This guide provides four different ways to prepare corn on the cob. This page will provide step by step instructions to help you cook corn on the cob. Whether you boil it, bake it, grill it or zap it in the microwave, corn on the cob is a sweet and crunchy addition to almost any meal and counts as one portion of fruit and vegetables per day. After you learn how to cook corn on the cob, you can also try out the topping variations on the page, as a change from the traditional butter and salt.

Boiling is a quick and easy way to cook corn on the cob (Photo by Manu M)

Although it's a popular barbecue and picnic mainstay, corn on the cob has also become the proud addition to many gourmet meals when topped with flavorful condiments and savory blended butters.Epicurious: Corn on the Cob with a Trio of Flavored Butters The vegetable is also touted as a great source of nutrients like vitamin B, dietary fiber and vitamin C.World's Healthiest Foods: Health Benefits Along with its great taste and health benefits, corn on the cob is also flexible when it comes to cooking methods. Read on to discover how to make it using the stove, grill, oven or microwave.

When buying fresh corn, look for moist green husks (Photo by Alistair Williamson)

Ensure your corn has the best possible flavor when it reaches your table by learning to select, store and shuck it properly.

How to Buy Corn on the Cob

1. Look for husks that are moist and green.Eating Well: Buying Fresh Corn
2. The ears of corn should feel heavy with plump kernels.CBS News: Buying Corn
   • -Don't remove the husk to look at the kernels, just press through the husk to see if they feel "full."Real Simple: How to Make Corn on the Cob
3. Be sure the bottom of the corn isn't brown where it was cut from the stalk, since that means it was harvested more than two days ago.CBS News: Buying Corn

How to Store Corn on the Cob

1. It's best to eat fresh corn immediately after it's purchased so the sugar doesn't turn to starch.
2. If you can't eat the corn right away, slow the conversion process by refrigerating it in a plastic bag with the husks intact.
3. You can also freeze corn for a few months by wrapping it in plastic wrap while it's still in the husk.

How to Shuck Corn on the Cob

1. Before cooking the corn, cut off the bottom portion of the stem if it hasn't already been done.YouTube Video: Cooking Tips: How to Shuck Corn (Time: 0:49)
2. Pull back the husks to remove the silk threads by using a towel to wipe the corn in a downward motion.HGTV: Corn: Tips
   • -You can also use a toothbrush to get the silk out from between the kernels.Real Simple: Remove Corn Silk with a Toothbrush
3. If you don't want to leave it on, simply peel the husk off and throw it away.Bon Appetit: Corn: Shucking
4. If you want to remove the kernels for a recipe, stand the shucked ear of corn in a bowl and saw the top half of the kernels off of the cob with a knife.Bon Appetit: Corn: Shucking
   • -You can also stand the corn in the center of a bundt cake pan, which will help hold the corn and catch the kernels at the same time.Simple Recipes: Easy Tip for Getting Corn off the Cob

• Since corn can be prepared in a variety of ways, simply choose the cooking method that best suits your mood, the season or the kitchen equipment you have available.

• What You'll Need
• 4-6 ears of fresh corn
• Large pot filled with water
• Stove

• What to Do

1. Bring the pot of water to a boil.Martha Stewart: Corn on the Cob with Lime and Melted Butter
2. Remove the husks and the silk from the corn.Epicurious: Basic Method for Cooking Corn on the Cob
   • -You can also leave the husks on and shuck the corn after it's boiled if you prefer.Food Network: Corn on the Cob
3. Place the corn in the boiling water for about 5 minutes.Emeril's: Hot Boiled Corn on the Cob
4. Remove the hot corn with tongs before serving.Emeril's: Hot Boiled Corn on the Cob
   • -If you wish, you can keep some of the corn warm in the water for up to 10 minutes with no changes in texture.Epicurious: Basic Method for Cooking Corn on the Cob

• What You'll Need
• 4-6 ears of fresh corn
• Gas or charcoal grill
• Large bowl or pot filled with water

Grilling corn on the barbecue results in crispier kernels (Photo by Santiago Arce)

