How to Cook Corn on the Cob

posted in Vegetables and Beans by Kathy Maister

One of my favorite vegetables, fresh corn on the cob, is in season in the USA from May to September.

When buying corn, the husks (outer green covering) should be bright green and fit snugly around the ear of corn. The kernels should be in tight rows right to the tip of the ear of corn, and be plump and milky (if you accidently pop one!).

While in the grocery store, it is perfectly acceptable to peel back the outer green husk to check and see if the corn looks OK.

You should peel the husk off the corn just before you cook it. To do so, peel back the husk, hold the peeled ear of corn in one hand, the husk and stalk in the other and then snap off the stalk.

To remove the “silk” (the white hairy threads just under the husk) wet a paper towel and wipe down the corn – from the tip to the stalk end. Be sure to totally remove all the silk as it is really not pleasant to serve corn on the cob with the silky threads still attached.

Once the husk and silk have been removed from the corn, it is officially “shucked”.

I am going to show you three ways to cook corn on the cob:

In the microwave
On the stove top starting with cold water
On the stove top starting with boiling water

You can also cook corn in a pressure cooker which is quick and (many people tell me) quite simple to do, but I still have yet to buy a pressure cooker.

Note:

Be sure to have a look in the comment section below as many experienced cooks have added some great suggestions on how they cook corn.

Method 1: Cooking Corn in the Microwave

Cooking corn in the microwave is my preferred method. I am not too fond of pots of boiling water heating up my kitchen on a hot summer day.

This method is good when you are cooking only 2 or 3 ears of corn. If you are cooking more, you should choose one of the other cooking methods or do it in batches in the microwave.

Place the corn in a microwave safe dish and add about 2 Tablespoons of water to the dish.

Cover the dish with plastic wrap, making sure to leave a small opening (a steam vent) in the corner to let the steam escape.

Microwave the corn on high for 4-to-6 minutes – depending on the strength of your microwave.
Carefully remove the plastic wrap from the corn. There will be a lot of very hot steam escaping, so you probably should use a pair of tongs to remove the plastic wrap.

Method 2: Cooking Corn on the Stovetop Starting with Cold Water

Place the shucked corn in a large pot. Cover it with COLD tap water. Cover the pot and set it on the stove. Bring the pot to a boil. Once the pot has reached a boil, the corn is cooked.

Method 3: Cooking Corn on the Stovetop Starting with Boiling Water

Fill a large pot half way with COLD water. There should be enough water in the pot so that when you add the corn, it is covered with water but not overflowing.

Bring the pot of COLD water to a boil. Using a pair of tongs, carefully drop each ear of corn into the pot.

Cover the pot and return the water to a boil.

Boil the corn for 5-7 minutes or until done.

Cooking Corn Do’s and Don’t’s:

How do I know when it’s cooked?
The cooking times listed above are general cooking times. Some people eat corn raw, and some dunk it in boiling water for 30 seconds to just heat it slightly. The simplest answer is to taste the corn to see if it cooked to your liking. Over-cooked corn does become really tough and it is also pretty rough on the digestive track!

Should I add Salt or Sugar to the cooking water?
Corn is naturally sweet. Some people add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar to the cooking water to sweeten it even more. That’s totally up to you!

Salt, on the other hand, should not be added to the cooking water as it will toughen the corn. Sprinkle it on after the corn is cooked.

Ice Bath:

When blanching vegetables, like asparagus, you plunge the partially cooked asparagus into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.

If you are cooking the corn for other uses than eating it off the cob, you may be tempted to submerge it in a bowl of icy water to cool it off. Don’t! It will cool the corn off BUT it will also turn your corn very soggy.

Storage:
Cook and eat corn on the cob the same day as you buy it.
To freeze fresh corn on the cob you must remove the corn from the cob first. It can be cooked or uncooked when you remove it from the cob to freeze. To remove the corn from the cob, a serrated knife works best.
Corn can be frozen for up to six months.

