How To Season Corn For The Grill

The Best Way To Grill Corn On The Cob

How to Grill Corn

I consulted “She-who-knows-everything-when-it-comes-to-home-cooking” who informed me that the best way to grill corn on the cob is to grill corn in the husk, directly on a hot grill.

The husks protect the corn on the cob from getting dried out, and the corn essentially steams in its own moisture while getting infused with smoky flavor from the charring corn husks. It’s also so easy! No need to even break off the silks. Just place the corn, as is, in husks, on a hot grill.

How To Pick The Best Sweet Corn

The key to really fantastic grilled sweet cornis really fantastic sweet corn. If you try to grill older pieces of sweet corn that have started to dry up a bit, your grilled corn wont taste good.

The key to picking the best sweet corn is to look for ears of corn with golden silk if the silk has spots of black in it, the corns on its way out. The corn should also smell fairly sweet and should be firm, not mushy, when pressed with your thumb.

Grilled Corn On The Cob Ingredients

If you want to make just the bbq corn on the cob, youll need the following:

Fresh sweet corn
Butter
Salt and pepper

Ive created three flavored butters you can pair with this grilled corn: Garlic Parmesan Butter, Herb Butter, and Chili Lime Butter. Each flavored butter uses a mixture of fresh herbs and spices that you likely have on hand already.

Otherwise, the only corn on the cob seasoning youll need is salt and pepper!

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What You Will Need:

2 ears of corn, each cut into four pieces
1 medium zucchini cut into 1-inch chunks
2 carrots cut into 1 1-1/4 chunks

1 medium sweet onion cut into wedges
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 cup of butter melted

Salt and pepper to taste

Step 1: Preheat the grill between medium to medium-high heat.

Step 2: Combine the corn, carrots, zucchini, onion, and potatoes in a nice size bowl. Place the rest of the ingredients into a small bowl, and then mix them until they are thoroughly combined. Pour the butter concoction over the vegetables, and then give them a few tosses to coat them evenly.

Step 3: Cut a large piece of sturdy foil into approximately 4 18 x 12-inch pieces. Fill the foil with equal parts of vegetables. Secure each packet tightly, but with enough room to accommodate heat expansion, sealing them with a double-fold.

Step 4: Place the vegetable packets, with the seam side up, onto a charcoal grill about 4 to 6 inches from the coals. If you are using a gas grill, place the packets on the grill over medium heat. Allow the vegetables to grill 25 to 35 minutes or until the vegetables are tender to the touch.

Step 5: Remove the packets from the grill and then open them carefully to enable the steam to release.

Pro Tips

The following additional tips provided by pros will help kick your grilled corn on the cob in foil efforts up another notch for an even tastier treat.

How To Husk And Serve Grilled Corn

When finished, youll have ears of corn with varying degrees of husk and silk clinging to golden, lightly charred corn and youll probably be wondering how the heck to husk it. Remove the ears from the grill and cool for five minutes. Then you should be able to easily pull back the husks and silk. Use a clean kitchen towel to wipe away any unwanted silk or charred husk flakes.

Personally I think butter and salt are the only toppings you need, but try to serve the corn immediately for the most satisfying results.

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Tips For The Best Grilled Corn On The Cob

Keep it fresh. Always start with the freshest corn you can find to have the sweetest, plumpest cooked cobs.

No soak, no problem. Some people soak their corn husks in cold water, prior to grilling However, after trying it several times, I find this step to be unnecessary since Ive never been able to tell a difference.
Watch your cooking time. When corn is overcooked it can become chewy because the longer heat breaks down the corns cell walls and the sugars take over, leading the kernels to lose their crunch.
No grill? No sweat. You can still achieve a nice charred flavor by using a cast iron grill pan or skillet. For this method, you will need to husk your corn. Put a little oil or butter in a skillet and get it hot. Place your corn in the skillet and turn every few minutes, getting a nice sear on all sides.

Grilled Corn On The Cob In Foil Recipe

Grilling the corn in the husk can also cause a charred mess, which can make a more difficult cleanup. However, grilling the corn in foilhelps maintain maximum seasoningand avoids a burned, stuck-on mess for easy cleanup. It also helps ensure tender, juicy kernels every time.

Prep Time5mins

Keyword: Corn on the Cob

Servings: 4

Fresh garlic or garlic powder
Aluminum foil

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Can You Grill Frozen Corn

Grilling frozen corn on the cob is a great way to have corn all year long! It will keep in the freezer for several months.

Corn that has been frozen is partially cooked , so you shouldnt overcook it. Wrap each cob in aluminum foil and place on the grill, turning every few minutes for 10 minutes or until heated through.

