Every time I see people fret over making corn on the cob, I feel compelled to share this Simple Sweet Corn Recipe. I don't recall where I first saw the method of not boiling corn on the cob, but I have been doing it for years and it makes for the easiest side dish. In this recipe, I share adding sugar and lemon juice to the water too. This helps to bring out the natural sweetness of the corn and keep it crisp and juicy!!
Ingredients
- Corn on The Cob
- White Granulated Sugar
- Lemon Juice (or white, apple cider or other mild-tasting vinegar)
Steps
- Remove the corn husk
- Boil the Water
- Add Lemon Juice and Sugar
- Turn Off the Heat, Add Corn
- Cover
- Serve (with butter and more salt)
How to Remove the Husk of a Corn (How to Shuck Corn)
Grab the leaves and pull them down so you can see the first few rows of kernels. Hold the cob in one hand and then take the silk tassel and leaves in your other hand and pull them down to the base. If your corn is fresh you should be able to do this all at once but if it's been out of the garden or field for a while you might have to do this in sections. The final step is to simply pull the leaves and silk off the base of the cob. Some silk might still cling to the ear, pull it off If you have some stubborn silk you can rub a clean microfiber cloth or a produce brush over the cob to easily remove it.
How to Keep Boiled Corn on the Cob from becoming mushy:
If your corn is mushy it can be from a few things: not fresh corn, running it under water after cooking, overcooking it, or cooking it at too high of a temperature. Follow this recipe and you will have crisp juicy corn 🙂
Why isn't my sweet corn sweet?
The sweetness of corn can vary based on variety and the maturity of the corn when it's picked. This is often out of our control when we buy corn from the store. You can help maintain sweetness by:
- refrigerating the corn after buying it and before cooking it.
- Not overcooking it
- Adding the Acid and Sugar to the Water
How long to cook Corn on the Cob?
You do not need to cook corn on the cob for a long time. A lot of recipes tell you to boil it for 20+ minutes but that will create bland mushy corn. Simply let it steep in this water for at least ten minutes and you will have perfect corn every time.
What to serve Sweet Corn With:
- Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
- Pork Chops
- Steak
How to make Sweet Corn for a Crowd:
Place the corn in a large food-safe container such as a roaster or cooler etc. Boil the water in an electric kettle pour the water over the corn and add the sugar and acid. Cover until ready to serve. EASY PEASY!
Other Great Recipes:
Simple Sweet Corn
Ingredients
- 4-8 Cobs of Corn Husk Removed
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice or vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons White Granulated Sugar
Instructions
- Fill your pot of water ¾ full, Bring to a boil.
- Shuck the Corn and remove all silk. Trim the ends to ensure the cob will fit in the pot you are using.
- Add Lemon juice and sugar to boiling water
- Turn the heat off on the burner your water is on. Add the prepared Cobs of Corn to the pot. Cover and let sit for atleast 10 minutes. I have let mine sit for up to 30 minutes and it is just as perfect as it is at 10 minutes!
- When ready to serve, remove from the water and add butter and salt to each cob.
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