Corn Holders:
I really like these things! They do come in all shapes and sizes. You just jam them in either end of the corn cob. If the corn is really hot, they protect your fingers. They also have other uses. I actually used the big ones in the photo below to help peel a mango!

Buttering Corn:
One way to butter corn is to slide the corn in a circular motion over a stick of butter. Alas, the whole family really has to agree to this method!

Or you could butter a piece of bread and roll the corn in the slice of bread.

Or, you can of course just dab a bit of butter on each piece with your dinner knife and then sprinkle on some salt and…

Enjoy!

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81 Comments

taf said:

Corn on the cob is great microwaved in the husk also, as a plus no extra dishes.

Jenn said:

For family cookouts, we always soak the corn and then cook it on the grill. Easiest way to butter the corn? Put a couple of sticks of butter in a jar… pour hot water over the butter. The melted butter will sit on top of the hot water, and then you just dunk the whole ear of corn into the water. Voila! Perfectly buttered corn on the cob!

giz said:

I can’t remember a time that I didn’t have corn in my fridge. I like every method you described and one of my very favourites is in the husk, on the bbq – so good.

Kathy Maister said:

If you cooke corn in the husk, do you peel back the husk and remove the silk before cooking in the microwave or on the bb?q

veronica said:

No, you don’t need to remove the silk before cooking in the husk. Simply cook whole, and peel back husk and silk afterwards. Careful though, it will be hot!

When we cook on the BBQ, we like to wrap it in foil.

Kathy Maister said:

Hi Veronica, I’m not sure my fingers would survive!

Pat said:

Can you cook corn in a roaster for a large number of people when stove top not available?

Kathy Maister said:

Hi Pat,
Sorry, but I’m not sure what you mean by a “roaster”?

Kathy

CornLover said:

Ever hear of the Butter Family? Butter boy and butter girl are GREAT ways to butter corn on the cob – they are like mini – butter deodorants – sounds icky but that’s what they look like! and they work fantastically well! I love mine – google it!

Kathy Maister said:

Hi Corn Lover, The Butter Family are a riot! I’ll bet they do a great job – even if they look kind of “corny”!

todd said:

to cook 1 or 2 ears, i first snip off the loose silk and leaves from the tip of the husk, then stick the whole ear (husk and all) in the microwave for 4 minutes on high (try 6 min for 2 ears). it stays hot while i eat the rest of my meal, and the cooked silk and husk comes off like a breeze when i’m ready to eat it.

Denise said:

Thanks so much for the tips! When I cook corn on th grill I like to pull the husks back, butter the corn, and sprinkle some crushed black pepper over it. Then pull the husks back around the corn and wrap them in tin foil. Mmm! (I remove the silk before grilling)

Kathy Maister said:

Is eating corn “on the cob” an American tradition or is it eaten that way around the world?

beck said:

I love corn on the cob! It’s not just an American tradition though.

in Egypt it is grilled and served on the cob.

Europe doesn’t have the tradition of eating corn at all. It’s regarded as animal feed.

Not sure about other countries….

Heather said:

Can you freeze corn on the cob and then reheat it to eat on the cob- or must you prepare it off the cob? We really enjoy it on the cob best.

Jon (Sacker) said:

Kathy,

eating “corn on the cob” is certainly a tradition here in he UK, though as Beck points out, it’s rather looked down on in other part sof Europe. Personally my favourite way is done on the BBQ (grill) – its best to sok the husks in water, then they’r great.

Jon

Kathy Maister said:

What about Asia?

Heather, you can freeze corn OFF the cob:

To freeze fresh corn on the cob you must remove the corn from the cob first. It can be cooked or uncooked when you remove it from the cob to freeze. To remove the corn from the cob, a serrated knife works best.

Corn can be frozen for up to six months.

Jervais said:

I have the same questionas Pat – we are havinga graduation party for my daughter and would like to have corn on the cob with as little work as possible – can you cook it in an electric roaster? We will probably be doing about 45 or 6 dozen ears of corn and do not want to cook it in the house or on the grill.

