The Best and Easiest Way to Grill Corn on the Cob

Inside: The best way to grill corn on the cob couldn’t be easier! How to strip, season, wrap, and grill till it’s juicy, crisp, and sweet making the ideal summer side dish. ➡

Don’t you love a side dish that’s sweet?

And buttery?

And hello—it’s also a vegetable??

A side that requires no high-level cooking skills. And that you don’t have to turn the oven on to make. Just in case you still have a kernel of doubt😉, it’s also a fun way to eat your vegetables because—it has handles.

And once you’ve experienced how easy and delectable sweet summer corn off the grill is, it’s the only way you’ll ever want to cook it.

What kind of corn should I buy?

You’ll want to buy fresh sweet corn, which is usually the only kind in the grocery store produce area. The key to the best grilled corn is all about the freshest corn.

The farmers market is a great source for the freshest ears, but your local market should also offer fresh corn cobs throughout the summer months.

How do I tell if the corn is fresh?

Because the store frowns on husking the corn in the store to inspect the kernels, look for tight green husks and brownish, slightly sticky tassels (the hairy part at the end). Avoid dry husks and blackening tassels. It usually means the corn is getting past its prime.

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Ingredients for the best grilled corn.

Fresh corn cobs
Unsalted butter
Salt & black pepper (or other seasonings to switch it up)
Aluminum foil

Tip: If you need to save some time, produce departments often carry pre-shucked and cleaned corn.

How to grill corn the easy foolproof way.

The first step is to fire up a gas grill or charcoal grill to medium heat. Clean the grill grates of any burning old food with a grill brush.
Tear off enough sheets of foil to wrap each ear of corn in.
Remove the husks and silks from the corn.
Place the corn cob centered on the foil sheet.
Rub a pat of butter all over the corn. Lay the remainder of the pat on top.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and/or any other seasonings of your choice.
Roll the foil loosely and fold the ends.

Corn cob prepped for grilling with butter and salt and pepper

How long do you cook corn on the grill?

Place the foil packets with the corn on the hot grill grates and close the lid. Cook for 20-30 minutes, turning 2 or 3 times. We usually cook it at the same time as we are grilling our meat.

Unwrap and serve as is, or with more butter and some corn holders. The finished corn may have a few char marks depending on how hot the grates are and how long it sits on one side.

Different methods to grill corn on the cob.

I believe the easiest grilled corn on the cob recipe is wrapping the cobs in foil for a few reasons:

It traps the moisture in and steams the corn, leaving it wonderfully crisp and juicy.
It makes for neater grilling with less flaming.
And you don’t have to deal with removing the husks and silks while the corn is hot and ready to eat.

But here are the two other ways to roast that corn on the grill:

Cook it in the corn husks. Place the ears still in the husks directly on the grill grates. Cook until the husks are evenly blackened, about 20 minutes. Let it cool enough to hold, and remove the husks and the silks.
Roast it directly on the grill. Up the smoky flavor by grilling the cobs directly on the grates sans tin foil or husks. For the grillmaster culinary artist, this makes a more showy presentation with the telling grill marks on the kernels. Place the naked corn cobs on the grates and cook for about 10 minutes, rotating often to evenly char the corn, and closing the lid in between. Brushing the corn first with a high smoke point oil is optional. (If using olive oil, extra virgin is not stable for high heat)

Different flavor options for grilled corn.

Switch up your corn recipe with different seasonings and toppings! Try some of these:

Cajun seasoning
Garlic powder
Garlic salt
Chili powder
Parmesan cheese, blue cheese, goat cheese, feta cheese, or Cotija cheese
Lime juice
Bacon crumbles
Fresh herbs

Or mash some spices and herbs into a homemade herb butter to serve tableside!

How do you roast corn if you don’t have an outdoor grill?

Try roasting it in a grill pan. Or if you don’t have one, you can either broil it or bake it in the oven, wrapped in foil.

How do I remove those stubborn silks from the corn?

After I’ve removed most of the silks by hand, I rub the corn down with a clean toothbrush. It’s quick and gets the cobs mostly silk free.

How do I store fresh corn?

Ideally you would buy the ears of corn the day you want to grill them. Corn loses sweetness and juiciness the older it gets. But if you buy ahead of time, you can store it in the fridge for up to 5 days in the husks.

Can I freeze grilled corn?

If you have leftovers, they don’t have to go to waste. You can store it in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Or, since the corn out of season is never as good, try freezing it. Cut the kernels off and store in an airtight container, heavy-duty freezer bag, or freezer wrap. It should last 10 to 12 months.

What to serve with corn.

Corn on the cob is the perfect side dish for:

Barbeque
Steaks
Hamburgers
Pork chops
Grilled chicken
Hot Dogs

Or alongside:

Baked Beans
Potato Salad
Coleslaw
Baked potatoes
Any green vegetable or root vegetable
Mac and cheese
Fruit

Or carve it off the cob to use in Mexican street corn or a corn salad!😋

Looking for another delicious side with corn for a get together? Check out this recipe for Creamy Jalapeno Corn Casserole.

Did I mention in addition to corn being the ideal delicious summer vegetable that’s fun to eat, that it’s adorable too? Those shiny yellow rows of kernels with the mini-me corn cob handles are just begging to be eaten like a typewriter on turbo.

So let’s “pop” that corn on the grill this weekend!

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The Best and Easiest Way to Grill Corn on the Cob