How to Grill Corn on the Cob

• by J.M.Brown

Introduction

• Corn on the cob is practically the de facto summer side, so when grilling, save time by throwing a few cobs on the grill instead of in a pot of boiling water. Grilling corn infuses it with a sweet smoky flavor that goes well with whatever you grill, no matter the occasion.

What You'll Need

• Corn
• Butter or olive oil (optional)
• Grill (indoor or outdoor)
• Tongs
• Large Bowl
• Your choice of seasoning (optional)
• Salt (optional)
• Pepper (optional)

Step 1: Prep Your Corn

Select

• The best dishes start with the freshest ingredients, so check out your corn before checking out of the supermarket.

1. Look for a vibrant green husk.
   • Husk should tightly cover the whole ear. ¹
2. Lightly peel back husk from the tip of the ear.
   • Corn should look fresh, not dry.¹
   • Kernels should be smooth and plump, not withered and sunken.^{2 1}

Clean

1. Pull back the husks without removing them from the stalk. ³
   • You want at least two layers of husks.²
2. Remove the silk.⁴
   • The silk is the off-white stringy mess (looks a little like hair) underneath the husks.
   • Some recipes suggest using a brush to get rid of stubborn strands but that isn't necessary. A couple stands won't hurt the corn, and you can remove it later.²
3. Fold husks back over corn.⁵

Soak

• Soaking the corn before you grill ensures the corn stays moist and will help keep the corn from burning.⁶
  • The wet husks also create more smoke when grilled, giving the corn more flavor.
  • You can skip this step if you want. The corn will steam in it's own juices.⁷

1. Get a large bowl.³
2. Fill with water.
3. Immerse corn.
   • If needed, weigh down using a bowl.
4. Soak for 10-20 minutes.⁶
5. Remove corn.
6. Shake off excess water.

Flavor

• If you grilled your corn right now it would taste sweet and slightly smoky, but some people like their corn to have a little something extra. Flavoring your corn before it hits the grill is optional, but yields tasty results. Follow these steps to make your corn extra special.

1. Gently peel husks back from corn.
2. Drizzle olive oil or spread a bit of butter over each ear of corn.^{8 9}
   • This adds an extra level of flavor and moistness.²
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Sprinkle a fresh herb like:
   1. Cilantro
   2. Basil
   3. Baby dill
5. Try a dry spice like:
   1. Paprika
   2. Chili powder
   3. Cayenne pepper
6. Try other flavorings like:
   1. Lemon juice
   2. Lime juice
   3. Balsamic Vinegar
7. If you're feeling adventurous, mix and match seasonings to create your very own signature dish. Or, try one of these flavorful recipes:
   • Food Network: BBQ Grilled Corn ¹⁰
   • Food Network: Bacon Wrapped Corn on the Cob ¹¹
   • About.com: Maple-Chipotle Glazed Corn on the Cob   ¹²
   • Homesick Texan: Mexican Corn on the Cob ¹³
   • MyRecipes.com: Grilled Corn with Creamy Chipotle Sauce ¹⁴
   • MyRecipes.com: Grilled Corn with Mint Butter ¹⁵
   • MyRecipes.com: Jerk-Grilled Corn on the Cob ¹⁶

Step 2: Grill

• Get your outdoor grill or indoor grill going to medium high heat while the corn is soaking.⁶

Outdoor on the Rack

1. Wait for fire to die down.
2. Coals should be gray in color, but completely intact.
3. Place corn on grill rack at a 45-degree angle.⁴
   • Remember husk should loosely cover corn.
   • If the husk won't stay, tie ends with a piece of husk or string.⁷
4. Replace grill lid.
5. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until husks are brown and corn is tender. ³
   • Using tongs, turn half way through the cooking time to ensure even charring.⁶
6. Remove corn from grill.
   • Use tongs! Corn will be hot.
7. Allow corn to cool for five minutes.⁷