Thanks Jervais

bridget cannon said:

Hi, I like to wash, butter and salt and pepper corn on the cob and roll in aluminum foil and cook on the grill. It is so good. Bridget

Kathy Maister said:

Hi Bridget, that sounds wonderful!
Jervais (and Pat), that would clearly not be an option for cooking vast quantities of corn! I was hoping someone with electric roaster experience would jump into this conversation! Cooking on a large scale for many people can be very tricky. Perhaps you could partially cook the corn the morning of you event and then just warm it on the grill. Good Luck!

Shannon said:

You can actually freeze con ON the cob. All you have to do is blanch it first. Drop shucked ears of corn into boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Then once it’s cooled you can freeze it. My mother-in-law makes the best corn I’ve ever tasted and she used to freeze batches of it for me ever summer. Fresh corn on the cob all year long! YUMMY!

RJ said:

For fresher crisper corn on the cob, don’t boil the corn, steam it! Place the ears on end in a tall pasta pot with an insert, put in about an inch or two of water (and about a tablespoon of sugar–my grandfather’s secret ingredient) and steam for about 10 minutes. Once you try this you’ll never eat boiled corn again!

Kathy Maister said:

Shannon you must have a really big freezer!

RJ, I actually love crispy corn on the cob kind of “crispy”. It adds a perfect texture to Tex-Mex Salad!

shannon said:

Lol, I did have a big deep freezer on my back porch. She also had a standing freezer where she kept all the foods she froze herself, the entire bottom freezer drawer was dedicated to corn on the cob.

Kathy Maister said:

WoW! You really do love corn! My kitchen is no bigger than a postage stamp so an extra freezer is not an option. (That’s city living for ya!) In fact most people are really amazed at how small my kitchen actually is. Particularly after seeing all the videos that I film there!

Shannon said:

My kitchen wasn’t very big but I had an enclosed back porch so we kept the freezer out there. My exmother-in-law would give me a couple of bags of corn when we would see her. I do love corn on the cob though, I could seriously eat it every single day and never get tired of it. My husband would kill me though, lol.

David said:

In Japan people eat corn on the cob, or toumorokoshi as it is caled in Japanese. It’s most often eaten grilled during summer festivals and enjoyed by almost everyone.

Kathy Maister said:

Hi David, The last time I was in Japan it was wintertime and clearly no corn on the cob was in sight! (I must say, one of my most memorable travel experiences was a visit to Nikko while it was snowing!) Glad to see summer festivals and corn on the cob seems to be an international treat!
Thanks for sharing!

june said:

I want to freeze corn on the cob for my daughter. She is not here during corn season so I wanted to suprise her when she comes home in October. Whats the best way to freeze it on the cob?

Kathy Maister said:

FREEZING CORN ON and OFF THE COB

Commenter Shannon says:

“You can actually freeze con ON the cob. All you have to do is blanch it first. Drop shucked ears of corn into boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Then once it’s cooled you can freeze it. My mother-in-law makes the best corn I’ve ever tasted and she used to freeze batches of it for me ever summer. Fresh corn on the cob all year long! YUMMY!”

OR remove the corn from the cob first. It can be cooked or uncooked when you remove it from the cob to freeze. To remove the corn from the cob, a serrated knife works best.

Corn can be frozen for up to six months.

june said:

Thanks for your response….So after you blanch it and freeze it what do you do before you eat it after you take it from freezer? Thaw it and reheat it or microwave it? I want it to taste fresh for her. I have a vacuum sealer to seal them for freshness in freezer. I am so excited to try this for her and suprise her.

Shannon said:

Cook it as you normally would. Put it into water, bring to a boil and let boil for 1-3 minutes depending on your prefered level of doneness. I prefer just one because I like it as fresh and crisp as I can get. I’ve never microwaved it so I’m not sure how it would work out.

Kathy Maister said:

Thanks Shannon!

This may sound strange but lately I’ve been enjoying raw corn. It all started when I tried this fabulous salad. Since then I have added it to my Sante Fe Chile Recipe and it was noticeably different than just adding a can of corn!

