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4 ears of boiled corn on the cob laying on a white oval platter on a woven placemat.

How to Boil Corn on the Cob

mylifeinbalancegroup.com/how-long-boil-corn/
Once you know how to boil corn on the cob, you'll never want to prepare this sweet summer veggie any other way!
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 10 minutes
Total 25 minutes
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 4 ears of corn

Equipment

  • Large pot with lid
  • Tongs
  • Large plate
  • Basting Brush optional

Ingredients

For the Corn

  • cold water (enough to fill pot)
  • 4 6-inch ears fresh corn on the cob (shucked)

Serving Suggestions (All Optional)

  • melted butter (or compound butter)
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Fill large pot with cold water, leaving enough room in pot to add ears of corn without overflowing. Place pot of unsalted water on stovetop over medium-high heat. Cover pot with lid and bring water to boil.
  • Once water begins to boil rapidly, remove lid and carefully place 4 6-inch ears fresh corn on the cob in boiling water. Recover pot with lid.
  • Boil corn 3 to 5 minutes, until corn is bright, rich yellow.
  • When desired color is achieved, carefully transfer corn from pot to large plate. If desired, brush ears of corn with melted butter and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

  • Salting the water can make the corn kernels tough or hard. It's better to boil the corn in unsalted water, then add salt for flavor after.
  • Depending on the type of corn you're using, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar to the water before adding the corn. Adding sugar to the water can elevate the natural sweetness of the corn. It's not necessary for some types of corn, though, like sweetcorn.
  • Overcooked corn can become gummy, mushy, or chewy, and can lose a lot of flavor.
  • Corn: For the best results and the fastest cook time, use fresh corn that's been picked very recently. The sugars in corn turn to starches over time, meaning older ears of corn can be more firm and may need longer to cook. Depending on the age of the corn, the ears may need to boil as long as 10-12 minutes.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Serving Size: 1 ear of cornCalories: 77calProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.3gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 14mgPotassium: 243mgTotal Carbs: 17gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gNet Carbs: 15gVitamin A: 168IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.5mg
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://mylifeinbalancegroup.com/how-long-boil-corn/