Introduction
When cooking corn on the cob, you may have wondered how long to cook it. The answer is: it depends. That’s because there are so many variables that can affect how long it takes for your corn to become tender and sweet. The type of corn (fresh or frozen), its ripeness when picked from the stalk and how recently you’ve taken your corn off the stalk will all impact how long this process takes. But don’t worry—we’re here to help! In this post, we’ll walk you through our favorite methods for cooking up perfectly cooked corn on the cob using a variety of techniques (including boiling, microwaving and grilling). We’ll also explain why each method works best for certain types of ingredients so that you can be sure to get every mouthful just right!
1-2 minutes in boiling water
- Boil water in a pot on the stovetop.
- Add corn to boiling water, cover, and cook for 1-3 minutes depending on how you like your corn (I prefer it to be tender but not mushy).
- Remove from heat and drain off excess water before serving
2-5 minutes in microwave
To cook corn in the microwave, place the ears in a microwave-safe dish and cover with plastic wrap. Cook on high for 2-5 minutes, depending on how many ears you are cooking and how much time you have.
If you don’t have a microwave, this method will work just fine: Place your corn directly on top of an open flame (such as from a gas stovetop) or under your broiler until charred all over, rotating every minute or so to ensure even charring.
3-4 minutes in boiling water with lid on
To cook corn on the cob in boiling water, you’ll need a pot with a lid. Add about two inches of water and bring to a boil. Place your ears of corn in the pot (you can fit up to four) and cover it with a lid. Cook for 3-4 minutes total, turning occasionally so that each side gets steamed evenly. After 4 minutes, remove from heat and serve immediately!
4-5 minutes in boiling water with lid off
To cook the corn, place it in a pot of boiling water. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 4-5 minutes.
5-7 minutes on grill
- Grill the corn on the cob for 5-6 minutes, turning it every 2-3 minutes.
- Do not use butter or salt while grilling; they can create flare-ups that may cause your food to burn. Instead, add these ingredients after the corn is cooked and removed from the grill.
Follow these cooking times when cooking corn on the cob
Cooking times for corn on the cob vary depending on how you want your corn to taste. You can cook it for a short time and have crunchy kernels, or you can cook it longer and have softer kernels that may be more prone to falling off the cob.
Cooking times are approximate and should be checked regularly so that you don’t burn or undercook your corn. If your recipe calls for 5 minutes of boiling, check after 3 minutes–and then every minute after that until done.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you learn more about how long to cook corn on the cob. There are many different methods, but these are our top three favorites. The first is boiling water with lid on for five minutes, followed by another five minutes off the heat in cold water before serving. The second method involves microwaving it in its husks for two minutes at a time before peeling them off and eating immediately–this takes less time than boiling or grilling would! And finally, grilling over direct heat (as opposed to indirect) helps caramelize those kernels faster than other methods would allow