Should I Grill Corn In The Husk

3 Ways to Grill Corn on the Cob

Some recipes call for removing the husks entirely, but I suggest you resist the urge. To me, the best way to grill corn is in the husk. Theres no need to remove the silks before grilling, simply pull them back with the corn husks afterward. The husks act as a natural protective barrier between the corn and the grill, keeping the kernels tender and juicy.

Plus, the corn soaks up that wonderful smokiness from the charred husks, giving it more flavor. Not to mention theres less prep work to deal with if you skip husking the corn right away. Win-win-win.

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More Tips For Perfect Grilled Corn

To grill corn seriously, you need to do three things.

Grill the corn in the husk. See above.
Soak the corn. This will prevent the husk from catching on fire and the water will help it steam.

Dont overcook it. You want the corn to be tender but not mushy . Grill corn for 15 to 20 minutes over medium heat, turning it several times throughout so that it cooks evenly on all sides.

Should I Grill With Or Without The Husk

You can do either and it really is a personal preference! This recipe is without husks and our corn with creamy spread is grilled with husks.

WITHOUT HUSKS- The husks give it a smoky and charred taste. Remove the husks and silk from the corn before placing onto the grill.

WITH HUSKS- Leaving the husks on takes a few minutes longer but it isnt as charred and is a bit juicier. Remove the outer layer of husks before adding corn to a grill.

IN FOIL- You can also wrap the cobs in foil. This keeps it from giving that charred taste but you still get the perfect taste!

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Is Seasoning Your Grill The Same For All Types Of Grills

Yes. You can follow the same simple steps for seasoning charcoal grills, gas grills and pellet grills. Both cast-iron and steel grates will benefit from seasoning. But keep in mind, porcelain grates do not need to be seasoned.

Want to switch-up your grill game? Check out our guide to the benefits of different types of grills.

Prep The Grill & Corn

Gas Grill Preheat the gas grill to high to get the grate hot. Once hot, lower to medium high heat.

Charcoal Grill Get the coals started and heat up until gray or medium hot. Arrange them so they are in an even layer.

Prep the Corn Strip the corn husk all the way back to the stem but dont remove it. Do remove all the silk to expose the corn kernels. Using your hands or a pastry brush, cover the ear of corn with oil.

Cover with husk and tie the end with a little piece of kitchen twine or string to keep it closed. Repeat this process for each ear of corn.

Alternative = Some folks like to the corn cobs in water for about 15 minutes. To tell you the truth, Im not sure why. Maybe it prevents the corn husks from charring but I like the smoky flavor the charred husks add to flavor of the corn. If you do want to soak them, do so right after you remove the silk but before you cover with oil.

2nd Alternative I remember my father did it this way. Husk the corn and remove the silk. Season each ear with some butter and salt & pepper. Wrap each ear of corn in aluminum foil and cook on a hot grill for 15 to 30 minute.

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How Do I Season My New Grill

All new grills, whether a charcoal or gas grill, stainless steel or cast iron, will benefit from seasoning. Just follow these simple steps.

Rinse and thoroughly air dry the grill grates. No need to use dish soap. If you do, be sure to rinse and dry them thoroughly.

Using a basting brush or even a clean paintbrush, or paper towel, wipe the grates all over with a high heat resistant oil such as a vegetable oil, peanut oil or canola oil. A spray bottle of oil or even a can of Pam also works fine. You can read more here about the importance of choosing the right oils for grilling.

Lightly brush or wipe the oil also on the inside of the lid, the insides of the pit and on the emitters if your grill has them. The idea here is to bake and seal the grill and grates. With cast iron, the oil will actually seep into the pores of the iron, bake in, harden and create a smooth non-stick coating that will darken and improve with every cook. Click here for more on the magic of cast iron.

Turn up the heat! Light your charcoal or crank up your gas. You want your grill screaming hot.

Let it burn and smoke and work its high heat magic for a good 30-40 minutes.

The grates will change in appearance. Dont worry! Shiny stainless steel will discolor and darken, and cast iron will take on a slick black sheen. These are the signs of a non-stick surface developing. This is good!

Turn it off and let it cool. Your grill is seasoned. All set!

Mark Jenner

The Best Corn For Grilling

For grilled corn, you want the freshest corn possible. Ideally its corn thats at peak season and picked as close to grilling as possible. The color of the kernels matters little, but you want ears that smell sweet, are firm when pressed, and free of blackened tassels, thats the ideal. Otherwise, just pick up what works for you.

What about soaking or brining the corn?

