How to Cook Corn: 4 Easy Ways Plus a Bonus

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to shuck corn after it's cooked? This is a not-so-subtle nudge to those who insist on shucking it before buying it, a habit the Accidental Locavore heartily condemns! While many a summer childhood was spent shucking corn before it was dumped into a big pot of boiling water, in later years, I've learned there are almost as many ways to cook corn as there are varieties of corn.

1. The traditional pot of boiling water (good for a crowd, but not my favorite method) has a few new twists, none of which I've personally tried, but all of which have their champions. One, recently touted on HuffPost's Kitchen Daily (got to plug it since I've been posting for them!), said to bring a pot of water to a boil, add the shucked corn, bring to a boil again, and let sit until ready to serve.
2. Another party-friendly twist is to put the corn (shucked), in the bottom of a cooler, pour boiling water over it, cover and let sit. This requires a cooler, the kind that can take a gallon or two of boiling water, a piece of equipment the Locavore doesn't have.

3. Keeping (sort of) on the steaming/boiling trail, the next way, one of my favorites, is to cook it in the microwave. I cut the stem end of the corn close to the cob, peel off the outer layer or two of the husk, and microwave for one to two minutes an ear, depending on the size and number of ears and the strength of your microwave. To see if corn is cooked, peel back a little of the husk. The corn should have lost its opaque luster and the kernels should be bright and almost shiny.
4. My favorite way to cook corn is simply to toss it on the grill, husk and all. We often just put it on when the grill is heating up and let it roast over on a corner, while grilling the rest of the meal. You'll want to turn it occasionally, but not too often, as it's better when it gets a little browned in spots.

For any of these methods, if you really want to show off, take a blow torch to the corn after it's cooked and shucked. This is a trick I learned from my friend Kerry at Cafe Miranda. It browns the kernels, making them taste like popcorn, and will either scare or impress all of your guests!
What's your favorite way to cook corn?

 

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Comments

[Unkle Don]

08:08 PM on 07/23/2012

So far, the best way to prepare corn is what happens after it is cooked. I still go with the boiled water approach, but the corn has to be sweet, "butter & sugar" variety grown by a local farm. The rest is from some local street vendors when I lived in Los Angeles. Put the corn on a wooden skewer, like a "corn kebab"! Proceed to brush on margarine or butter then mayonnaise, then a liberal sprinkling of parmessan cheese, and finally an even coating of chile powder. I've had many friends who didn't even want to try it, but after overwhelming pressure from my wife and I, they not only tried it but would have 2, 3, even 4 ears. It is seriously addicting.

[jefechip]

05:42 PM on 07/23/2012

Soak the ears of corn in cold water for about a half hour or so, then roast with the husks on. I found that the water held by the husks add flavor and help to steam the corn. We only use organic, non GMO sweet corn. PEACE

[SocratesSiddhartha]

01:00 AM on 07/22/2012

Roasted with lime juice and cayenne pepper...

[cognito sum]

12:47 PM on 07/23/2012

you beat me to it. Growing up, and even now, whenever someone says lets have corn, I think grilled with chilli pepper and salt rubbed onto the corn using a lemon or lime.

[Karl Wilder]

01:34 PM on 07/21/2012

It is very irresponsible to write about corn and not warn your readers that the bulk of it is grown from Monsanto GMO seeds and might be dangerous to eat.

[Ellyn M Heinz]

09:01 PM on 07/20/2012

Best way is to wet husked ear and place in foil with a piece of butter. grill on medium indirect heat till just soft. Falls off the ear very tender and easy to cook with other items on the grill.