Cooler Corn – Cook Corn in a Cooler – Hit or Miss?
Maybe your July 4th picnic includes corn on the cob, and perhaps you've seen a little nugget floating around on the Internet, saying that the best way to cook corn for a crowd is in a cooler, or ice chest with boiling water.
I was intrigued by this, and thought it sounded like a good idea, until I did a little checking.
Don't do it.
Snopes reports that while it's possible, it's probably very bad advice. Coolers are meant to keep things cool. Say it with me, "Cool-er." They're made with insulating materials placed between sheets of hard plastic. The materials aren't meant to be heated, so the boiling water may cause chemicals and toxins to seep into the cooler's interior, tainting the contents.
Cook your corn on the cob in a pot of boiling water on the stove. Or better yet, brush it with a little olive oil, wrap it in tinfoil, and cook it on the grill for about 15 minutes. That's a summertime treat!
Oh, you're not ready to take cooking advice from a guy who bakes cookies on the dashboard of a car? Ouch, that stings just a little bit!
And before your next barbeque, be sure to check out this warning.
So have you ever tried 'Cooler Corn', and lived to tell about it?