How to Cook Corn on the Grill

Christine Albury

Wondering how to cook corn on the grill? We’ve got all the details!

Is there anything better than a warm, summer breeze carrying the aroma of food cooking on the grill?

Can you feel the sun on your face and hear Summertime blaring at your barbecue?

Gah! It’s been a longggg winter for this editor.

Let’s talk about how to cook corn on the grill, so we’ll be ready for warm, sunny days. And charred corn with delicious, smoky flavor…yum!

First things first. You need to decide whether to grill the corn in the husks or shuck it first.

Grilling naked corn will give you the best, smoky flavor. But, if you don’t feel like shucking all the corn on the cob yourself, grill it in the husk and let everyone peel their own when you serve it.

Grilled Sweet Corn Salsa Picture

How to Shuck Corn

  • Peel off the outer green leaves, until there is one layer of green leaves left on the corn.
  • Peel away a little of the remaining leaves, until you can see the top kernels.
  • While holding the bottom of the corn with one hand, use your other hand to grasp the stringy fibers at the top, along with the leaves, and pull straight down, all the way to the bottom.
  • Grab the leaves and base of the corn and snap them off.
  • Pull off most of the silky fibers on the corn.
  • Use a vegetable brush to brush off any remaining fibers while holding the corn under cold, running water.
Mexican Corn in a Cup Picture

How to Cook Corn on the Grill without Husks

  1. Place the shucked corn on the cob on your grill, directly over medium-high heat.
  2. Grill the corn for 10-12 minutes, turning as needed to get it speckled with dark spots.
Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob Photo

How to Grill Corn in Husks

  1. Place the corn directly on top of hot coals or on a grill rack over the hot coals.
  2. Cook, turning as needed, until the husks are black and the corn inside is steamed and moist.
Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob Pic

Grilling Corn on the Cob in Foil

Using foil will keep your corn on the cob hot, which is helpful for parties.

  1. Shuck your corn.
  2. If desired, spread butter on the corn (this can also be done after it’s cooked.)
  3. Wrap the corn in heavy-duty foil and grill it on a rack or directly on hot coals for 15 minutes, turning as needed.

How to Cut Corn off the Cob

Stand the shucked corn up, and holding it with one hand, use a sharp knife in the other hand to slice the corn kernels off the cob. If you have a Bundt or tube pan, it’s helpful to stand the corn, pointy side up, on the center hole and slice off the kernels into your pan.

If you don’t have a Bundt or tube pan, you can turn a small bowl upside down and place it in the middle of a larger bowl. Stand your corn on top of the smaller bowl while you slice off the kernels.

Storing Corn on the Cob

Keep raw corn on the cob refrigerated for up to three days. Once it’s cooked, refrigerate leftovers for 3-5 days. You can freeze corn on the cob or the kernels for up to 8 months.

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Christine Albury

About Christine

I'm a mom of 5 and love making healthy baby food with wholesome, natural ingredients. In 2005 I started the Homemade Baby Food Recipes website, sharing recipes for everything from simple fruit purees to gourmet curries for the baby food connoisseur! You'll also find plenty of tried and tested tips to help encourage even the most reluctant diner to enjoy a wide range of nutritious new foods. If you enjoy cooking, then you will LOVE learning to become head chef for a very special little customer!