The Best Basic Grilled Corn Recipe

The Food Lab

Unraveling the mysteries of home cooking through science.

J. Kenji López-Alt
The Best Basic Grilled Corn Recipe
*
  • Yield:serves 8
  • Active time:15 minutes
  • Total time:30 minutes
This recipe appears in:
The Food Lab: 3 Ways to Grill Corn Ask The Food Lab: Should I Brine My Corn?

[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]

Basic grilled corn cooked on a hot fire until blistered and charred, served with butter and salt.

Ingredients

  • 8 ears corn, shucked and rinsed
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • Kosher salt

Directions

  1. 1.

    Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange the coals on one side of the charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill to the highest heat setting, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate.

  2. 2.

    Place corn directly over hot side of grill and cook, turning occasionally, until charred on all sides and fully tender, about 10 minutes total.

  3. 3.

    Remove corn from grill and allow to rest for 2 minutes. Roll in butter, sprinkle with salt, and serve immediately.

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