sweet corn. All sweet corn is not created the same.
Did you know there are over 200 varieties of sweet corn?

The most important thing to remember when buying fresh corn on the cob is that it starts converting sweet tasting sugars to starches immediately after it is picked. So ideally you want to buy it, cook it and consume it the same day it is picked or as close to that as possible.

The reluctant gourmet reports that:

Sweet corn has an 80:20 sugar-starch ratio when harvested but within 3 days that ratio will shift to 20:80. That’s the difference between really sweet-tender corn and mealy tough corn. When buying, pick up each ear and look for ears that feel full and plumb in your hand. Take a look at the silk sticking out at the top, it should be golden pale, slightly sticky, and the more the merrier.

 

Even though it’s sometimes messy and gets all over you when shucking, the more silk, the more kernels of corn. You also want the husks to have a good green color – not brown. Even though most stores don’t appreciate your doing this, try popping one of the kernels with your thumbnail. If the juice from the kernel is milky, the fresher the corn. And don’t buy corn that has been sitting out in the sun all day. The sun and heat will speed up that conversion of sugar to starch.

 

Here's another tip. Take a look at the bottom of the ear of corn where it has been broken off at the stalk. If it has already turned brown, it most likely is at least 2 days old. Move on to something else

Here's the corn I picked up in Kirkland that I cooked up on Tuesday Night. (Mark Charvat / Townsquaremedia)
Here's the corn I picked up in Kirkland that I cooked up on Tuesday Night. (Mark Charvat / Townsquaremedia)
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Thanks to everyone who responded when I posed the question:

"Where you do you go to get the best sweet tasting corn in Northern Illinois?"

Here are YOUR picks for BEST SWEET CORN in The Stateline

  • KINGS :Across from the church after you cross the railroad tracks straight through town
  • KIRKLAND: Klocks, on 1st street just South of Rt. 72. ( I stopped by on Monday and grabbed some on my way home,  yummy!)
  • BELVIDERE : Mundy's farm on Genoa Rd. (I've tried their Corn, spectacular!) and  across from Dodge Lanes out of the back of a pick up truck
  • ROCHELLE: Rainwater's corn on Rt.  251 and Twombley rd (north of Rochelle in Hillcrest)
  • GAREN PRAIRIE:Susie's Garden Patch
  • DURAND: Dolan's on Rt75 east of Durand
  • FREEPORT: Drake Farms south of Freeport on Rt 26 (Baileyville)
  • BYRON: Stump's Sweetcorn (a young man and his 4-H/FFA project)
  • WINNEBAGO: Dorn's stand
  • NEW MILFORD: Even's
  • MACHESNEY PARK: Katie's Gourmet Sweet Corn on North Second and Forest Hills Intersection, 1 Mile North of Highway 173
  • CHERRY VALLEY: Blackmer's Fresh Picked Sweetcorn, downtown Cherry valley and on Cherry Valley Rd (Southeast of Town)
  • HARVARD: Mirai sweet corn from Twin Garden Farms.
  • HUNTLEY: Tom's farm
  • ROSCOE:  Main Street Meat Co. In Roscoe (Mirai sweet corn)
  • ROCKFORD: Mulder's farm on Montague Rd  -$4 a dozen
  • STILLMAN VALLEY: Behmer's
  • MARENGO: Cody's i
  • MAPLE PARK: Wiltse's in Maple Park Rt 38 (East of DeKalb)
  • A stand on 251 and route 30
  • HEBRON: VonBergens
  • #1 PICK! ROCK FALLS: Selmi's Greenhouse, Farm and Pumpkin Patch. The also have a stand in Dixon and Sterling (Click here)

So, did we miss your favorite spot to get sweet corn? Comment below and let me know. Free samples are always appreciated!

 

 

 

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