The Greatest Solution to Cook dinner Corn on the Cob, In response to Our Exams

As with many greens, you technically can purchase corn on the cob year-round. However the time whenever you actually ought to purchase it’s throughout its peak season from Could to September, when it’s at its sweetest, juiciest, cripsiest, and plumpest prime. Late summer time is the candy spot for just-picked corn on the cob, the final word expression of contemporary corn goodness. 

You’ll discover numerous recommendation on easy methods to finest cook dinner contemporary ears of corn, starting from the stovetop to the oven, grill, and past. To find out which strategies profit from contemporary summer time corn, I examined six alternative ways to cook dinner it. Nothing I examined was dangerous, per se, however some strategies enhanced the juicy, crisp texture and candy taste greater than others. 

A phrase about my methodology

I selected the freshest unshucked corn I may discover, which was at my favourite native Latin market. I used contemporary bicolor corn with the traits we like: moist husks, golden silks, and plump kernels from finish to finish. I used two ears of corn to check every methodology. Except the butter bathtub methodology, I handled all of the corn the identical manner: I merely brushed it with melted salted butter to permit the corn’s inherent flavors to shine.

Roasting corn within the oven

Cook dinner time: 23 minutes
Whole time: 35 minutes
Ranking: 6.5/10

Methodology: I researched roasting strategies, and the one which I noticed most frequently was to wrap shucked, butter-brushed ears individually in foil, place them on a baking sheet, and roast at 425°F for 20 to 25 minutes. I cut up the distinction and roasted them for 23 minutes. 

Outcomes: This methodology wasn’t precisely dangerous, it was simply my least favourite of the six I attempted. The cooked corn was tender however bland and total felt slightly “meh.” For that quantity of cooking time (and 12 minutes of oven preheating), I needed the corn to choose up extra taste, or perhaps slightly browning or caramelization on the floor — nevertheless it didn’t. There was no roasted high quality within the taste.

Execs: When you wrap the corn and get it into the oven, that is a straightforward, hands-off methodology that may cook dinner the ears whilst you are likely to different issues.

Cons: You’ll spend little bit of time cooking corn this manner, and the oven will warmth up your kitchen.

Cooking corn in an On the spot Pot

Cook dinner time: 2 minutes
Whole time: 10 minutes
Ranking: 7/10

Methodology: For this take a look at, I poured 1 cup of water into my On the spot Pot and positioned the trivet inside. I then organized two shucked ears onto the trivet, closed the lid, and set the cooker to cook dinner at excessive strain for two minutes. It took my cooker 8 minutes to return to strain. As soon as the cook dinner time was over, I instantly launched the strain by turning the valve to “venting.” I brushed the cooked corn with melted salted butter.

Outcomes: The corn was crisp and candy, nevertheless it was just a bit robust in comparison with the corn I cooked utilizing different strategies. 

Execs: This was the quickest methodology I examined. It’s a straightforward, stable method for cooking primary corn on the cob.

Cons: The corn’s texture suffered a bit right here. It was harder than corn cooked utilizing the opposite methods.

Boiling corn

Cook dinner time: 5 minutes
Whole time: quarter-hour
Ranking: 7/10

Methodology: I introduced salted water to a boil in a Dutch oven, then added two ears of shucked corn. I boiled the corn till it turned a deep yellow colour, which took 5 minutes. After eradicating the corn from the water, I brushed it with melted salted butter.

Outcomes: This was a stable methodology for cooking corn. The corn ended up juicy and tender, and its inherent sweetness was obvious. 

Execs: The kernels are very juicy, with a crisp pop in every chunk.

Cons: This methodology may be very primary and doesn’t add any character to the corn.

Grilling corn within the husks

Cook dinner time: 20 minutes
Whole time: 40 minutes
Ranking: 8/10

Methodology: Right here, I merely stored the corn unshucked and used certainly one of our instructed grilling methods. I heated my grill to medium-high, organized the corn on the rack, closed the lid, and cooked for 20 minutes, turning sometimes.

Outcomes: The husks have been dried and charred, and so they peeled again simply — together with the entire silks — from the cooked corn. The corn picked up a touch of nice, reedy taste from the husks and stayed very juicy.

Execs: The husks and silks come off with unbelievable ease. The corn steams contained in the husks, selecting up a touch of taste from them and remaining moist and crisp. Additionally, this methodology gained’t warmth up your kitchen.

Cons: For me, the principle level of firing up the grill is to get some taste from the fireplace. With this methodology, the corn doesn’t choose up any notes of char or smoke. That is additionally the slowest strategy to cook dinner corn on the cob that I examined.

Simmering corn in a butter bathtub

Cook dinner time: 8 minutes
Whole time: about 18 minutes
Ranking: 9/10

Methodology: For this take a look at, I used the identical directions I noticed on a number of websites. I stuffed a pot midway with water and introduced it to a boil. Then I stirred in 1 cup of complete milk, 1 stick of unsalted butter (lower into items), and 1 teaspoon of salt and simmered till the butter melted. I then added the corn and simmered it for 8 minutes.

Outcomes: I used to be delighted by the quantity of milky, buttery taste that permeated each kernel. The corn was crisp, juicy, and tender, with a light, candy taste.

Execs: The corn tastes the sweetest when cooked this manner. Granted, most bicolor corn begins off fairly candy, however if you wish to deliver out the flavour much more, this methodology is finest for you.

Cons: You’ll have a variety of cooking liquid, which features a cup of milk and a stick of butter, left over. You don’t need to waste it, although. You possibly can refrigerate it and use it later when making chowder, risotto, or pasta.

Winner: Grilling corn with out the husks

Cook dinner time: 10 minutes
Whole time: half-hour
Ranking: 10/10

Methodology: To check this methodology, I used certainly one of our instructed grilling methods: I heated my grill to excessive, sustaining a temperature of 475°F. I then brushed my shucked corn with melted salted butter, positioned it on the grill rack, closed the lid, and grilled for about 10 minutes, turning sometimes to char all sides evenly.

Outcomes: This corn was by far probably the most scrumptious of the bunch. It picked up an irresistibly strong char taste, a roasty-toasty high quality that deepened the savory notes within the corn whereas permitting its sweetness to shine by way of as effectively. I used to be slightly frightened that the kernels could be dry, however as a result of the corn was brushed with butter first, it didn’t dry out in any respect. It was amazingly juicy and crisp. And once more, the flavour was heavenly.

Execs: Brushing shucked corn with butter and grilling it provides mild char taste that enhances the candy corn taste, making it style like one of the best model of itself after which some.

Cons: You’ll have to take a position slightly time to warmth up the grill. Go forward and throw some burgers or brats on, too, to get extra bang on your buck.

Ultimate takeaways

All of those strategies produced tasty corn on the cob. Once you begin off with peak-summer goodness, you’re nearly assured outcome. If you happen to’re all the time chasing larger and bolder taste, grilling shucked corn is the proper alternative for you, because it delivers slightly char. If you happen to take pleasure in easy candy corn goodness, you’ll get one of the best outcomes from the butter bathtub method — however you really can’t go fallacious with any of them.