Tillie Doyle
Corn on the cob is a delicious treat, but the process of shucking corn can be messy and tedious. One solution to this problem is to cook the corn in its husk. This can be done in a variety of ways, including boiling, grilling, baking, or using an Instant Pot or microwave. Boiling corn in the husk involves submerging the corn in a pot of boiling water for 3-10 minutes, while grilling, baking, and using an Instant Pot or microwave are faster methods that take around 15 minutes or less. Regardless of the method chosen, cooking corn in its husk results in optimal sweetness and an easy mess-free peel.
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What You'll Learn
Cooking corn in the oven
To cook corn in the oven, first preheat your oven to 350-400°F. Some sources recommend a higher temperature of 400°F, while others suggest a lower temperature of 350°F. If you're cooking at a higher temperature, be careful not to burn the corn.
Next, prepare the corn. Pull off any loose husk leaves and black dried silk at the top of the corn. This will help reduce the risk of burning. Using kitchen scissors, trim the tip of the corn husk and any other loose parts of the husk that may burn in the oven.
With the corn still in the husk, place the cobs directly on the oven rack. Cook the corn for 25-35 minutes, depending on the oven temperature. The corn is done when the husk's colour has changed from bright green to light green with slight browning, and the corn kernels are bright yellow and plump. Be careful when handling the corn after removing it from the oven, as the husk will be very warm.
Let the corn cool for about 15 minutes, then wrap a kitchen towel around the base of a corn cob to protect your hands from the heat. Pull back the husks and silks at the same time, they should come off easily. Finally, serve the corn with butter, salt, and pepper to taste. You can also get adventurous with other seasonings, such as garlic butter, hot honey, or chili powder.
This method of cooking corn in the oven is extremely fail-proof and results in optimal sweetness and a unique flavour. It's also mess-free, with no cleanup required since you can roast the corn directly on the oven rack.
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Boiling corn in a pot
Preparation
Before boiling corn in a pot, you must first decide whether to keep the husk on or remove it. Some people prefer to remove the husk and silk before boiling the corn, while others choose to keep the husk on for convenience and easier peeling after cooking. If you choose to remove the husk, simply pull it off after cutting off the very bottom of the corn. If you decide to keep the husk on, you can soak the corn in water for 20 minutes to prevent the husk from burning during cooking and to aid in cooking.
Boiling Process
To boil corn in a pot, start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. The pot should be large enough to fully submerge the desired number of corn cobs. Once the water is boiling, carefully add the corn cobs, ensuring they are completely submerged. Cook the corn uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the kernels are tender and golden. If you are boiling corn with the husk on, the cooking time may be longer, around 10 minutes.
Serving
After boiling, remove the corn from the pot and transfer it to a serving platter. You can serve boiled corn on or off the cob, with various toppings such as butter, salt, pepper, compound butter, chipotle sauce, vegan ranch, fresh herbs, or spices like smoked paprika or chili powder.
Instant Pot Method
If you have an Instant Pot, you can cook corn in the husk in just 3 minutes. Simply cut off the bottom of the ear of corn, tuck the ears into the Instant Pot with water, and follow the instructions for cooking corn in the husk. The Instant Pot method is convenient and results in perfectly cooked corn without the mess of husking and removing corn silk.
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Cooking corn in an instant pot
Picking the Corn
Start by picking the right corn. The husk should be bright green, damp, and fit snugly around the ear of corn. The kernels should be in tight rows, right to the tip of the ear, and look plump and milky. Avoid corn with dry, wrinkly, or dimpled kernels—these are old.
Preparation
Rinse the corn under cool running water to remove any visible dirt. You may want to remove the first layer of the husk and trim both ends of the corn so that they fit easily in the Instant Pot. If you want to avoid the hassle of peeling back the husk after cooking, you can shuck the corn and remove the husks and silk before cooking.
Cooking
Place a trivet or steamer basket at the bottom of the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. You can also add milk, butter, and a sweetener to enhance the flavor of the corn. Add two cobs side by side and place the other cobs on top in the opposite direction. Cover with the lid and close the vent.
Push the manual button and cook for 1-3 minutes for tender corn. If you like your corn slightly crunchier, reduce the cooking time by a minute or two. If you prefer softer kernels, increase the cooking time by a minute or two. For unshucked corn, you may need to cook for up to 4 minutes.
Once the corn is cooked, remove it from the pot with tongs and let it cool before removing the husk and silk. You can then wrap the corn in foil to keep it warm. Serve with butter and salt, or other toppings as desired.
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Grilling corn
If you want to grill corn with the husk, there are a few things you should do to prepare the corn. First, you should remove the outermost layer of the husk, as this may be contaminated with dirt or pesticide residue. Then, cut off the stem end, as it is usually too long. You can also remove any extra "leaves" of husk. Next, soak the corn in water for around 20 minutes. This will prevent the husk from burning too quickly and will also help to cook the corn. Finally, you can place the corn directly on the grill. Grill the corn for around 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the husk is moderately browned to slightly charred.
If you want to grill corn without the husk, you can simply place the corn directly on the grill. However, without the protection of the husk, you will need to be careful not to burn the corn. One way to prevent burning is to brush the corn with oil before placing it on the grill. Grill the corn for a few minutes on each side, until it is tender and golden.
Seasoning
Once you have grilled your corn, you can season it with butter, salt, and pepper, or any other seasonings you like. You can also try drizzling it with a sauce, such as chipotle sauce or vegan ranch, or sprinkling it with fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, or chives.
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Cooking corn in the microwave
To cook corn in the microwave, you can leave the husk on, which makes things a lot less messy. The husk also adds to the taste experience, as the corn steams in its own juices and absorbs flavour from the husks, resulting in a wonderful, undiluted corn taste. The husks trap the vegetable's natural moisture, keeping the corn nice and sweet, and the silk slips off easily after being zapped.
- Rinse the corn in the husk under water briefly.
- Wrap the corn with a damp paper towel.
- Place the corn on a microwave-safe plate or the built-in dish.
- Microwave on full power for 3-5 minutes for one cob, depending on the size. Larger cobs may take up to 4 minutes.
- For two cobs, microwave for 5.5-6 minutes.
- For three or four cobs, the general rule of thumb is to add 2 minutes of cooking time per additional ear of corn, so microwave for 7-8 minutes.
- Remove from the microwave and let rest for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove the husk and silk, which should come off easily.
- Enjoy the corn as it is, or season with butter, salt and pepper.
You can also use the microwave to quickly shuck corn. Microwave the corn for just a minute or so, until the husks and silks come off easily, then finish cooking the ears on the grill.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to cook corn in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
You can soak the corn in water for 20 minutes before placing it in the oven to prevent the husk from burning.
Depending on the source, it is recommended to boil corn for 3-10 minutes.
Cooking corn in the husk helps to retain moisture and protect the kernels from burning. It also makes the corn easier to peel and results in optimal sweetness.
The stem of the corn will have a bit of give/wiggle to it when it is done cooking. The husk will also be moderately browned to slightly charred.