Outdoor on the Coals

1. Wait for fire to die down.
2. Coals should be gray in color, but completely intact.
3. Husk should loosely cover corn.
   • If the husk won't stay, tie ends with a piece of husk or string.
4. Wrap corn in foil.⁹
5. Place corn directly on coals.⁹
6. Cover grill.
7. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes.⁹
   • Using tongs, turn corn every 10 minutes.⁶
8. Remove corn from grill.
   • Use tongs! Corn will be hot.
9. Allow corn to cool for five minutes.⁷

Indoor Grill

1. Turn grill to medium-high heat.²
   • You will know the grill is ready when a drop of water sizzles on surface.
2. Place corn on the grill top.
   • Remember husk should loosely cover corn.
   • If the husk won't stay, tie ends with a piece of husk or string.⁷
3. Cook corn for 30-40 minutes or until the husk is deep brown.
   • Using tongs, turn corn every 10 minutes.⁶
4. Remove corn from grill.
   • Use tongs! Corn will be hot.
5. Allow corn to cool for five minutes.⁷

• TIP: If your corn has already been husked, brush corn with butter or oil, season to taste and wrap each ear in foil before grilling. If you must grill without foil or the husk, baste corn with butter as it cooks. Otherwise, the corn will become dry and chewy.⁷

Step 3: Husk

1. Strip husk from corn.
   • Use a pot holder, kitchen towel or knife, to protect your hands.^{8 3}
   • Pretend you're peeling a banana.⁸
   • If you like, you can leave the husk attached at the base of the corn. It will act as a handle as you eat the corn.³
2. Remove any remaining silk.⁶
3. If needed, you can rinse corn under warm running water.⁸
   • Keep in mind, this will rapidly cool corn and butter won't melt as easily when it's time to eat.

Step 4: Top and Enjoy

• Serve corn while it's still warm with the classic butter topping or an alternative topping.

Tips for Slathering on Butter

1. Plop a hot ear of corn on top of a stick of butter and spin until all sides are buttered.
2. Slather a piece of bread generously with butter and rub on corn.
3. Use a butter spray.

Alternative Toppings

1. Flavored butter
   1. Soften butter
   2. Mix in a flavoring such as:
      • Chopped garlic or garlic powder
      • Lime or lemon juice
      • Chili powder
      • Cilantro
   3. Stir until combined.
2. Mayo
   • You can flavor mayo just as you would flavor butter.¹
3. Cheese
   • Parmesan¹
   • Cotija Cheese (A crumbly Mexican cheese)
4. You can also use any of the flavorings listed in step one as a topping.

Recipes for Leftover Corn

• Make extra corn and try these yummy recipes:

• Food Network: Charred Corn Guacamole with Chips ¹⁷
• Food Network: Grilled Corn Salsa ¹⁸
• MyRecipes.com: Grilled Corn Succotash ¹⁹

References for How to Grill Corn on the Cob

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Food and Wine: Cooking Corn
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} About.com: Grilling Corn 
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} Martha Stewart: Grilled Corn
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Food Network: Grilled Corn
5. ↑ How To Do Things: How to Grill Corn on the Cob
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6} eHow: How to Grill Corn on the Cob
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6} Simply Recipes: Grilled Corn on the Cob
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} What's Cooking America: Grilling Corn
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} How Stuff Works: Grilling Corn on the Cob
10. ↑ Food Network: BBQ Grilled Corn
11. ↑ Food Network: Bacon Wrapped Corn on the Cob
12. ↑ About.com: Maple-Chipotle Glazed Corn on the Cob
13. ↑ Homesick Texan: Mexican Corn on the Cob
14. ↑ MyRecipes.com: Grilled Corn with Creamy Chipotle Sauce
15. ↑ MyRecipes.com: Grilled Corn with Mint Butter
16. ↑ MyRecipes.com: Jerk-Grilled Corn on the Cob
17. ↑ Food Network: Charred Corn Guacamole with Chips
18. ↑ Food Network: Grilled Corn Salsa
19. ↑ MyRecipes.com: Grilled Corn Succotash

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