Okay, strip it down. Pull back the husk. You are looking for plump, yellow kernels that line up like a perfect, tiny grid.
Here’s the first major red flag: dimples. If the kernels look shriveled or dented, that corn is old. It’s lost its baby fat.
Check for mold. Look for anything fuzzy, white, pink, or black growing between kernels. That is nasty. Do not negotiate with mold.
The Stickiness Factor
Touch a kernel. It should be tight and sturdy. If it feels sticky or gooey, that’s bacterial activity. The corn is fermenting, and not in a cool, hipster way.
Remember: stickiness is not a good texture for corn. It's a texture for science experiments.
