Your Cooler May Be More Useful Thank you Think

Did you know that you can you cook corn on the cob using a cooler? Yes, you can! How? But wait – aren’t coolers used to keep drinks cold and food fresh? Glad you asked. Sure, it sounds a little bit bizarre, but to fill you in, this is one of the easiest ways you can use to cook corn on the cob.

It works perfectly, particularly when you have a large gathering where corn on the cob is needed in plentiful. While you can use a stove to cook corn on the cob, it is time-consuming and involves a lot of heat, thus uneconomical.

Here’s a step by step guide on how to cook corn on the cob using a cooler for a crowd of about 10 people.

What You Will Need

  • 10 to 20 full cobs
  • 10 to 15 half cobs
  • Cooler
  • Stove
  • 10 to 14 quarts of water

Method

Step One

Start by boiling the water on a stove top. Note that the amount of water may vary depending on the size of the cooler that you are using and the amount of corn.

Step Two

As the water boils, shuck the corn and place it in the cooler. You may consider breaking the corn into halves for ease of eating. The halves come in handy especially if you have little kids in the crowd.

Step Three

Once the water has boiled, pour it over the corn in the cooler. Make sure that every piece of the corn is submerged in water.

Step Four

Close the cooler’s lid and leave the corn in the unit to “cook” for about 30 minutes. Again the length of the cooking time may vary depending on the amount of corn.

Step Five

Open the lid after the cooking time has elapsed. Take one corn to ensure that the center of the cob is soft. When thoroughly cooked, you can pierce the center of the corn with relative ease using cob holders or forks. If the center of the cob is not soft, close the lid and allow it to cook for another 30 minutes.

Step Six

When the corn has cooked, empty the water and serve. Most coolers come with draining systems at the base, so all you have to do is to detach the cork and let the water drain before serving. The corn may not be as thoroughly cooked as you would expect with a stove but it is the crisp taste of the corn that makes cooking corn on the cob in a cooler incredible.

Advantages of Cooking Corn in a Cooler

  • It is easy and fast
  • Consumes less energy
  • It can be done anywhere from the backyard to a hunting expedition and camping trip
  • A cooler “cooks” large amounts of corn on the cob at once
  • After cooking, cleaning the cooker is easy
  • You can keep any leftovers in the cooler to keep them fresh
  • It a convenient way of cooking corn on the cob for a large crowd

When on a camping trip or having a family gathering, cooking corn on the cob may be one of the most tedious undertakings. However, if you own a cooler, you can satisfy everyone’s needs in a hassle-free manner. The beauty of it is that even when corn on the cob runs out, it won’t take you long to replenish it.

… So, What’s the Point?

Here’s the thing – your quest to make tasty meals starts with getting the right appliance. Plus it allows you to experiment with a variety of dishes. In fact, Tastemaker Magazine reviewed some essential cooking appliances that any foodie will love having in their kitchen.

On top of having the correct device, you should try to get well acquainted with a variety of recipes. That way, you can make the most out of what your appliance can do. Invest in a cookbook if you have to. Join cooking classes if that’s what it takes to expand your knowledge in the kitchen.

Final Thoughts

See? At times, preparing delicious meals is all about improvising. So, make sure that you exhaust what your appliance can do. Did you know, for instance, that you can make toasted nuts in your microwave?

Melissa Thompson

Melissa Thompson writes about a wide range of topics, revealing interesting things we didn’t know before. She is a freelance USA Today producer, and a Technorati contributor.