Grilled Corn on the Cob
on Jun 17, 2022, Updated Jun 25, 2024
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Cooking corn on the grill is one of the best ways possible to bring out the natural sweetness of this perfect seasonal vegetable.
Grilled corn is one the greatest summertime pleasures ever, and it’s so freaking easy to make. All you have to do is shuck the corn and put it right on the hot grill. Turn it as it browns on the bottom until all of the kernels have a little bit of caramelization. Maybe brush on some warm butter. That’s it!
No one can pass up an ear of fresh grilled corn piled high on a platter. These will make every cookout so much better! And please make extra ears because then you can make Grilled Corn Salad or even Corn and Zucchini Fritters! While you’re in the summer grilling mood, you might also try Mexican Grilled Street Corn.
Table of Contents
Cooking corn on the grill is one of the best ways possible to bring out the natural sweetness of this perfect seasonal vegetable.
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How to Grill Corn
- Shuck: Shuck all of the corn husks and silks from the ear of corn, leaving the gorgeous yellow kernels. Meanwhile, preheat the grill.
- Grill: Place on the hot grill and let it cook for about 15 minutes, turning occasionally, to get juicy kernels and great char in spots.
- Serve: While hot, slather on some butter if desired and serve.
How to Butter An Ear of Corn
Beyond spreading it with a knife, there are two other ways I like to butter corn.
This first hack, like many other kitchen tricks, I learned from my mom. Place a pat of softened butter on a square of bread. Use the bread as a butter spreader to smear the soft butter over surface. If the corn is still hot, this works best, as the heat of the corn will quickly melt the butter. And then…eat the bread! If you’ve used unsalted butter you may also want to give the ear of corn a sprinkle of salt.
Another way to butter an ear of corn is to take a quart mason jar and fill it 3/4 of the way up with water. Add melted butter to fill it almost to the top. At first, the butter and water will combine, but then the butter will rise to the top.
When an ear of corn is dipped into the jar, as you pull it out, the melted butter will lightly coat the whole ear of corn. You can add more butter as needed and also more water to keep the jar full. Let the butter run out, and then discard the water. This prevents a lot of butter waste and is an easy way to butter corn for a crowd.
Variation: Flavored Butters for Grilled Corn
Flavored butter (or compound butter) turns an ear of grilled corn into a different kind of magical. Try:
FAQs
My short answer: Yes. Husk your corn and grill it with the kernels exposed to the hot grates, and you will get perfect grilled corn every time with a bit of lovely caramelization and a lot of sweetness. And, once the corn is husked, it just goes right on the bbq without any adornment and, in minutes, is ready to eat.
My favorite way to grill corn is to simply shuck it and grill it over medium-high heat, turning it every few minutes to brown evenly. When the natural sweetness of fresh-picked corn hits the hot grill grate, the kernels caramelize in spots, resulting in the best texture and flavor.
However, there are a lot of recipes and methods for grilling corn. Some grill jockeys suggest keeping the husks on. Some painstaking recipes suggest peeling back the husks, and then removing the silky threads, then replacing the husks and tying them back over the corn, then grilling the corn. Sometimes you might see directions for the husks to be soaked in water and then used to rewrap the corn. I think these methods all sound like a pain in the ass, so I just husk and grill.
What to Serve With Grilled Corn
More Grilled Vegetable Recipes
- Grilled Artichokes with Lemon Sauce
- Grilled Asparagus with Vinaigrette
- Grilled Bell Peppers
- Grilled Vegetable Skewers
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Grilled Corn on the Cob
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 ears fresh corn
- 2 tbsp softened unsalted butter (approximately; or see other ideas for flavored butters, above)
- Kosher salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Remove the corn husks and silks and heat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Place the corn on the grill and cook, turning every 3 to 5 minutes, until all sides of the corn are cooked and light char marks form, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from the grill and serve with softened butter.
We had this grilled corn for Sunday dinner. It perfectly complimented your grilled chicken thighs
Love this advice and guidance on grilling corn! And using bread to butter the corn! Awesome!
Giving this a go on the 4th!