Brining or soaking the ears in water before grilling is thought to season and also plump the corn. There are two problems with those theories, though: In order to take on any salt from the brine, ears would have to soak for several days, at which point youre losing valuable sweetness as the ears age. Secondly, if youre buying fresh juicy corn, you cannot make it any juicier. While soaking may benefit older or off-season ears, it has no added value for fresh summer corn.

What Is The Best Oil To Season A Grill

As stated earlier, when seasoning your grill, it is important to select an oil that has a high smoking point in order to prevent the oil from burning, which can ruin your seasoning as well as your food.The smoking point is the point that the oil begins to smoke, which for high smoking point cooking oils is 400ºF or higher. There are various cooking oils with a high smoking point that you can use to season your grill, including:

Canola oil

Reheating & Make Ahead

5 Ways to Grill Corn on the Cob – The Basics on QVC

Corn is best freshly cooked, but it also holds heat well. You can easily make it up to 30 minutes in advance and either let is sit in the boiled water or wrap in aluminum foil right off the grill to keep warm.

Can corn on the cob be reheated? It sure can! Just boil a fresh pot of water. Once boiling, add the corn to the pot and cook until heated all the way through. This should only take a few minutes at the most.

You could even cut the corn kernels off of the cob and reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove. The choice is yours!

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Perfectly Grilled Corn On The Cob

Find out the secret to Bobby Flay’s Perfectly Grilled Corn on the Cob recipe from Food Network, a summer side served with homemade herb and barbecue butters.

Provided by Bobby Flay

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

1/2 small red onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds

1 tablespoon ancho chili powder

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, slightly softened

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Steps:

How Long To Grill Corn

Cooking corn on the grill takes about 15 to 20 minutes total. Remember to regularly turn the corn so it doesnt become too dark on one side. In addition to your timer and the look of your grill marks, use your nose as your guide. When you can smell that delicious cooked corn aroma, its likely the corn is done cooking.

If you like a more charred flavor, toss the husked corn cobs back on the grill to add more color.

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Corn Grilled In The Husk Recipe:

Ingredients:

Salt and pepper

Selecting Fresh Corn:

Good corn on the cob always begins with selecting the freshest, just ripe ears of your favorite variety of corn. The absolute best corn is corn that is picked ripe and straight from your own vegetable garden! Now I know everybody can not have a garden and grow their own corn, so pick fresh corn from your local market carefully!

When buying corn at the market, the husks should be bright green and fit snugly around the ear of corn. The kernels should be in tight rows right to the tip of the ear of corn, and be plump and milky.

In the grocery store, it is perfectly acceptable to peel back the outer green husk to check and see if the corn looks OK to you.

Preparing Corn for Grilling:

If the ears of corn have many layers of husk on them, peel off only the first couple of layers, leaving a few layers for protection. Do not remove all the layers.

Soak the whole cobs in a pot of cold water for 15 minutes. Be sure the ears are completely covered with water. This will provide extra moisture for cooking and will steam the corn kernels inside the husks.

While the corn is soaking, preheat the barbecue grill to a medium temperature . After soaking, remove the corn from the water and shake off any excess water.

Begin by pulling the husks of the corn back . Remove and discard only the silk.

Brush the kernels with olive oil or butter.

Grilling the Corn:

Allow the corn to slowly continue cooking for approximately 15 minutes.

Should You Soak Corn Before Grilling

You may have heard that corn should be soaked in water before grillingbut it really depends on the corn. If the husks are bright green and tightly wrapped, your corn is fresh and can be grilled with no additional steps. Don’t shuck it or peel back the husksthe corn silk does not need to be removed before grilling.

If the husks are dry, peeling or turning yellow, the corn will need a soak first. Soak the whole, un-shucked ears in warm water for 10 minutes before proceeding. This helps rehydrate the husks and keeps the corn from drying out and burning on the grill.

If you bought corn that was already shucked, tightly wrap each cob in aluminum foil before placing on the grill.

How To Grill Corn: A Guide To Buying And Cooking Corn On A Grill

The dog days of summer are not too far away, and with them comes warm weather, sprinkler jumping and an abundance of produce at your local farmers market. Seeing corn stacked high on a table at every stand signals the height of summer. Its inexpensive, sweet and simple to prepare. Eat it right off the cob or shave off the kernels and toss ’em into a salad or pasta.

Spicy Grilled Corn And Peaches With Burrata

Juicy ripe peaches and sweet charred corn are a gorgeous summer duo, and even better with fragrant, spicy basil and super-rich burrata. This simple yet striking dish can be a side salad or a light meal with a bit of grilled toast, and maybe a bed of mixed greens. Get the Spicy Grilled Corn and Peaches with Burrata recipe.

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