• What to Do

1. Heat your grill.All Recipes: Grilled Corn on the Cob
   • -If you're using a gas grill, heat it to about 550°F.Simply Recipes: Grilled Corn on the Cob
2. Coat the grill with a light layer of oil.Martha Stewart: Grilled Corn on the Cob
3. Peel the corn husks back without breaking them off.Epicurious: Grilled Corn on the Cob
4. Remove the silky threads from the corn.All Recipes: Grilled Corn on the Cob
5. Wrap the husks back around the corn.Food Network: Bobby Flay's Grilled Corn Recipe
6. Place the corn in a bowl or pot filled with cold water.Martha Stewart: Grilled Corn on the Cob
7. Let the corn soak for 10 minutes.Epicurious: Grilled Corn on the Cob
8. Drain the corn before placing it on the grill.Epicurious: Grilled Corn on the Cob
9. Grill the corn for 15 to 20 minutes.Food Network: Bobby Flay's Grilled Corn Recipe
10. Take the corn off the grill and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.Simply Recipes: Grilled Corn on the Cob

• What You'll Need
• 4-6 ears fresh corn
• Oven
• Oven mitt

• What to Do

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.Food Network: Tyler Florence's Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob
2. Pull down the husks, but leave them attached at the ends.Recipezaar: Oven Roasted Fresh Corn on the Cob
3. Remove the silk from the corn.Recipezaar: Fresh Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob
4. Pull the husks back up over the corn and close by twisting the ends.Recipezaar: Oven Roasted Fresh Corn on the Cob
   • -If you prefer to remove the husks from the corn, you can wrap each ear in a piece of aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray and place those on the oven rack.All Recipes: Roasted Corn on the Cob
5. Place the corn in their husks on the oven rack without a baking sheet.Food Network: Tyler Florence's Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob
6. Bake for 30 minutes.Recipezaar: Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob
7. Use oven mitts to take the corn out of the oven and remove the husks before serving since the corn will be hot to the touch.Recipezaar: Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob can be cooked in the microwave in just a few minutes (Photo by Rosi Maslarska)

• What You'll Need
• 1 ear of fresh corn
• Moist paper towel
• Microwave

• What to Do

1. Remove the husk and the silk from the corn.Recipezaar: Uncle Bill's Corn on the Cob
2. Wrap the corn in a moist paper towel.All Recipes: Microwave Corn on the Cob
   • -You can also wrap the corn in microwave-safe plastic wrap if you prefer.Recipezaar: Uncle Bill's Corn on the Cob
   • -You can even leave the corn in the husk and remove it and the silk after cooking.Recipezaar: Microwave Corn on the Cob
3. Microwave the corn for five minutes.All Recipes: Microwave Corn on the Cob
4. Let the corn rest for about 2 minutes before serving.Recipezaar: Uncle Bill's Corn on the Cob

• Once you've made your succulent corn on the cob, you may want to move beyond butter and salt to flavor it. Try one of these toppings that will help the vegetable complement the other dishes in your meal.

1. Monterey Jack and Parmesan cheeses make tangy and salty additions to softened butter.Martha Stewart: Corn on the Cob with Cheesy Butter
2. Add zip with butter combined with lime zest, lime juice and cilantro.Martha Stewart: Corn on the Cob with Cilantro Lime Butter
3. Marinate and baste the corn with coconut milk, honey and butter as it cooks on the grill.All Recipes: Charred Corn on the Cob
4. Add butter, chili powder, oregano, garlic powder and onion powder to create a barbecue flavoring.All Recipes: Tasty BBQ Corn on the Cob
5. Slather grilled corn with mayonnaise blended with cayenne and top with shredded cheese.Epicurious: Corn on the Cob with Cheese and Lime
6. Top corn with a mixture of mayonnaise, lemon juice, green onions and jalapeno peppers and coat it with breadcrumbs before oven roasting.Food and Wine: Crisp and Spicy Corn on the Cob
7. Give corn a sweet coating by basting it with butter mixed with orange juice concentrate, chipotle chilies and molasses.Epicurious: Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chipotle Molasses and Orange Glaze
8. Remove the silk from the corn and wrap the ear with bacon before grilling.Epicurious: Bacon-Wrapped Corn on the Cob