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Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » How to Boil Corn on the Cob

How to Boil Corn on the Cob

July 4, 2017 By Katie Moseman 24 Comments

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These step-by-step directions for how to boil corn on the cob are completely foolproof.  You’ll get easy instructions, exact cooking times, and perfect corn on the cob!

One ear of boiled corn on the cob with butter and sea salt on top

How to Boil Corn on the Cob

Knowing how to boil corn on the cob is probably one of the top ten kitchen skills you need to have in your cooking repertoire.  It’s that important.

No one- repeat, no one– wants to eat mushy corn on the cob.  It’s an offense against nature.  And, truthfully, it’s so easy to boil corn on the cob the right way that there’s absolutely no defense for cooking it the wrong way.

It’s been a long journey since I cooked my very first corn on the cob.  Many years ago, when I was a college student working in a university computer lab, our department had a little get-together where each of us were expected to help out in some way.

One person ran out to buy supplies.  Another set up a grill outside and grilled the hot dogs and hamburgers out in the Florida sun.  Meanwhile, the lab manager asked me to head down to the small kitchen on the first floor and cook the corn on the cob.

To this day, it’s a mystery to me why I got chosen for this duty.  I was 18, the youngest of the staff, and my cooking skills were pretty much limited to the four food groups of college: spaghetti, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and ramen noodles.

Nevertheless, I charged gamely downstairs and put a pot on to boil.  Having absolutely no idea how long to cook the ears, I simply tossed the shucked ears into the water, turned on the burner, and watched the corn darken slightly in color as the water simmered, then boiled for a few minutes.  Then I drained the water and carried the corn back upstairs in a large casserole dish.

Stack of corn on the cob ears sprinkled with sea salt to show how to boil corn on the cob

I still remember the unusual purple shade of that casserole dish.

Lunch was served, plates were made, and everyone tucked in.  Compliments poured in over the corn, leaving me nonplussed because the positive result was really nothing more than a total accident.  Everyone liked how crisp it was, as did I, so I made a mental note to try to make boiled corn on the cob the same way in the future.

Fast forward a number of years, and I’ve expanded my cooking repertoire exponentially.  I won’t tell you that I never cook spaghetti, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or ramen noodles anymore, but let’s just say that they they occur much less frequently.

My corn on the cob, however, is just the same as it ever was and is a frequent star of the table.  When corn is in season, I pick some up on almost every shopping trip.

I still don’t add anything to the water.  I still cook it crisp.  And the compliments just keep on coming.

So, in the spirit of that hapless young lady who accidentally got it right on the first try, I’d like to show you exactly how to boil corn on the cob.

These step-by-step directions for how to boil corn on the cob are completely foolproof. Easy instructions, exact cooking times, and perfect corn on the cob!

If you enjoy this recipe for boiled corn on the cob, you might also like these classic side dish recipes using fresh produce.

  • How to steam broccoli the easy way
  • Oven Roasted Potato Rounds
  • Roasted Acorn Squash
  • Baked Sweet Potatoes

Pair this side dish with meatloaf made without eggs for a complete comfort food dinner.

Closeup of boiled corn on the cob kernels on a metal tray with salt
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How to Boil Corn on the Cob

Get the exact cooking time for boiled corn on the cob. It's foolproof and easy once you learn how to boil corn on the cob!

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 128 kcal
Author Katie Moseman

Ingredients

  • 6 ears Fresh corn

Optional

  • 3 tbsp Butter
  • Sea salt or smoked salt

Instructions

  1. Remove the husks and strings of silk from the corn just before cooking. Snap off the stems. If the ears are too large to fit in your pot, break them in half.
  2. Fill a large pot, such as a Dutch oven, half full with water. Put the corn in the water. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
  3. Once the water is boiling, remove the lid and boil for 2 minutes.
  4. Remove the pot from the heat, and let it stand uncovered for 10 minutes. Drain the water and serve the corn immediately.

Optional

  1. Rub the cooked corn with butter, then sprinkle with sea salt or smoked salt (smoked salt gives the corn a delightful flavor).
Nutrition Facts
How to Boil Corn on the Cob
Amount Per Serving
Calories 128 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 64mg3%
Potassium 243mg7%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 345IU7%
Vitamin C 6.1mg7%
Calcium 4mg0%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

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Comments

  1. MJ

    June 14, 2016 at 10:35 am

    Corn is my most favorite thing to eat in the summer. We grill it, roast it on the grill or in the oven. I’ve made it just like you. I’ve also boiled it with milk and sugar which a Hispanic friend suggested. Letting it stand for 10 minutes is definitely the key. I do something similar for perfect boiled eggs too.

