How To Boil Corn on the Cob
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How To Boil Corn on the Cob
Learn How To Boil Corn on the Cob for the best summer side dish! Sweet, juicy, and golden, it's a hit with everyone. Slather it with garlic herb butter, sprinkle some salt + pepper, and enjoy. This kid-approved favorite is a must for any summertime meal! Dairy-free + Vegan Option.
I've been experimenting with all kinds of classic summer dishes lately, from salads to dips and everything in between. But today, I’m excited to share what might just be the ultimate summer side dish: good ol’ corn on the cob!
I think everyone should know How to Boil Corn on the Cob—it’s seriously the easiest + tastiest way. When I think of summer, corn always comes to mind. And not just any corn, but sweet and buttery corn on the cob. I love slathering mine with homemade garlic herb butter, but you can go with regular butter or even dairy-free butter if you want to keep it vegan. The choice is yours!
The corn cooks up incredibly flavorful, fresh + rich—ideal for any occasion, from weeknights to summer BBQs. It's perfectly sweet, bright, plump, and absolutely delicious. I love pairing them with a BBQ Ranch Turkey Smash Burger or a Veggie Burger. Toss in some Parmesan Herb Crusted Roasted Potatoes, a refreshing Smashed Cucumber Salad, and a cold glass of Pink Lemonade, and you've got the ultimate summer feast!
Jump to:
- Why You Will LOVE This Boiled Corn On The Cob
- Ingredients For Corn On The Cob
- How To Boil Corn on the Cob
- Ingredients For Garlic Herb Butter
- How To Make Garlic Herb Butter
- What Other Flavors Of Butter Can I Make?
- How To Buy Perfect Corn On The Cob?
- How To Prep Corn
- How Long To Boil Corn On The Cob?
- How To Eat + Serve Boiled Corn On The Cob
- Boiled Corn On The Cob Q + A's
- More Easy + Basic Recipes
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- How To Boil Corn on the Cob
Why You Will LOVE This Boiled Corn On The Cob
- Minimal prep + quick cooking time.
- Sweet + juicy --- The perfect burst of summer flavor in every bite.
- Enjoy it plain or dressed up with your favorite toppings.
- A surefire hit with the little ones.
- Perfect for BBQs, picnics + family dinners.
Ingredients For Corn On The Cob
- Sweet corn. Fresh with the husks + silks removed.
- Garlic herb butter. Optional. See how to make it below or head straight to the recipe! (You can also use regular butter or melted butter) For a dairy-free/vegan option just opt for your favorite dairy-free butter!
- Sea salt + black pepper. To taste.
- Garlic powder. For extra garlicky flavor.
- Dried parsley. For garnish.
How To Boil Corn on the Cob
The best part of this recipe is that after prepping, the cooking time is under 5 minutes. Here's what you need to do:
PREP THE CORN:
- Be sure to remove all husks and silks from the corn on the cob and rinse until clean. You can leave the corn whole or cut into quarter sizes.
BOIL THE CORN:
- In a medium pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat, add cold water until ¾ths filled. Bring to a boil.
- Add the salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, stirring everything together until combined. Add the corn and let it boil for 3-4 minutes or until tender when tested with a fork.
- Drain and serve warm with a garnish of garlic herb butter, regular butter, or parsley.
Ingredients For Garlic Herb Butter
GARLIC HERB BUTTER:
- Butter. I use unsalted to have more control of the flavor. Softened at room temp.
- Garlic cloves. Minced.
- Herbs + seasonings. Sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, dried parsley, Italian seasoning + a pinch of smoked paprika
How To Make Garlic Herb Butter
In a bowl, add the softened butter, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, parsley, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika----mixing together all ingredients until smooth and soft. Use immediately or store in the fridge for later!
What Other Flavors Of Butter Can I Make?
The options are seriously endless, and you can customize it with whatever herbs, fresh or dry, you already have on hand. Here are a few more of my favorite variations that I use regularly in my kitchen:
- Lemon butter ---- made with my Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning and fresh lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice for a bright + tangy flavor.
- Honey butter --- Sweet + creamy, honey butter is made by mixing softened butter with honey for a delicious spread that's perfect on toast or biscuits. You could also use hot honey for a spicy twist!
- Everything bagel butter --- Made with butter and homemade everything bagel seasoning.
- Roasted garlic butter --- Rich + savory, roasted garlic butter is made by mixing roasted garlic cloves with softened butter for a deliciously nutty flavor.
