With grilling season in full swing, and some big holidays just around the corner, we wanted to bring you a tutorial on the best way to cook corn on the cob. It is a staple at our house and is a favorite of all 3 kids. We love to grill it, but have also had great success with boiling it. Since we just recently got our grill fixed, we were all ready to grill up some delicious corn and we decided to try all the different methods we have used over the years to determine which is the best way.
We came up with 2 methods on the stove as well as 3 different ways to grill them. Then, we found a suggestion of soaking the ears of corn before you grill, and we had to test it, so we did each of 3 different methods twice – once soaked in water for 30 minutes and once without. Here’s what we found:
Stovetop Method 1: Fill pot with salted water. Bring to a boil. Drop corn in, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Stovetop Method 2: Place corn in the pot. Cover with water. Boil. Cover and turn off heat. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Stovetop Results: It was an easily unanimous vote for method #2! It was by far done better, juicier and just all around the best!
Grill Method 1: Husks removed. Washed and wrapped in foil with an ice cube. Grilled for about 10 minutes.
Grill Method 2: Husks removed. Washed and sprayed with cooking spray. Grilled, turning frequently, until desired amount of kernels look toasted.
Grill Method 3: Carefully pull husks down to remove the silk, then pull the husks back up. Grilled until the green is gone on the outside layer of husks.
Grill Method 4: Husks removed. Soaked in water for 30 minutes. Wrapped in foil and grilled for about 10 minutes.
Grill Method 5: Husks removed. Soaked in water for 30 minutes. Dried off and sprayed with cooking spray. Grilled, turning frequently, until desired amount of kernels look toasted.
Grill Method 6: Carefully pull husks down to remove the silk, then pull the husks back up. Soak in water for 30 minutes. Grill until the green is gone on the outside layer of husks.
Grill Results: First of all, soaking in water made such a difference. No matter which method you use for grilling, if you have time to soak your corn for 30 minutes before grilling – do it! It made it more juicy and thus flavorful.
Straight on the grill – it had that grilled flavor, which can be a good thing. But the majority of those testing with us did not care for it.
Wrapped in foil – The corn cooked faster this way, and tasted great and also retained a lot of it’s juice. But, really it doesn’t have much of the grill flavor going on.
In the Husk – Definitely the winner. It had a bit of the grilled flavor, but the flavors were also sealed in with the husks. Of course, as already mentioned, the ones that were soaked first were better. So this would be the method I would recommend, for sure!
If you’re making corn for a lot of people you can put the corn (husks removed and washed) in a cooler. Pour boiling water over the corn and close the cooler for 30 minutes.
Very interesting tests. I love the post. We always grill directly on the grill with no husks or cooking spray. Grill until golden brown. Yum! Thanks for sharing your testing.
My MIL had a tip we’ve been using that especially helps when the corn is not at peak season or not local. It’s your stove top method #2 but with sugar water (a tablespoon or two).
What a great tip, Alicia! Thanks for sharing!
We always do the corn soaked in husks and grilled. It is so good. So superior. Great post. Thank you. And corn is inexpensive enough to try the different methods to find your preference. : )
Thank you!!! so informative, i’ve never cooked corn on the grill and now I know the best way.
I like them from the microwave if making just for myself. Peel husk back, remove silk, dampen husk and nuke for about 2 1/2 -3 minutes. Another method I like when cooking several ears is to husk, remove silk and cook in small amount of water with large ends of ears in water and pot covered. Just boil for about 5 minutes. Poke a kernel with a fork. It should still be somewhat firm.
My husband does this microwave thing that comes out amazing. He places up to 8 ears (unhusked) of corn in 2 or 3 (hopefully w/o holes) regular plastic shopping bags along with about 1/3rd cup of water, yup in the bags. He then microwaves them at full power for 7 minutes, then turns them over (please be careful there’s steam involved) and microwaves for another 7 minutes. Your cooking time will vary, due to how well you like them done & what wattage you have on your microwave. If you try it, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Hi Jo Tell! I’ve never tried that method! When corn is back in season I’ll try this for sure! I can’t wait! Corn on the cob is my absolute favorite!
Thanks for testing! My hubby likes to do grill method number 4 and adds a pat of butter, lime juice, salt and cilantro. My favorite!!