It’s corn season, and I’ve had a hankering for some great corn on the cob. You know the corn I’m talking about—golden and plump kernels with some irresistible, caramelized grill marks.
Slathered with real butter and sprinkled with salt, there’s not much better.
Last summer, our family and friends gifted us a gas grill for our wedding. Now that I finally have access to one, I’ve had fun learning how to use it.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve tried all the corn grilling methods out there and come up with my own. This recipe yields perfect grilled corn on the cob, every time!
Corn Grilling Techniques & My Test Results
While the corn was edible with any of these methods, I knew it could be better. Some other methods entail soaking the corn in water or salt water, which is truly unnecessary if you’re using fresh corn.
- Grilled with the husks on: This technique yields steamed corn on the cob, with no char marks or real “grilled” flavor (at least, not on my gas grill).
- Grilled after shucking: This technique yields some nice caramelized kernels when the heat is cranked up high enough. However, by the time the kernels were warmed through and golden yellow, they were also dried out and chewy.
- Grilled after partially shucking: Some methods suggest pulling back just a few leaves before grilling in order to achieve some grill marks. This never really worked for me, because husks tend to unravel when you start messing with them.
- Grilled after removing the silks and then recovering with the husks: This was tricky to do. The husks burned before the corn was sufficiently cooked. The tops were nicely charred, but once again, the corn wasn’t as juicy and tender as it could be.
How to Grill the Best Corn on the Cob
After testing grilled corn every which way, I came up a hybrid technique that is easy and foolproof. You’ll find the full recipe below, but here’s a summary:
1) Grill the corn with the husks on for 15 minutes.
The husks provide the perfect steaming environment, yielding golden, juicy, plump kernels.
2) Shuck the corn.
Bonus? It’s easier to remove the husks and the silks after cooking the corn, rather than before.
3) Crank up the heat and grill for 5 more minutes.
This step helps us achieve some caramelized bits that offer extra-sweet, condensed corn flavor. So delicious!
Grilled Corn Tips & Tricks
- Buy the best corn you can find and cook it as soon as possible. The fresher your corn, the more hydrated the kernels will be, and the sweeter the corn will taste. That’s because the naturally-occurring sugars in corn convert to starch over time.
- Before grilling, trim off the “tassels” (the silks hanging off the end of the cob) and any bits of husk that are jutting away from the cob. Otherwise, those parts can catch fire in the grill.
- Let the corn cool enough to handle before you shuck it. Ouch! To be extra safe, wrap a clean tea towel around the base and pull off the husk and silks with your other hand. Then, use the towel to wipe off any stubborn pieces of silk.
- Keep a paper grocery bag handy to contain all of the husks and silks. The shucking process goes by quickly when you have help, so put your people to work!
- Pull the husks all the way off the cobs, rather than just down around the base. Keeping the husks on can look cute and rustic, but the corn takes up more space on the grill this way and becomes more difficult to turn. Plus, the husks are liable to burn before the corn is done.
More Fresh Corn Recipes to Enjoy
- Elote (Mexican Street Corn)
- Fresh Corn Salsa
- Garden-Fresh Corn Salad
- Southwestern Corn Chowder
- Vegetarian Succotash
Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Author:
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: As desired
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Learn how to grill the BEST corn on the cob! With this recipe, you’ll achieve perfectly tender and flavorful corn with just the right amount of char. Make as much grilled corn as you’d like, leaving a couple of inches around each cob (my grill can fit up to 8 at once).
Ingredients
- Corn on the cob (the fresher, the better)
- For serving: Butter and salt, or other desired toppings
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (ideally about 400 degrees Fahrenheit). You’ll know it’s ready when you can hold your hand about 4 to 5 inches above the grates for just 4 to 5 seconds without needing to pull back—obviously be careful doing this!
- Using a pair of scissors, trim off the silks at the end of each cob, and trim away any leaves that are jutting sideways off the husk. Otherwise, they may catch fire in the grill.
- When the grill is sufficiently heated, use tongs to place each ear of corn on the grill, running in the direction of the grates so they don’t roll around. Leave a couple of inches around each one.
- Close the grill. Cook for 15 minutes. Use tongs to rotate the corn by about one-third turn every 5 minutes before closing the grill again. Transfer the hot corn to a large serving platter.
- Turn the grill to high heat (ideally about 500 degrees Fahrenheit, or hot enough that you can only hold your hands above the grates for 1 to 2 seconds). In the meantime, let the corn cool until it’s safe to handle, about 5 minutes. Remove all of the husks and the silks from the cobs and discard those pieces (if the corn is still quite warm, wrap a clean tea towel around the base of the cob as you work).
- Using tongs, place the corn cobs back on the grill. Close the grill and cook for about 5 minutes, rotating the corn halfway to achieve some grill marks on each side. Remove the corn from the grill, slather with butter and sprinkle with salt (or use toppings of your choice), and serve.
Notes
Change it up: If you prefer steamed corn on the cob without grill marks, you can grill the corn as instructed through step 4, but rotate the corn by a quarter turn each time and add an extra 5 minutes cooking time (total of 20 minutes).
Make it dairy free/vegan: Choose a vegan butter, such as Miyoko’s Creamery, or get creative with your toppings. I think Cilantro Hemp Pesto would be nice.
Recommended equipment: We have the Weber Spirit II E-310 Grill (affiliate link) and love it.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Marco
You should soak the corn in water with the husks on for 30 mins to help steam the corn while grilling.
Kate
I’m glad that has worked well for you, Marco! Thanks for sharing.
Bob D
What a great idea! Never thought of doing it that way. This will be the perfect way to grill corn for Mexican street corn. Yum!
★★★★★
Kate
I hope you love it, Bob! Thank you for your review.
Susan
We shuck the corn and wrap in a single layer of foil with butter. this way you get grill marks and still retain moisture. The butter addition means you just unwrap, salt (if desired), and eat. it’s ready to go right out of the foil.
Kate
Thank you for sharing!
Pam Highlen
Grilled farm fresh corn on the grill last night in Columbus, Ohio. Followed your instructions, and our corn looked exactly like yours! Plump kernels with a beautiful charred finish. Slathered in butter and salt! Perfect grilled corn! All of your recipes I’ve tried have been spot on! Thanks Cookie (and Kate, of course)! :)
★★★★★
Chris Aitken
I’m going to try this method on a short getaway with my wife to a chalet, this weekend. I think corn is like peaches or pears – so many varieties that you don’t know what you’re going to get as far as flavor and texture go.