4 Ways to Cook Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob is a popular food to bring to a picnic, barbecue, or even just as a side dish with dinner. While it might seem very straightforward, there are actually a variety of ways to cook corn on the cob. If you are planning to serve corn on the cob at an event in the future here a few ideas to keep in mind.

Grilling

If you are planning a barbecue, you can grill corn on the cob with the rest of your food. First, remove any silk that will come off easily. Next, soak the corn in water for 15 minutes — this will prevent the corn from drying out when you cook it, and provide water to steam it naturally in the husk. Once this is done, remove your corn from the water and grill it. Turn it every 10 to 15 minutes on a charcoal grill, or every 5 minutes on a gas grill. Once the tips of the husk are thoroughly blackened, your corn is done. You can now remove the corn using tongs, and once it cools, add any combination of butter, salt and pepper. You can melt butter in a pan and cook garlic into it for extra flavor if you like.

Steaming

You can also steam your corn on the cob. First, take off the husks and silk. Rinse your corn off and take this opportunity to remove any silk that has managed to stay on. Then, place your corn in the basket of your steamer, add water to the pot, cover it, and heat it. Steam the corn for 10-15 minutes.

Microwaving

If you are in a hurry you can microwave corn on the cob. First, soak it in water. You can cut the end of the husk and any trailing silk off if you like. Next, place your corn in the microwave. Set your microwave for 7 minutes if you are cooking 1 ear of corn, 8 minutes for 2. For more ears than that, break them up into groups of 1 or 2. Cool the corn off in water, remove the husk and silk, add your favorite seasonings, and serve.

Boiling

Corn on the cob can also be boiled, if you prefer. Before you do anything, figure out how many ears of corn you are going to boil, and then find a pot large enough to accommodate all of them. Before boiling your corn, remove the husk and as much silk as you can. Rinse it off in the sink, and use the water pressure to help you remove any silk that is still attached. After your corn is prepared properly, fill your pot with water and bring it to a boil. When your water starts to boil, add the corn. Cover your pot, turn down the heat, and let the corn boil for 1 to 10 minutes.