- Garlic parmesan butter --- Mix softened butter with minced garlic and grated Parmesan cheese for a savory and umami-rich option.
- Spicy chili butter --- You can add in jalapenos, chipotle peppers or simply some red pepper flakes.
These are just a few ideas, but feel free to get creative and experiment with different flavor combinations to create your own signature flavored butters! They also make great gifts!
SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS CORN!
Here, I’ve curated a list of baking + cooking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite dishes, especially with this Corn On The Cob recipe. Everything from my fave knives, pots, dutch ovens, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
How To Buy Perfect Corn On The Cob?
Every summer, you'll see piles of loose ears of corn at the grocery store, but not all of them are worth buying --- Look for bright green husks that are tightly wrapped around the corn and slightly damp, which means they're fresh.
Avoid husks with holes (a sign of insect bites) or brown spots (a sign of lost freshness). Check the tassels, too—golden and slightly sticky is good, but dry, dark, or smelly tassels are not. Lastly, gently squeeze the ear to feel the kernels through the husk. Skip any with missing kernels or soft spots. The ear should feel heavy for its size in your hand.
How To Prep Corn
Start at the top and peel away those husks and silks over a trash can, pulling down towards the base. Some stubborn strands? Just rub 'em off with your fingers or give 'em a quick wipe-down with a kitchen towel, or try under running water! Now your corn's all set for its hot tub party in the boiling water!
How Long To Boil Corn On The Cob?
To get perfectly tender + flavorful corn on the cob, boil it for about 3-4 minutes. Until it’s tender when poked with a fork. Keep an eye on it; you don’t want to overcook it and lose that sweet, juicy crunch.
How To Eat + Serve Boiled Corn On The Cob
My favorite way to enjoy corn on the cob is slathered with lots of butter or garlic herb butter, plus a sprinkle of salt and seasonings, and eating it straight off the cob! Some people prefer to cut off the corn for easier eating, but there are so many ways to enjoy and use corn.
Here are a few ways to use it, or make the most of leftovers:
- Add corn kernels to tacos for a sweet, crunchy topping along with your favorite proteins + veggies.
- Toss the kernels into a grain bowl
- Sprinkle corn over nachos like these Mexican Street Corn Nachos
- Cut the kernels off the cob and make a Loaded Corn Salad
- Scatter the kernels over a pizza like this Ultimate Veggie Pizza
Boiled Corn On The Cob Q + A's
Corn on the cob is ready when the yellow color deepens, the kernels plump up, and they feel tender (you can poke one with a sharp knife to check). Don't leave them in the pot too long, or they'll turn tough or soggy.
Store any leftovers wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 3-4 days. To reheat, you can warm in the microwave, oven, or re-boil slightly until warmed through.
Yes, cold corn can be delicious in salads or eaten straight from the fridge.
Yes, you can definitely flavor boiled corn on the cob with other seasonings! Use what you prefer and get creative!
If you like it spicy, try out my Cajun seasoning. For a zesty kick, add some lemon pepper seasoning. If you want some Jamaican flair, try out my Jamaican green seasoning.
Absolutely! You can easily make a vegan or dairy-free version of garlic herb butter by using a plant-based butter substitute instead of traditional butter. Some of my fave brands are Miyoko's, Violife, and Earth Balance.
More Easy + Basic Recipes
If you loved learning How To Boil Corn on the Cob and want to learn more easy + basic recipes try these next:
- Easy Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- How to Roast Butternut Squash
- How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing
- How to Make Quick Pickled Vegetables
- How To Make Chocolate Oat Milk
- How To Make Crispy Seasoned French Fries
- Easy Shredded Chicken
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this recipe for How To Boil Corn on the Cob or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
How To Boil Corn on the Cob
Ingredients
- 4 ears fresh sweet corn, husks + silks removed
- sea salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2-4 Tbsps Garlic herb butter, optional (You can also use regular butter or melted butter)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley, for garnish
Instructions
PREP THE CORN:
- Be sure to remove all husks and silks from the corn on the cob and rinse until clean. You can leave the corn whole or cut into quarter sizes.
BOIL THE CORN:
- In a medium pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat, add cold water until ¾ths filled. Bring to a boil.
- Add the salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, stirring everything together until combined. Add the corn and let it boil for 3-4 minutes or until tender when tested with a fork.
- Drain and serve warm with a garnish of garlic herb butter, regular butter, or parsley.
Tips & Tricks
Nutrition
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