KenSmith said:

After cooking corn on the com my aluiminun pot has turned black.How can I clean the pot toget it clean

KenSmith said:

How do you get the black off your aluminim pot after cooking corn on the cob

Roger said:

I’m in Korea, and corn is quite common here in season, but I rarely see people eating it on the cob.

I love all kinds of corn, but my favorite way is roasted in the oven. I don’t know if it’s the same as queried above when people mentioned an electric roaster, but I simply put shucked ears in the oven. I set the oven to about 350 and put the corn in for about 45 minutes, although this time varies. The corn is very different from “normal” corn: the outsides of the kernels become almost crunchy, and if done properly, the insides of the kernel become sweet and chewy. It’s also good to leave the husks on the corn when you put it in the oven, but then it doesn’t become as crunchy. I always keep a good eye on the corn so as to avoid it becoming burned. My grandmother taught me to do this, and it’s really more of an art than a science as you can’t really give precise cooking times.

Kathy Maister said:

Thanks Roger for the great recipe – from Korea no less! Your Grandmother taught you well!

Ken, first I would suggest that you check with the manufacturer of your particular pans.

Here are some suggestions from Quamut on how to solve your problem:

“How to Wash Aluminum Pots and Pans

“You can wash aluminum pots and pans in hot, sudsy water, just as you would your other dishes. Some aluminum may even be dishwasher safe, but never assume that aluminum is dishwasher safe unless it’s explicitly marked as such.

Even if you wash them thoroughly, you’ll likely notice over time that your aluminum pots and pans develop deep gray or black stains—these stains show up when aluminum comes in contact with hard water or alkaline foods.

To clean these stains:

Step 1

Scrub the stain with a nylon scouring pad or scrub brush if necessary. Try to scrub along the grain of the metal to avoid scratching it. If scrubbing doesn’t do the trick, don’t try to use a more abrasive pad or scouring powder, as that may scratch the surface. Instead, try…

Step 2

Fill the pot or pan with a mixture of 1 quart of water to 1 tablespoon cream of tartar (an acid salt used in cooking and sold in most supermarkets). Bring the solution to a boil and let simmer for five minutes. Pour out the solution and scrub and polish the pan with a nylon scouring pad.

How to Clean Anodized Aluminum

Anodized aluminum is aluminum that has been made stronger through a chemical process. Though physically stronger, anodized aluminum is more sensitive to temperature and is not dishwasher safe. Always wash it with a nylon scouring pad and hot, soapy water—do not use abrasive cleaners, as they can scratch the surface of the cookware.

How to Clean an Aluminum Tea Kettle or Coffee Pot

Many tea kettles and coffee pots are made of aluminum, and over time, mineral deposits can build up on the inside surfaces. To remove these deposits:

Fill the kettle with a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar.

Bring to a boil and simmer for at least 10 minutes. The heavier the deposits, the longer you should let the mixture boil”

Ken I hope this helps.

Thanks Quamut!

Joe said:

In Colombia, corn is often grilled on the cob, with the husks and silk removed. A piece of the stalk is left on for a handle.
And of course, plenty of butter and coarse salt.
Yummy!

startcooking said:

Joe, that sounds delicious – thanks for sharing!

abrasive brushes said:

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Anonymous said:

Just drain the water from pan you cooked the corn in, add butter, roll cobs around and its ready to eat!!

startcooking said:

BRILLIANT! Now why didn’t I think of that!

Anonymous said:

jewell said:

my mother-n-law shared a great ideal on cooking corn on the con in the microwave , she leaves the silk and shuck on the corn puts it in the microwave for 3 minutes (per ear), when done the silk comes off the ear clean and easy. the corn is nice and crispy. tip from jewell

startcooking said:

I am definitely going to have to give that a try!
Thanks!

tiffany said:

Dom said:

Sometimes when I cook corn (by boiling) it tastes powdery. Can anyone tell me why corn tastes powdery sometimes? Is it overcooked or undercooked or is it bad corn, or some other reason?

Babs said:

I have wrapped shucked clean corn in wax paper and cooked in the microwave for a few minutes instead of heating up the kitchen boiling a pot of water.

