How Long to Boil Corn on the Cob

With the start of summer, corn on the cob floods the market. The green leaves and yellow kernels are indeed very inviting. When you buy corn, make it a point to buy fresh corn. The test of fresh corn is that the husk is bright green in color and it fits snugly around the ear of the corn. The kernels of the corn should be tight right to the tip of the ear of corn. You may want to pop out one of the kernels and check, if it is plump and milky. It is commonly observed, that a lot of people peel off the husk, at the grocery store itself. However, it is not recommended that you peel husk before you cook it. Peel it only when you are going to cook the corn. There are a lot of corn recipes but the most popular one by far is simple boiled corn on the cob. A lot of people wonder about how to cook corn on the cob. There are several ways of cooking corn. You can boil the corn on cob, steam it or even try grilling corn on the cob. A lot of people prefer boiled corn over steamed or roasted corn. However, when you are boiling corn, a lot of people are at a loss on how long to boil corn on the cob. In this article, we will know more about corn on the cob cooking time using different methods.

How Long Should You Boil Corn on the Cob?

There are several ways in which you can boil corn on the cob. You can microwave corn on the cob, you can boil it on the stove top, either using cold water to start off or in boiling water, or steam the corn over boiling water. Before you boil corn on the cob, you will have to peel off the husk from the corn. Remove the husk and also the silky hair on the corn completely. If you find it very difficult to remove the hair, then you can use a vegetable brush or damp cloth for the same. At the end, you will have to break off the stalk at the bottom.

How Long to Boil Corn on the Cob Starting Off With Cold Water?

• The first step is to find a pot which is large enough to hold all the corn you will be cooking.
• Pour water into the pot and let it begin heating up.
• In the mean time, remove the husk and silky hair from the corn. If you are not able to remove the stubborn silk hair, then you can use a damp cloth.
• When the water comes to a boil, throw in the corn and cover with a lid.
• The amount of time required to let your corn boil will range from 1-10 minutes depending on how soft you want your corn and how young the kernels are. If you like it very soft, then you can let it boil for 10 minutes.
• When you are removing the corn from water, use tongs, so that you do not burn your hands.
• Now that the corn on the cob is cooked, dress it with the dressing of your choice. I prefer a salt and pepper dressing with a dash of butter.

How Long to Boil Corn on the Cob Starting Off With Boiling Water?

• Fill a large pot half way with cold water but not more than that, else the water will overflow, when you add corn to it.
• Bring the water to boil before you can add corn to it.
• Reduce the heat to low and carefully drop each corn into the pot, so that the water does not spill out of the pot.
• Cover the pot with a lid and let the water to come to a boil.
• Since you are using boiling water, you will have to boil the corn for not more than 5 - 7 minutes.

How Long to Boil Corn on the Cob in the Microwave?

• Remove the husk from the corn and then place it in a microwave safe dish. Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to the dish.
• Use a plastic wrap to cover the dish but make sure you leave an opening, like a steam vent in the corner, to let the steam escape.
• Switch on the microwave and let the corn steam on high for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on the type of corn.
• Carefully remove the plastic wrap from the corn, as there will be a lot of very hot steam. Hence, you should use a pair of tongs to remove the plastic wrap.
• Dress the corn with butter, salt and pepper and it is ready to eat!

If you want to try out a different way of cooking corn on the cob, then you can give grilled corn on the cob in the husk a try. After reading on how long to boil corn on the cob, do you want to know about corn on the cob calories? Well, it has 155 calories per serving. It is low in cholesterol and has just 6 mg of cholesterol. It is high in fiber, hence makes for a great and healthy snack, that too, one that is easy to make!