It’s fresh corn season, and you’re wondering how to cook your sweet corn? Well, here are 3 of the best ways to cook corn on the cob perfectly no matter what method you prefer: boiled, grilled, or oven-roasted.
Hey Greedy! This week I’m taking it back to the basics with one of the most popular ingredients known to man, corn. I love corn boiled, grilled, roasted, fried, frozen, dipped, or smothered; there really isn’t a way that corn is prepared that I don’t like. But for today, I will be focusing on the top 3 ways to cook corn on the cob, and I’ll be adding in my favorite garlic butter recipe, too, so read to the end.
How to Cook Corn on the Cob: The Top 3 Ways
If you’ve ever made corn on the cob before, chances are you’ve used one of these methods. Boiling, roasting, and grilling are the most popular ways to cook corn on the cob.
Personally, I think the char marks you get when you grill corn on the cob are out of this world. However, any one of these methods will produce delicious results. Now, let’s get to the good stuff!
Boiled Corn on the Cob
1 of 3 ways to cook corn on the cob is by boiling it. This is the easiest and quickest method of cooking corn on the cob. While it may not be the method that produces the most flavor, it still produces juicy and delicious corn! If you’re cooking for a party and want to recruit your little ones to help in the kitchen, this method is the way to go. To boil corn on the cob, follow these simple steps:
- Remove the silk and husk from each ear of corn.
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat, then add 8 cups of water or broth and 2 tablespoons of salt and bring to a boil. This may seem like a lot of salt, but it is important to have salted water to ensure that the corn is flavorful.
- Once boiling, turn the heat to medium-low and add the corn. Cover and cook for 6-8 minutes, then carefully remove the corn from the pot.
- Brush the corn with butter and serve immediately.
Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob
2 of the 3 ways to cook corn on the cob is by roasting it in the oven. This cooking method takes the longest but produces tons of juicy flavor and is mostly hands-off. Roasting corn on the cob in the oven is a great way to get incredible flavor without having to do much work. I would recommend this for anyone who wants to take this classic American side dish to the next level without firing up the grill. To roast corn on the cob, simply do the following:
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF, then remove all silk and husk from each ear of corn.
- Brush each ear with 1 tablespoon of room temperature salted butter, then tightly wrap each of them in aluminum foil until completely covered.
- Place foil-wrapped cobs on a baking sheet in the center of the oven. Roast for 35-40 minutes, rotating halfway through.
- Remove from the oven, then set the oven to Broil. Open the tops of the foil, so the corn is exposed, then place the baking sheet back in the oven for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Add additional butter and seasoning, then serve.
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Finally, the third way to cook corn on the cob is by grilling it. course, I’ve saved the best for last. There is nothing quite like grilled corn on the cob. It’s smoky, charred, juicy, tender, and beyond delicious. If you’ve got a grill at home, I highly recommend using it for cooking your corn on the cob.
Yes, it’s hands-on. Yes, it takes a bit of time. That being said, you won’t find another method that produces the same mouthwatering flavor! To grill corn on the cob, just follow these easy steps:
- Set up your grill with two-zone heat, then remove all silk and husk from each ear of corn.
- Brush each cob with olive oil, then place them directly over the hottest part of the grill. Turn the cobs every 2-3 minutes until charred on all sides and tender inside, about 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the grill, then add butter and any desired seasonings. Serve immediately.
How to Make Garlic Butter for Corn on the Cob
What would corn on the cob be without butter? As a corn on the cob fanatic, I may be a little biased, but this is an iconic American flavor pairing. Sure, you can enjoy corn on the cob without butter (blasphemy), but I promise you won’t regret trying out this downright delectable garlic butter.
It only takes a minute to make and uses ingredients that you most likely already have at home. To make garlic butter for corn on the cob, just follow these 2 easy steps:
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon of dried parsley, and ⅛ teaspoon of kosher salt.
- Heat for 15-second intervals until melted, then stir until well combined. Brush the garlic butter onto each corn on the cob.