Stephanie said:

Excellent directions and pictures. I often use the microwave method when I’m in a hurry, but I grill corn on the cob, too. Yum!

Betty said:

After your corn cools, wrap each in alum foil. and freeeze..and when you heat, just keep the foil on and cook in boiling water for 15 minutes..

startcooking said:

Hi Everyone,

Tiffany, I think I would rather remove the silk when the corn in cold (before cooking) rather than hot from the micro wave!

Dorn, hmmm, that’s a new one. Sorry to say, I have no clue, but my guess would be undercooked.

Babs, Great hot weather tip!

Betty, I actually cut it off the cob before freezing, but I will have to give your method a try.

Cheers,
Kathy

B Walker said:

In Mexico they have a corn on the cob you can buy from street vendors. It’s in a large steamer (I think) cart and is on a stick sometimes. It’s dipped in mantaquila (which they say translates to butter but it tastes different to me) and then sprinkled with grated chihuahua cheese. It’s a different sort of corn than here in the US but very good.

startcooking said:

Hi BW,
That sounds soooo good! I have never had chihuahua cheese. It is similar to Parmesan cheese?
Cheers,
Kathy

Karleene said:

We frequently have large BBQs at our summer place on the river. There is never room on the grill for corn though, as it seems to always be full of meat – steaks, kabobs etc. I like to shuck corn and lay individually on a sheet of foil. Butter profusely, then wrap loosely, tuck ends under. Can put as many as you want on oven racks, roast at 350 degrees. From a few ears to couple dozen will vary time from 45 min to 1-1/2 hrs. Test one if roasting a large batch and you aren’t sure. It is mouth-watering tender and so sweet. Always a hit.

startcooking said:

Thanks Karleene! This is a great tip, particularly for those expecting a crowd!
Cheers,
Kathy

Diane said:

Can anyone tell me if Corn on the Cob is good to eat the next day after it’s been cooked?

startcooking said:

Hi Diane,
Left over corn on the cob is great to eat the next day.
It won’t be quite as good as freshly cooked.
I often cut it off the cob and add it to salads or chili or just add some butter and salt and give it a zap in the microwave.
Enjoy!
Kathy

Don of Erie PA said:

I use a 22qt pressure canner / cooker. It will hold 5 1/2 – 6 doz. ears (depending on size of ears). It only takes 2 1/2 cups of water and only about 45- 60 min. to cook. I have 5 daughters and 13 grandchildren, so when we have a picnic it really helps. For just me n my wife I just use a 4qt or 6qt it only uses 1 1/4 cup of water and 30 – 45 min cooking time. I think that if you put the cooked corn in a roaster n filled it with water it would keep ok.

Babs said:

This tip came from the “Recipe 4 Living” website: Melt a stick of butter in a pan of water. The butter will float on the top. Dip cooked corn cobs into the pan. The butter will stick to the corn; the water doesn’t.

startcooking said:

Don, I am shocked that corn takes that long to cook in a pressure cooker. I do not use one, but I do remember it taking my mom about 10 minutes to pressure cook about a dozen ears of corn.

Babs, I love it – great idea!

Don of Erie PA said:

Babs, the time I gave was from the time you put the pan on the burner. Once the presure comes up you only cook it 5 min. Also I just fixed some and I was off on the time for 6 qt pot, it was only 22 min. from start to finish. enjoy

Julie said:

You CAN freeze corn on the cobb! Remove the husks and then the silk with a DRY paper towel. NEVER let water get on it. Wrap each ear individually in foil and pop in the freezer. When ready to eat, you pull out the desired number of ears and cook by a method you desire. The trick here is to never let water touch the ears before freezing.

startcooking said:

Thanks Julie – great tip!

Hohlphrase said:

I really enjoyed reading this article. Thanks for such informative article!

