Secret to Making the Perfect Corn on The Cob
I’m not sure who shared this tip with me but I’ve been making the perfect sweet corn on the cob for over 40 years.
The secret is to not boil the corn to death and add sugar to your water. That’s right sugar not salt brings out the sweet taste of the corn.
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The Right Pot
You need to fill a pot that is large enough for all of your corn to be submerged in water.
I use my pasta pot because I can put the corn in the basket, submerge it and then lift it right out.
The Secret Ingredient
To the water I add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar and stir with a wooden spoon. Most people add salt but I’ve found that the sugar brings out the sweetness of the corn. You can add salt after you put on your butter.
How Long to Boil Corn on the Cob
You only put the corn into the boiling water for 3 minutes. This heats the corn and keeps the fresh crisp taste intact.
Just like vegetables, boiling too long causes them to be mushy and lose their delicious flavor.
Perfect Sweet Corn on the Cob
Ingredients
- 12 cups water
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 4 ears sweet corn
Instructions
- Shuck the corn (remove the husk and the silk from the corn)
- Add water to your pot and stir in the sugar
- Bring water to a boil
- Submerge your corn in the water for 3 minutes
Nutrition
Corn on the Cob
Living in the Midwest, we get the freshest corn from our local farmers market from late July until the fall. We even have local corn in our grocery stores.
There is a saying about corn in the Midwest. “Knee high by the 4th of July”. That’s a predictor of a successful crop for local farmers. When I was driving to Texas on June 6th the corn was about 12 inches high. On the way home on June 16th it was knee high. So this year our corn seems to be ahead of schedule.
A Cookout Tradition
No cookout is complete without corn on the cob. Sweet corn is the perfect side with many summer meals. Here are. some main dish ideas:
- Hamburgers
- Brats
- Ribs
- Fried Chicken
- Skewers
- Hotdogs
- Italian Sausage
- BBQ Chicken
- Pulled Pork
- Brisket
Other Cookout Side Dishes
- Cucumber Salad
- Potato Salad
- Coleslaw
- Grilled Romaine
- Grilled Veggies
- Macaroni Salad
- Seafood Salad
- Baked Beans
Summer Fun
Somehow eating outside just makes the food taste better. When you live in a small house like we do, the summertime is a great time to entertain more people as we can use our outdoor living space.
Lots of memories are made outside in the summer!
Enjoy,
Meet Me
Created by Lynn Vogeler, Small House Kitchen is a celebration of the joy found in mostly from-scratch cooking and the magic that happens when great ingredients meet limitless imagination. In our small house, we turn simple ingredients into extraordinary meals with big flavors.
You can find out about all of my other passions; decorating, entertaining, organizing, and gardening over at livinglargeinasmallhouse.com
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Corn on the cob is my favorite, I am going to try this. I have a great idea, lets take a road trip through Iowa and get some corn!
It’s just about ready for pickin’ in Iowa.