The little-known cooking hack that saves 'dried up wrinkly' corn in minutes

One foodie has delighted home cooks with a simple trick for saving old corn cobs.

Lyndsey Rodrigues
·Head of Yahoo Lifestyle and Entertainment
Updated ·4-min read

With groceries costing an arm and a leg these days it's pretty damn annoying when you have food in your fridge that goes uneaten. Not to mention the fact that food waste is a massive environmental issue, too. So it's no wonder that people search for ways to keep food fresher for longer or for ways to still use items when they are no longer at their best.

Well, one genius foodie has served up a brilliant hack for bringing corn back to life - and people think it's simply aMAIZing. *winks*

The poster shared before and after pictures of her corn cobs to show how the hack makes them as good as new. Credit: Facebook
The poster shared before and after pictures of her corn cobs to show how the hack makes them as good as new. Credit: Facebook

A kernel of truth

"Ya know when you buy deliciously fresh corn on the cob and then forget the aforementioned corn is in the fridge, only to end up with dried-up wrinkly corn kernels on the cob?" Celina Chapman wrote in a popular Facebook group dedicated to creating delicious meals on a budget.

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"Well, there's no need to chuck that s**t away or even settle for second-class corn! Simply add a cup of milk to your water then cook as usual," she continued. "You'll end up with the brightest, juiciest most succulent corn you've ever eaten!"

Celina went on to mention that she also uses the method for fresh corn as well as the trick takes the vegetable "to a level you never knew corn could be!"

The post attracted over 250 likes and plenty of comments, with fellow members of the group expressing their excitement about the simple trick.

The simple trick also works with coconut milk for people who can't use dairy. Credit: Getty Images.
The simple trick also works with coconut milk for people who can't use dairy. Credit: Getty Images.

"Wtf?! So many wasted corn cobs," one person wrote. "Definitely going to remember this."

"I wish I knew this a week ago before my chickens ended up with ours!!," said another.

"Wow will definitely be trying this!!," someone else added.

A dairy alternative

For those with a dairy allergy - fear not! The hack works just as well with coconut milk too.

"Definitely a thing with coconut milk, VERY common in Pacific Islander cooking," one group member offered. "Also coconut milk has a nice fat content, so personally I think there’s a buttery juiciness in the end result."

"Exactly!," Celina replied. "The fat factor was actually what made me try this to begin with. It helps to tenderise meat, make bread fluffier so it only made sense that it would work with these kinds of things too."

Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, Celina explained that she had discovered the trick about ten years ago by a happy accident.

Celina is a mum of five and says that food waste is not an option in her household. Credit: Supplied
Celina is a mum of five and says that food waste is not an option in her household. Credit: Supplied

Cutting down on food waste

"I have a large family with 5 kids, so food is far too expensive to waste for us," she says. "I had some corn in the fridge that was looking miserable, but I just couldn't bring myself to waste it. I figured I'd try to make it not so unappealing by adding a dollop of butter and a cup of milk to the water, hoping it would just transform my bland corn into something that was almost enjoyable.

"Not only was it enjoyable, it was completely revived and the best corn we've ever eaten! I now do this all the time because it makes the corn so much juicer and sweeter. I just don't use the butter anymore as it's not necessary."

Other tips and tricks

Celina - who owns a business that provides ready-to-eat meals and also an online business selling her own authentic Indian spice mixes - says that she is not only passionate about food but about minimising food waste.

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Sharing some of her other handy food tips, Celina says, "Asian greens and shallots can be brought back to life by soaking in cold tap water for 30-45 minutes.

"Limp Celery and iceberg lettuce can be wrapped in foil and placed in the fridge for 24 hours to become crisp again. Or you can wrap in foil when you buy it and they will stay fresh for literally months! Avocados can be stored submerged in water in the fridge for at least a month or 2 to stay fresh and green."

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