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Corn Cob Stock: Don’t Toss Those Cobs

February 4, 2016 By: Anna19 Comments

 

corn cob stock
I seem to be on a kick of how to reuse everything from my garden from leek leaves to raspberry seeds.  So, now we move onto corn cobs.   Remember, I taught you the easy peazy way to take corn off the cob?  Well, what can you do with those cobs?  In my case, there were 50 corn cobs.  (Yes, they stuck all over my freezer.)  You haven’t lived until you tasted corn cob stock.  I am not fooling.

I have a sentimental attachment to everything that I grow. I can’t simply throw any part of the plants into the compost until I have used it in some way–leaves, roots, stems, etc.

Take corn for example.

  • The husks are great for making tamales or wrapping fish.  You use the husks to surround the food similar to cooking in parchment paper.

corn silks

  • The corn silk have medicinal value.  According to the Naturopathy Digest,

“It functions as a diuretic and helps reduce the incidence of swelling and edema. Corn silk is believed to exert a positive influence on the kidneys and urinary system, helping to prevent the formation of kidney stones and stones in the urinary tract. In addition, corn silk can help lower blood pressure, reduce blood sugar levels, and help promote blood clotting. Corn silk also has mild antiseptic properties, making it effective in the treatment of minor wounds and infections.”

Only use silks from organic corn.  (You can buy organically grown corn silks from my store, Anna Lee Herbs–harvested and shucked by me!)

In addition, be sure to seek the advice of a medical or holistic practitioner when using any herbal product.

  • And finally, those darn corn cobs.  Don’t throw them away.  Keep reading how to make delicious stock.

How to Make Corn Cob Stock:

If you don’t grow a bazillion corn stalks like me, then just store your cobs in the freezer in a bag.  Don’t let them get out of control like I did.  When you get about 5 corn cobs, you can make stock.

I can be quite lazy and would wait to amass maybe 20 so I can use my stock pot.

Watch my video how to make corn cob stock.

Instructions:

  1.  Add corn cobs to a stock pot.
  2. Cover with water
  3.  Bring to a boil and then simmer for an hour.

Alternatively, you can use a crockpot and leave for 8 hours on low.

If you want to add some ingredients to the stock, then consider adding garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and/or onions to the pot if you wish.  I like the stock plain and consequently don’t add anything but the cobs to the stockpot.

I can’t wait until you smell the corn cob stock aroma. Use the stock in any recipe.  I love adding the stock to chili.

However, if you store your cobs like I do or grow your own, you will probably end up with more stock than you can use at the moment. I pressure canned mine just like I can chicken stock.  (I use this pressure canner.)  Alternatively, you can refrigerate or freeze the stock.

If you freeze the stock, be sure to allow room for expansion.  I never add more stock above the “shoulders” of a tomato sauce jar.  I have learned the hard way with broken glass in my freezer!

Join the Conversation:

What do you do with your corn cobs?

Disclaimer:  There may be affiliate links in this article.  Green Talk gets pennies for any purchase that you make.  Thanks for the loyalty.

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About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

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Comments

  1. 1

    Lindsey Dietz says

    February 4, 2016 at 1:37 pm

    Here is something I never would have thought of, and I’ve never heard of it! Thanks for this creative use of corn cobs! Mine usually go in the compost — although we don’t eat much corn. 😉

    Reply
    • 2

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 4, 2016 at 3:17 pm

      I ended up giving my cobs to a chicken farmer since they never compost well. Anna

      Reply
  2. 3

    Ritta says

    February 4, 2016 at 1:58 pm

    Woow what a great idea!

    Reply
  3. 4

    linda spiker says

    February 4, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    Nice. I love avoiding waste! Pinning to my waste not, want not board!

    Reply
    • 5

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 4, 2016 at 3:16 pm

      Linda, I think I am taking up real estate on your my waste not board at this point. Anna

      Reply
  4. 6

    Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says

    February 4, 2016 at 3:08 pm

    Wow! Very cool! I would never have thought about that.

    Reply
    • 7

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 4, 2016 at 3:16 pm

      Emily, it tastes so yummy. Anna

      Reply
  5. 8

    MICHELLE says

    February 4, 2016 at 3:26 pm

    Awesome! We grow our own corn. Love being able to use everything possible. Fantastic post. Thank you for sharing your methods.

    Reply
    • 9

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 4, 2016 at 3:38 pm

      Michelle, then you get why I can’t part with whatever I grow. 🙂 Anna

      Reply
  6. 10

    Jolene @ Yummy Inspirations says

    February 4, 2016 at 5:12 pm

    What a genius idea! I can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks. 🙂

    Reply
  7. 11

    karen says

    February 5, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    You would save the cobs to be used for something. You’re my hero.

    Reply
    • 12

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 5, 2016 at 10:56 pm

      Karen, wait to a few posts later. I will tell you what I did with the cobs. They don’t compost well so I had to get rid of them…Anna

      Reply
  8. 13

    Betsy (Eco-novice) says

    February 9, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    I love your no waste philosophy! You should definitely be making tamales with all those corn husks. Or corn husk dolls — we make those at our local children’s museum and my kids love them.

    Reply
    • 14

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 9, 2016 at 7:05 pm

      I haven’t made tamale with them yet. I should but the husks aren’t very big. Anna

      Reply
  9. 15

    Lori Popkewitz Alper says

    February 10, 2016 at 9:03 am

    I would have never thought to use the cobs Anna. I make chili all the time- what an interesting addition! Thanks.

    Reply
    • 16

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 10, 2016 at 11:56 am

      Lori, the stock really adds to the dish. Anna

      Reply
  10. 17

    G H Grappone says

    February 12, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    My great-aunt Tennesee (her real first name), a nurse missionary in Chile for many years, believed in the corn silk tea and taught my mother how to use it. Wished I knew her other many remedies. Some folks called her the witch doctor because she had so many potions!
    Her husband was a minister and worked with the native women in a clinic teaching them about child care and natural remedies. GG

    Reply
    • 18

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 12, 2016 at 10:38 pm

      GH, your great aunt sounds amazing. I have heard about corn silk tea. This is the reason I sell my corn silks. Anna

      Reply
  11. 19

    Sean Wells says

    April 4, 2016 at 3:50 am

    Wow – i never thought of using the husks and the corn cobs in such a way! They always go into the compost heap. Since we are indeed growing our own corn – this post can be very useful to my wife. She’s always looking for a way to throw away as less as possible – blame it on her husband who bought the waste management mindset from his work as a manager in a rubbish removal company. 🙂
    I help her of course – and I’m sure she’ll be happy to try out your suggestions – I’ll help her out even.
    Thanks for the great content and the video – very informational!
    Cheers!

    Reply

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