Corn on the cob comes into season just as the weather warms up, making it the perfect food for grilling out or adding as a fresh side. But even if you spend every summer serving up corn on the cob, you still might be cooking it incorrectly.
You can use corn in so many ways, so make sure you are preparing corn on the cob in the best way possible to retain its nutrients and flavors. Watch out for these common mistakes:
You Boil It
Don't boil your corn on the cob. Boiling corn means some water soluble nutrients, like folate, will be leeched into the liquid and not consumed, so you'll miss out on some great nutritional perks, says Kelly Jones MS, RD, CSSD, LDN. Instead, trying steaming it. "By steaming corn on the cob — in the husk — you'll maintain the proper nutritive quality," she says.
To steam, fill up with water a large pot with a steamer basket until about an inch below where the steamer basket will fall. Bring the water to a boil before adding corn to the steamer basket and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the basket with tongs and wait to peel off the husks until safe to touch.
You Overcook It
Avoid cooking corn for too long. "If you have super fresh corn — which can even be eaten raw — it's a waste of time to cook for the common recommended time of 20 [or more] minutes," says Jones. Overcooking can also result in chewy and firm kernels. You can steam for 8-10 minutes or less, or even use the microwave. If in the microwave, cook on high 3-5 minutes.
You Remove the Husk
Don't remove the husk before cooking corn on the cob. "When you leave the husk on, you can speed up the cooking process and maintain a more tender texture for your corn. This is the case whether you're steaming, microwaving, or grilling your corn," she says.
Either after cooling to a safe temperature or with oven safe gloves, you can either peel husks back or cut one end before pushing the other end for the corn to slide out of the husks. "This should result in most of the fibrous strands remaining with the husk, but you'll want to peel off any remaining strands," she says.
The Heat is Too High
When grilling corn, don't turn the heat up. "It's important to be mindful of the level of heat and the flames in relation to corn's proximity to them. This is to ensure the husk doesn't catch fire," she says. With the grill it's super variable, so rather than focus on heat, aim to focus on the flames being on low-medium for gas grills. For charcoal grills, set the corn on the second tier of grates or on a grill topper to keep them farther away, Jones explains.
You Cool it Under Water
Don't let your corn cool down by putting it under running water from the faucet. Instead, let it just sit out and cool naturally. "Wait the extra few minutes for it to cool on its own so you don't [end] up with soggy corn," she says. That will ruin the whole dish and leave you without that heartier texture of the kernels you desire.
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FAQs
Juicy fresh corn on the cob gets an extra boost of sweetness when it's cooked in slightly sweetened water. You can use as much or as little sugar as you like. Try it several ways to figure out what level of sweetness you like best.
Is 30 minutes too long to boil corn? ›
Avoid cooking corn for too long. "If you have super fresh corn — which can even be eaten raw — it's a waste of time to cook for the common recommended time of 20 [or more] minutes," says Jones. Overcooking can also result in chewy and firm kernels. You can steam for 8-10 minutes or less, or even use the microwave.
Why is my corn still hard after boiling? ›
If your corn is still hard, tough, or even chewy after it's boiled, it can be a result of two factors. For one thing, you may have over-cooked your corn. Set a time to ensure your corn isn't boiling for too long. Another reason might be the freshness of your corn.
Should you soak corn on the cob before boiling? ›
The key to good corn on the cob is to remove all of the silk from the cob. Otherwise, those pesky silks will end up in your teeth when trying to enjoy your corn. The good way to do this is to first soak the ears of corn in cold water for about 10 minutes.
Why do you put milk in water when boiling corn? ›
Boiling corn on the cob brings out its natural sweetness. But if you want an even juicier and sweeter crisp-tender bite, swap out some of the water for milk. The milk enhances the flavor and texture. It also infuses the corn on the cob with milk and butter, resulting in salty, buttery kernels.
Should you salt the water when boiling corn on the cob? ›
Don't overcook fresh corn-on-the-cob or it will become tough. Corn should be boiled for 5 - 7 minutes (not 10 - 15 minutes), at most. Don't add salt to the boiling water either because that will also make it tough. Corn should never be boiled for 10 minutes or even 5 minutes.
How long does a corn cob take to boil? ›
4. How long to boil corn on the cob? Boil the corn until the kernels turn bright yellow and are crisp tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully remove from the water with tongs to a serving platter and serve warm.
What happens if you boil corn too long? ›
Over-boiling can result in an unpleasant mushy texture and reduce its antioxidant activity (1). This article explains how long you should boil corn to yield a toothsome yet tender bite.
Is corn supposed to float when boiling? ›
Since corn tends to float on top of the water, I cover the pot. This helps the water come back to a boil faster and helps the corn cook. It will take approximately 3 to 4 minutes to bring the water back to a boil.
Can you eat old corn on the cob? ›
The appearance and aroma of your corn are the two main ways to tell whether or not it has gone bad. If it's giving off a rancid or moldy smell, or has a slimy and mushy texture, it should be tossed in your compost. Similarly, if there's any visible mold on your corn, it has gone bad.
Diplodia ear rot appears as white mold growing on corn ears. A dead flag leaf is an easily recognized symptom of Diplodia ear rot. Visible signs of Diplodia ear rot on corn ear. Cross-section of a corn cob with small, black pycnidia indicative of Diplodia ear rot.
What to do with water after boiling corn? ›
Corn water has even more starch than pasta water, which means it is even more of an asset for particular kinds of dishes. One thing you can do right away with corn water is to keep it boiling, add salt, and toss in some pasta. Let it simmer until al dente, and then you'll have extra starchy, luscious noodles to enjoy.
Is it OK to soak corn on the cob overnight? ›
Place corn in a large bowl and fill with water to cover the corn. Be sure that corn is submerged and soak overnight. Pour out water and shake off excess water from corn.
Can dogs eat corn? ›
Is Corn Good for Dogs? Raw corn and cooked corn are safe for dogs to eat, in small portions, in moderation, and always off the cob. Frozen corn can be a fun, crunchy food topper for dogs—just make sure to watch them as they eat it to ensure they don't choke.
What does sugar do for corn? ›
“Applying sugar is like drinking Mountain Dew® — it provides an energy boost. It enhances the nutrient uptake of plants and also increases microbial activity when applied to the soil. This speeds residue decomposition and the mineralization of soil organic matter,” he says.
What makes corn taste better? ›
Most green herbs pair well with corn — like parsley, cilantro, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme. Dried spices and seasonings like cajun seasoning, chili powder, or Old Bay work equally well. To make a fantastic Mexican street corn salad recipe, we recommend adding a chili-lime seasoning like Tajin.
What do you put in corn when you boil it? ›
Fill a large pot about 3/4 full of water and bring to a boil. Stir in sugar and lemon juice until sugar is dissolved. Gently place ears of corn into boiling water, cover the pot, turn off the heat, and let corn cook in the hot water until tender, about 10 minutes.
Why do you soak corn in sugar water? ›
Sugar-seasoned water, however, brought out the natural sweetness of the corn the same way that salted water enhanced the flavors of other vegetables.
