Our group is going camping next weekend for Midsummer and I'm in charge of menu planning. I"m not much of a cook and even less of a camper, so I need some help. I know that some people roast corn on the cob on the grill, can you do the same thing in a campfire? I know that you're supposed to leave the husks on and soak the ears in water for a while before cooking them. Any suggestions as to how long to soak them and how long they should stay in the fire?

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2001

Answers

Sherri,

we used to put it to soak for several hours before we cooked it and then leave it on until the husks started to dry and scorch. That seemed to be just about right for the "steaming". Time would depend on the heat of the fire. We used an oven rack placed over the fire laid on a couple of logs, never put it right down in the fire so I am not sure how that would work.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2001

Sherri, we do that all the time, but my honey always soaks the ears, and we haven't done it yet this year, since we don't have any corn yet, and I don't remember how long.

It works great, is easy, but I'd recommend that you give it a couple of practice runs before putting yourself on the spot, and having a bunch of people relying on you for a meal. Besides, that way, you'll get to eat more corn...

JOJ

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2001

I've done it, but it's more tricky putting the corn directly in the coals. Assuming the corn is fresh, just dunking it immediately before cooking is going to get it as wet as soaking it. I've cooked all kinds of things directly in the campfire (usually wrapped in foil, wet cotton cloth, or clay), but it takes experience to judge timing. Often works better to pull some coals from the fire to one side to cook on. You have more control, can stay cooler yourself, can replenish the coals as needed. Experiment beforehand, like Joe said, and come up with a simple plan to make it easy on yourself. Anything tastes better around a campfire. Good luck!

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2001

Good advice given.

Also,try this link, you might like it. medival cooking links http://www.teleport.com/~tguptill/cooking.htm#solar

We've cooked lots of veggies in foil on coals. Ever have hobo dinners?

I put a section in my family cookbook on outdoor cooking that includes those recipes.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2001

Official hillbilly here: its get the corn wet for a minute or two in a tub or bucket, have your fire burned down long enough to have a large bed of red hot coals ( this takes way more wood than you think, and you have to keep adding wood all along), put your soaked ears in the coals (with a long handled shovel), at least three or four inches of coals all around them, check at 7 to 10 minutes. If your coals are hot enough, the corn will be done, or very near done! Peel the husks back carefully, and enjoy corn with a taste like none other!

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2001