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 15, 2016 at 9:55 pm

      Milk and sugar? I’ll have to look into that!

      Reply
  2. Kita

    June 14, 2016 at 10:45 am

    I just boiled a big old pot of corn this weekend for our family barbeque. It was the hit of the barbeque as usual. Boiling is always our preferred method. Sometimes we roast but boiling is our go to. I’ve never done the let stand or 10 minutes method so I will give that a try the next time I make a batch.

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 15, 2016 at 9:55 pm

      Give it a shot! I bet you’ll like it. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Alaina Bullock

    June 14, 2016 at 11:31 am

    I LOVE corn on the cob, and too often I’ll order it when we go out to eat, and it is just not cooked correctly! How you fix it, is the BEST way to do it! And yes, Fresh From Florida offers some amazingly good produce and seafood! I’m lucky that I live in Alabama and my mom lives on Florida – i get Fresh From Florida all the time! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 15, 2016 at 9:55 pm

      Thank you for stopping by! I bet Alabama has some good produce, too!

      Reply
  4. Theresa Sutton

    June 14, 2016 at 11:32 am

    Oh wow! This just made me super hungry. I LOVE corn on the cob. Apparently I haven’t been boiling it correctly though!

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 15, 2016 at 9:54 pm

      LOL, everyone has a different method. 🙂 No worries!

      Reply
  5. Heather

    June 14, 2016 at 7:27 pm

    I boil them as well because the kids won’t eat them grilled. I don’t remove the cover and cook more though. I’ll try that.

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 15, 2016 at 9:52 pm

      Interesting! I’ve never tried giving my kids grilled corn. I wonder if they’d notice?

      Reply
  6. Gwendolyn Mulholland

    June 14, 2016 at 10:42 pm

    I love corn on the cob and can’t wait to stock up my freezer again this season. It is important to not overcook it so that it doesn’t end up mushy. These are great tips for those that struggle to get it right. I also love throwing it on the grill .

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 15, 2016 at 9:52 pm

      I have had grilled corn at a local restaurant topped with cotija cheese and cilantro- so good!

      Reply
  7. Censie Sawyer

    June 15, 2016 at 12:25 am

    Yummy, Our favorite summer and fall veggie. We usually grill ours but I do love boiled corn too. I love that our kids like corn on the cobb because it is a great veggie fro them to enjoy

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 15, 2016 at 9:51 pm

      Yes, my kids like it too! It’s a miracle. 😉

      Reply
  8. Dina Demarest

    June 15, 2016 at 10:42 am

    Corn is one of those things that I can not stand to eat if it’s overcooked. So I’m very particular about it. I cook it barely! Love to know you only boil for 2 minutes!

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 15, 2016 at 9:51 pm

      Me too! Mushy corn is the worst.

      Reply
  9. Kristy @ Mommy Hates Cooking

    June 15, 2016 at 12:18 pm

    You just can’t have summer without corn on the cob! Oh so delicious! We grill a couple of times a week, so we usually just grill our corn on the cob. Good to know that boiling it is just as simple!

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 15, 2016 at 9:50 pm

      Yes! A good option for when it’s raining and you can’t fire up the grill.

      Reply
  10. Heather Stone Brodbeck

    June 16, 2016 at 2:06 am

    I just bought 10 corn on the cobs today at Food Lion they were having a sale. I love love love corn! And Summer is the perfect time for corn on the cob! Something about the two just go hand in hand. I also love cooking them in my crock pot on low for 6-8 hours or on the grill.

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 17, 2016 at 10:00 pm

      I blush to admit it, but I still don’t own a crock pot! Isn’t that crazy?

      Reply
  11. Aileen Adalid

    June 16, 2016 at 6:07 pm

    5 stars
    I am in LOVE with corn! I can eat a bunch of them in just one sitting. I especially love it when it’s slathered with butter and your recipe is almost similar to mine <3

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 17, 2016 at 10:01 pm

      Mmm… I can eat a bunch, too! My current record is 3 ears in one sitting.

      Reply
  12. Betty

    October 18, 2017 at 2:39 am

    I love corn, boiled, streamed, fried, roasted, corn cut off cob. Any way it can be cooked. Try it in mircowave is quick and easy. Cut the end off, and cut or break the bottom end off. Put timer on 4 mins , hold under cold water, and the silk comes come right off.

    Reply
    • Katie Moseman

      October 18, 2017 at 2:19 pm

      Good idea! I’ll have to try the microwave method.

      Reply

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