How to Boil Corn on the Cob Perfectly - Too Easy for a Recipe!

8th May 2008

How to Boil Corn on the Cob Perfectly - Too Easy for a Recipe!

posted in Joyful Abode Shop, Recipes, Illustrations, Food, How-To |

If there’s one thing that says “summer” to me, it might just be corn on the cob. When my family visited my grandmother in Michigan every summer, “Doo-Dah” would bring us corn on the cob for the requisite family cookout. My dozens of cousins and second cousins (well, close to dozens) and I sat in the yard, shucking the corn and taking off as much of the silk as we could, happily anticipating the feast ahead.

A few short hours later would find us happily munching the kernels off of the cobs, which we had buttered and sprinkled with salt. Delightful!

My father taught me how to eat the corn neatly so it wouldn’t get stuck in your teeth, by popping the kernels off one row at a time using your bottom teeth, rather than digging in with a CHOMP! It works, and has the added benefit of a typewriter joke. Finish the line of corn, say “Ding!” and start over. Well, that’s what my dad does anyway.

He also taught me the delights of eating leftover corn, still cold from the fridge, with a sprinkle of salt. It’s one of my favorite summertime treats to eat corn this way, so I usually get extras so I can intentionally have leftovers.

corn on the cob boiled perfectly

Unfortunately, when I moved out on my own, I discovered that I wasn’t actually sure about the right way to cook corn on the cob. I tried microwaving it, boiling it endlessly, seasoning the water with a variety of things… but nothing was ever quite right.

So after reading about a dozen “recipes” and formulas for corn on the cob, the guy and I settled on this method (which is a conglomeration of a couple different ones), which turned out to be a happy discovery. THIS is how corn on the cob shoud be!*

Fill your pot with water.
Add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of sugar.
Drop in your corn.
Bring everything to a boil, making sure the sugar is dissolved in the water.
Boil for no longer than 8 minutes.
Remove from the water and let it cool enough for handling and eating.
Handle it and eat it.

It was perfect! Well, almost perfect. It was early-season corn and not the best I’ve ever had, but it was delicious and cooked properly! With just a smear of butter and a few shakes of salt, it was delicious with our dinner of tomato pie.

And I had my 2 ears of leftover corn reserved in the fridge for later, when I enjoyed them cold, and sprinkled with salt.

Now that you’ve got such an easy delicious recipe for corn on the cob, don’t forget it! Write it down on one of my illustrated recipe cards!

*Unless it’s grilled, which is equally as delicious, and always a special treat. I LOVE grilled corn on the cob.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 8th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under Joyful Abode Shop, Recipes, Illustrations, Food, How-To. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On May 8th, 2008, Helena said:

My favorite way to eat corn is grilled the way a college buddy of mine from Puerto Rico used to do it. Mix up some mayo and hot sauce (lots of hot sauce) and coat the corn with it. Grill until corn is done and all the sauce has browned–you don’t want any goopy bits on it. Before you take a bite, run a slice of fresh lime over it. Yum.

posted on May 8th, 2008 at 7:15 am

2 On May 8th, 2008, Liz said:

I really like the recipes that you have shared here. The corn & tomato pie sound like a really good dinner. Do you add any kind of meat dish to it or is the dinner a vege thing? I think corn & tomato pie will be on next week’s menu.

posted on May 8th, 2008 at 7:27 am

3 On May 8th, 2008, Joyful Abode said:

Helena, that sounds amazing! Does your friend wrap it in tin foil or just throw it on directly?

Liz, thanks so much! I didn’t serve any meat, but I guess you could! Maybe a grilled chicken breast or some homemade chicken salad would be a good match. Something not too heavy.

posted on May 8th, 2008 at 7:37 am

4 On May 8th, 2008, Kathi D said:

Mmmmmmm, you have SO put me in the mood for corn and tomatoes! I have never had it cold out of the fridge (except in corn salsa or salad, etc.) but I’ll try it.

We have cooked it all kinds of ways, and my favorite is grilled. A few years ago a friend grilled it for us, just tossed on the grill (already shucked) until done, and it was great. I always assumed it needed to be in the shuck, or in foil, or buttered or marinated or something. But the easiest way turned out to be our favorite.

posted on May 8th, 2008 at 11:50 pm

5 On May 9th, 2008, fourthmonth said:

My mom always puts sugar and milk in her corn water, mmmm. Everyone thinks I’m crazy when I suggest throwing in sugar so thanks for the corroboration.

posted on May 9th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

6 On May 10th, 2008, PamperingBeki said:

That sounds yummy and I love your pictures!

At some point I’d love to hear your ‘recipe’ for grilled corn too because there are just so many versions of that.

posted on May 10th, 2008 at 10:38 am

7 On May 11th, 2008, MonsterBug Blankets said:

Hey Joyful,

I boil my corn with a bit of milk in the water–it brings out the sweetness. I use maybe 1/4 cup, if that (I just dump some in). And I add salt to the water–so I’m not adding too much to the cob at the table. Turns out so yummy!

Jennifer

posted on May 11th, 2008 at 5:50 am

8 On May 13th, 2008, EmmaH said:

I know you’re super busy at the moment, but I tried your corn “method” last night. Yum! Thank you for making my tummy happy

posted on May 13th, 2008 at 9:06 am

9 On June 14th, 2008, Joe Seabstian said:

A ground misture of mont leaves,a hint of green chilli,green coriander leaves,salt and lime juice -all mixed and ground in the misxy,and brushed over the boiled corn gives a wonderful taste to it. You must adjust the green chilli as per your taste bud permits. In India, this type of eating corn is very famous.

posted on June 14th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

10 On July 14th, 2008, Amy Kemper said:

I tried this yesterday for a birthday party cookout. I made about 20 ears, after boiling I put the ears into my Nesco roaster on warm. This was scrumptious!!!! Thank you so much for sharing! Wonderful technique!

posted on July 14th, 2008 at 9:27 am