Corn off the cob

[Panic Button]

How do they get ears of corn off the cobs without damaging them, so that they can freeze or can them?

[Munkeeluvva]

At the processing plant, the ears of corn go through huskers, which cut off the base of the ear, and strip of the husks by rolling the ear on rollers which pull the husks off without damaging the kernels. The husked ears drop onto a belt, and workers inspect the ears and feed them tip first into the cutting knives. The 4 or 5 knives are mounted in a round holder which allows the knives to open up. The knives have a 90 deg bend so the tips, which are curved, are parallel to the cob and form a circle. They are very sharp, turn very fast, and open and close depending on the diameter and shape of the cob. They cut very fast, very cleanly. Cobs shoot straight though and go to the waste pile, the cut corn falls onto another conveyor. Husks and cobs are chopped and made into silage for cattle feed.