How to Pick the Best Corn
When it comes to cooking corn on the cob, the first step is picking the right ears. For starters, you want to make sure that sweet corn is in season where you live. In most places in the United States, corn season is May through September. This is when the corn will produce the best flavor.
Now that you know corn is in season let’s move on to how to pick the best corn. The silk should look healthy, not dried out or dark in color. The husk should be bright green, not brown or bruised. The ear of corn should also feel heavy for its size, which means that it’s full of juice. Juicy corn = chef’s kiss. We want the juice! As long as you pick a heavy ear of corn with healthy silk and a bright green husk, you’ve got a winner.
How to Cut Corn on the Cob
If you’re serving a plate to your youngsters or cooking corn on the cob for a salad, you will need to know how to cut it properly. The last thing you want when you’re preparing a delicious meal is to have to deal with an injury! This is my best method for how to cut corn on the cob:
- Place the ear of corn horizontal to the surface to allow for better control.
- Using a sharp knife, slowly cut the kernels off the cob down the row.
- Rotate the cob and repeat until all kernels have been removed.
How to Serve Corn on the Cob
When I serve corn on the cob, I typically serve it alongside classic BBQ/picnic fare dishes like grilled meats, burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and mac and cheese. If you’re using the grill method, you can even cook your meat at the same time to make things easier. Grilled corn, hot dogs, mac and cheese… Yep, I’m drooling already.
If you’re wondering what to put on top of corn on the cob to spice it up, I’ve got you covered. Most of the time I like to keep it simple with a little salt, pepper, and butter. Other times I like to get a little more creative, especially if I’m hosting a dinner party.
Here are some of my favorite ways to top corn on the cob:
- Salted butter
- Garlic butter
- Elote Seasoning
- Honey butter
- Fresh herbs like parsley and chives
- Crumbled cotija cheese or feta cheese
More Delicious Side Dish Recipes
If you liked this recipe, you’ve got to try these:
- Momma’s Deep Dish Mac and Cheese
- Southern Potato Salad
- Instant Pot Southern Greens
- Herb and Goat Cheese Grits
- Garlic and Sea Salt Carrot Fries
Now It’s Your Turn
I would highly recommend giving it five stars if you make it. Be sure to take a photo and tag @meikoandthedish on Instagram too! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 6 ears of corn (read instructions for details on each method)
Galic Butter
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
How To Boil Corn On The Cob
- Remove all silk and husk from each ear of corn.
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring 8 cups of liquid and 2 tablespoons of salt to a boil.
- Turn the heat to medium-low ad add in corn and cook covered for 6-8 minutes.
- Remove the corn from the pot, brush with butter, and serve immediately.
How To Roast Corn On The Cob In Oven
- Preheat to 400ºF
- Remove all silk and husk from each ear of corn.
- Brush each ear with 1 tablespoon of room temperature salted butter and tightly wrap in aluminum foil until completely covered.
- Place foil-wrapped cobs on a baking sheet in the center of the oven and roast for 35 – 40 minutes rotating halfway through.
- Increase heat to boil and remove the baking sheet from the oven. Open the tops of the foil and ad cobs back to the oven for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool to touch. Add additional butter and seasoning and serve.
How To Grill Corn On The Cob
- Set up the grill with 2 zone heat.
- Remove all silk and husk from each ear of corn.
- Brush each cob with olive oil. Place corn directly over the hot side of the grill and cook, turning every 2-3 minutes, until charred on all sides and fully tender, about 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool to touch. Add additional butter and seasoning and serve.
How To Make Garlic Butter For Corn On The Cob
- To a medium microwave-safe bowl add 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 garlic cloves minced, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, ¼ cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon dried parsley, and ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt, and heat for 15-second intervals until melted. Stir and brush garlic butter onto each corn on the cob
Notes
- If boiling corn in milk add 6 cups of water to a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, carefully add in corn on the cob, 2 cups of room temperature milk and cook covered for 6-8 minutes.
Nutrition
Equipment
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
**The equipment section above contains affiliate links to products I use and love. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