Dorthea36 said:

I usually fix my corn on the cob in the microwave. Wash ears and wrap in waxed paper. Cook about 4 – 5 min for 2 ears, longer for more ears. And, yes, we eat left over corn…just re-heat in the waxed paper or wrap with fresh sheet. As far as the electric roaster, I haven’t tried it but a family member cooks the corn for large gatherings and then puts it into an electric roaster with an inch or so of hot water and corn stays nice and hot. As far as corn tasting “powdery”, it’s because of being under-cooked. Hope these ideas help.

startcooking said:

Hi Dorthea36,

Thanks for the great tips!

It seems like a lot of people have success with cooking corn in wax paper – I really do need to give it a try!

I would like to point out that many microwaves, including mine, says to always place the food on a dish and not directly on the glass turntable.

Cheers!
Kathy

Dorthea36 said:

Hi, Kathy….Yes, I think most microwaves say to put in a dish but I just put the wrapped ears directly on my turntable. Otherwise, I usually use a paper plate (not the foam one, though as it might melt). Hope this clarifies.

startcooking said:

Thanks Dorthea36!

Thomas Campion said:

For those who want large quantities of corn. 1-Galvanized garbage can. 2-Scavenger for Propane tank, Can be rented from BBQ/Party rental stores. 3-Shucked corn. 4-Water. The can fits ontop of the propane scavenger and will hold the total weight of can and water. Some have a baffle around the scavenger to keep the wind from blowing out the flame. Thats the way we do it at the FIRE HOUSE…Tom..

startcooking said:

Hi Tom,
I think your method is best left to more experienced cooks!
Cheers,
Kathy

Noname said:

We always just freeze it whole in the husk, then thaw a while and microwave in the husk. The silk comes off easily after that, although you have to be careful of the steam. And as my husband says, it kills the corn worms, too!

Sometimes we grill the corn – first husk it, then slather with mayo and Cajun seasoning, then wrap in foil.

Kathy said:

According to Cub Foods, they throw out approximately 50% of their sweet corn because it has been partially peeled. They can not sell it if the outer husk has been peeled away and other customers will not buy it during the day it has been put out even if it looks all right.

CG4 said:

Great tips! Corn on the cob is one of our favorite foods for grilling. We like to soak the ears of corn in a large cooler filled with buttermilk and water for a few hrs. Toss them on the grill while still in the husk, they cook great and taste wonderful.

startcooking said:

Wow!…Buttermilk?

Other than making the husks very wet does it actually do anything to the taste and texture of the corn?

rnoel said:

I actually wouldn’t recommend using the plastic wrap for cooking because of the BPA chemical in the plastic wrap that would leach into the water and the corn. Glass lids are great though.

Bill said:

Cook your corn on the cob on the grill,
1st-choose your corn, place your corn in a pail of water completely covered about 1or11/2 hrs. before cooking, when ready to cook take corn out of water husk and all shake the water off and place on grill, rotate corn 1/4 of the way each 15 minutes for one hour, then peel husk and all, put butter in pan add water 1/4 cup make hot and brush your corn with it. Hmmmmmmmmm sooooooooo good, then add salt or pepper too taste

margie said:

this is how my gram and mom cooked corn on cob. put shucked ears in one gallon of water to which you have added half cup salt and half cup suger. let sit in brine no longer than 2 hours and at leawst one hour. drain. put on grill at high heat for 14 min turning every 2 min. lots of watch time but always perfect

dale said:

Thanks! I just read this and dumped out my boiling water. I was adding salt!! And I wonder why my corn has been crappy! Now I’m adding sugar as you suggest.

Can’t beat the internet. Glad I found your post here. Thanks again!

gary said:

after grilling corn, you won’t believe this, but try putting some mayonaise and then sprinkle mexican parmeson cheese. guaranteed you wont go back to your old ways.

Theresa said:

I freeze corn on the cob to use during the winter months- I shuck the corn and then I put them in vacuum seal bags and seal them and throw them in the freezer. They taste just liked you picked them.

Allison said:

Plastic wrap? LOL. Don’t cook anything in the microwave that’s wrapped in plastic unless you want a nice melted plastic sauce on top. Wax paper, baby, wax paper. You put plastic wrap over dishes to store them in the fridge, you don’t cook with it. LOL.

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