Corn Cobbs for Smoking?


 
D

Darin Hearn

TVWBB Fan
I was just watching "Good Eats" on food network and his show topic was corn. Alton Brown was showing how to remove the corn from the cobb with a knife. He then said not to throw away the cobb. He stated that you can take it and put it on top of your charcoal for smoking. He then stated that it beats wood chips any day. This is the first I have ever heard of doing this. Has anyone ever tried it? If so what were the results?
 
The results are quite good. You can grind or chop up dried cobs as well and use foil pouches as you would with chips. Corn cob is commonly used for ham and bacon. Nice mixed with a fruit wood.
 
I tried drying some on the counter last summer for this purpose but they went mouldy before they dried.

Do they work OK if not dried?
 
On "Good Eats" Alton Brown said after you cut the corn off the cobb wrap it up and put it in the freezer. Then take it out and throw it on the charcoal the next time you cook something.
 
True. That works. If you don't have the freezer space you can chop it up and dry it in a low oven, then FoodSaver.
 
I used it once for smoking fish. A fellow I worked with dad did his salmon that way. Not being a fish eater I wouldn't know what difference it makes. I was told it was lighter smoke flavor. Also the fellow who told me was Native American Indian. The one thing he insisted I do was to let the fish set an hour in the smoker after turning the heat off. Was useing an electric at the time. Didn't follow his advice and when he tried the fish he told me so. So now I listen to him lol.
 
I can't wait to try this. I have a garden full of Illinis Supersweet right now, and have always wondered if there was a good use for cobbs. Well, now I know.
 
I prefer cobs to any smokewood I've tried for salmon. Don't get me wrong, the smokewood salmon comes out great, there's just something about using a cob for salmon. Don't know about them drying out or getting mouldy, all I do is go hit a farmers field up after they clear a field and just leave them in a bucket in my shed. haven't noticed any mould or anything, and they've been sitting there since last summer/fall. FREE smoke is hard to beat! Haven't tried them with anything but fish, maybe I will soon.

Ron
 
I read about using corncobs for smoke years ago. Being from South Georgia I have an excellent source and use them all the time. Cobs produce a mild smoke flavor thats a must for fish, and also great on chicken and beef..
 
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