How do you cook fresh sweet corn?

Question

I've always bought frozen corn on the cob, (its just sooo easy) but this time I bought some fresh corn in the husk I know you remove all it and the little hairs. What I do after that is what I need to know. Do you boil the water then place the corn in, or do you put it in cold water then bring it to a boil? Also I need to know how long to cook them so they're soft and juicy?

Thanks !!
LuLu

Answer 1

What I have done for the last 20 years is put the corn in a large pot with cold water, cover it, and bring to a rolling boil. As soon as it starts to boil, turn it off and let it sit for 20 minutes, keeping the lid on the pot, then eat. If you think it's going to get cold - no way! It's still burn yourself steaming hot after an hour - and crisp tender, not soggy.

Answer 2

I boil the water first, then put the husked corn in for about 5-7 minutes...I find if I cook it longer than that it doesn't stay sweet or firm. There are some interesting answers here that I am gonna try, like boiling it in the husk, which I never heard of.

I have turned many people on to eating "raw" corn. When we were kids, we would stop at Roadside Farm Stands. My mom (a fresh corn lover), could never wait to get home -- so she would husk an ear or two right there in the car and eat it raw. Of course we kids enjoyed this and I still do it to this day and the young'uns in our family have followed suit.

So many people (grown-ups) have looked on in horror at this, but I have managed to convert many raw corn lovers over the years. You might want to try that, too, it's like pure sugar if you are in the mood for something sweet. I love it cooked with butter & salt, too, but that's "dinner" food; the raw stuff is like a candy treat!

Answer 3

I usually cook corn 12-15 minutes in boiling water, but I think that the time isn't really an issue... it takes a LONG time for corn to overcook and after just a few minutes in water it can be deemed cooked. It totally just depends on your taste.

I would never microwave corn... nothing tastes the same/as good in the microwave.

Answer 4

Boil the water first. If you want it soft, you'll need to overcook it, about 10 minutes. In normal conditions when you want crisp corn, you'll only need to boil it 5-7 minutes. You won't need to salt the water.

A fun recipe follows in case you end up wanting to try fresh corn a different way. By the way, I don't serve mine with syrup. If you use silver white corn, it is so sweet that you won't need syrup unless you want it to be very sweet.

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1950,145164-234192,00.html

CORN FRITTERS

Serve fritters warm with maple syrup.

Serves 6.

3 eggs, beaten
2 cups crushed corn
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. melted butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 1/4 c. flour, approx
Oil for deep frying

Mix together corn, beaten eggs, milk, melted butter, baking powder, salt and pepper, adding just enough flour to hold fritters together. Drop by tablespoons in hot oil and cook 3-5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

To get the corn off the cob, use a sharp knife and starting at halfway down the ear, slice into the cob just until you get to the root of the kernel. Go all the way around the ear and then turn it so that you can cut off the kernels from the other side of the ear. Then take your knife and hold it perpendicular to the ear of corn and slide it from end to end. It will be juicy. Then you measure to be sure you have about 2 cups of corn. I usually need 3 or 4 ears, depending on their size.

Answer 5

I always start with hot water and add the corn before its boiling. Boil about 20 minutes. Halfway through I add a few tablespoons of sugar to make it sweeter. Never had bad corn. I also trim off the ends so I can likft the corn out eith tongs and insert the corn nobs. If you have the Pampered Chef corn nobs you can put them in before you boil they will not melt.

Answer 6

Boil the water first then add the corn for about 7 minutes.

Answer 7

Boil the water first, add a couple teaspoons of salt, and boil the corn for 5 minutes. You don't want the corn to get soft. You want it crisp, juicy and sweet. Serve with butter and salt.

Answer 8

clarissa has it- weird, but true, and I come from a long family of maryland silver queen corn lovers- I usually peel the husks down and slather with butter, replace the husks, wrap in saran wrap and microwave for about 7 minutes- and serve with , yep, honey. Can't beat it..

but my mom would bring a huge pot of water to a rolling boil and drop the husked corn in- cook 5 minutes ( overcooked corn is tough..) and remove with tongs.

but the absolutely best way is to roast it- peel down the husks. slather with butter and salt, replace the husks and wrap in several layers of foil. Grill over direct heat, . or if you are lucky like me, throw in the coals of the fireplace, and turn often for about 30 minutes. Roasted corn is amazing!

Answer 9

You wanna let the water boil first, i usually boil about 10 mins so it's still nice and crisp, but not raw.. good luck.. you can always throw some butter and salt ( andany other spices you might wanna add) and wrap it in foil and throw it on the grill.. this makes some really tasty corn!!

Answer 10

Really fresh corn, doesn't need to be cooked very long, no more than 10 minutes. By the way, it is not hairs, it is corn silk. If corn turns "reddish" as one says here, it is old and not fresh.