I think my love of seasonal cooking comes from all the corn on the cob I ate as a kid. In the summer, my mom served boiled corn on the cob with dinner almost every night. She’d pick it up from a farm stand nearby, so it was always super-sweet and fresh. I couldn’t get enough of it – the juicy, golden kernels coated in butter and sprinkled with salt. To this day, the thought of that summer sweet corn makes my mouth start watering.
I’ve posted recipes for steamed corn on the cob and grilled corn on the cob in the past, but I’ve never shared my method for how to boil corn. I love it because it’s SO easy, and it yields the sweetest, juiciest corn on the cob you can make. The recipe is really straightforward, so I don’t have any big tips or tricks, but I will say one thing: the fresher your corn is, the better your corn on the cob will be. Enjoy!
Boiling it in its husk may take longer. To boil unhusked corn, submerge it in boiling water and cook it for 10 minutes. Before removing the husk, wait for the ears to cool enough to handle them or use tongs. You will notice that the husk is easier to remove from a cooked cob than an uncooked cob.
How to Boil Corn on the Cob
My method for how to boil corn on the cob is simple. You only need 1 ingredient: fresh sweet corn! You can cook as many ears as you’d like, as long as your pot is large enough for all of the ears to be fully submerged.
First, remove the husks from the corn. Discard the green corn husks and the silks, the thin strands that cling to each ear of corn. While you work, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Then, cook the corn. Add the corn to the boiling water and cook, uncovered, until the kernels are tender and golden. Exactly how long to boil corn on the cob will vary based on how much you’re cooking and how you like your corn. I typically go for 3-5 minutes, which shouldn’t be much longer than the time it takes for the water to return to a boil after you add the corn. If the corn is done before the rest of the meal is ready, I turn off the stove, leaving the corn in the hot water to keep warm until I’m ready to serve it.
Finally, eat! Remove the corn from the pot and transfer it to a serving platter. Serve it with butter, salt, and pepper, or whatever fixings you like.
Boiled Corn on the Cob Serving Suggestions
I love adding grilled corn to tacos and salads, but whenever I’m boiling corn, I’m almost always going to eat it off the cob. The simplest way to enjoy it is with butter, salt, and pepper, but your options don’t end there. Here are a few ideas for changing it up:
- Use compound butter instead of regular butter. Any of these 4 variations would be fantastic!
- Drizzle it in a yummy sauce, like chipotle sauce or vegan ranch.
- Sprinkle it with fresh herbs. I recommend cilantro, basil, or chives.
- Spice it up. Dust it with smoked paprika or chili powder.
- Make Mexican-style corn on the cob. After boiling corn, brush it with adobo sauce from a can of chipotles and top it with crumbled Cotija cheese.
Let me know what variations you try!
Round out the meal with cookout fare like veggie burgers, black bean burgers, or BBQ jackfruit sandwiches and a fresh summer salad. Or, serve your cooked corn on the cob as a side dish with whatever you’d like!
How To Microwave Corn on the Cob with Husk
FAQ
Can you leave corn in the husk?
Can you do anything with corn husks?
Should you soak corn on the cob before boiling?
Can You boil corn husk?
Boiling it in its husk may take longer. To boil unhusked corn, submerge it in boiling water and cook it for 10 minutes. Before removing the husk, wait for the ears to cool enough to handle them or use tongs. You will notice that the husk is easier to remove from a cooked cob than an uncooked cob.
How do you cook corn without a husk?
The corn cooks the exact same way with the husk as without the husk no matter what cooking method you use (boil, grill, oven or microwave), all you need to do is add another minute or two of cooking. Put the corn on a cutting board and cut off the bottom end of the corn (where the stem is).
How do you cook corn husks?
All it takes is removing each ear of corn’s outer husks and silks. You’ll need to rewrap the inner husks around the cobs once the silks are removed. Then tie the husk ends with strips of husks or kitchen string. You’ll cook the corn for 10 minutes in a large kettle of boiling water. Finally, you’ll remove the corn from the water and drain it.
How do you make butter from corn husks?
Prepare Flavored Butter; set aside. Leaving husks intact, peel from tip of cob to base. Remove and discard any damaged or discolored outer husks. Thoroughly remove all silks from each ear of corn Rewrap husks around cobs, then tie ends with strips of husks or 100-percent-cotton kitchen string.