# Corn on the Cob **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 2, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-on-the-cob/315249 "2005-08-02T02:24:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-on-the-cob/315249/1 "2005-08-02T02:24:52Z")
How do you know when your corn on the cob is done? In your answer, please explain if you are grilling or boiling the corn. - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-on-the-cob/315249/2 "2005-08-02T02:31:50Z")
Moved this one to Cafe Society. They eat this kind of question up. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-on-the-cob/315249/3 "2005-08-02T03:23:07Z")
The question nearly plunged this forum into anarchy last time it came up. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=324443&highlight=corn](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=324443&highlight=corn) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-on-the-cob/315249/4 "2005-08-02T03:25:21Z")
When it’s hot. Seriously, fresh corn on the cob barely needs to be cooked at all. My personal favorite method: Soak the cobs, in the husk, for 15-20 minutes, making sure they are completely submerged. Then throw then directly on the grill, still in the husks, along with whatever else you are cooking. In 5-10 minutes, peel off the husk (practically all of the silk will fall away with no effort), and eat. No butter or salt needed. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-on-the-cob/315249/5 "2005-08-02T04:01:23Z")
You can also microwave corn. Use a covered dish with a tablespoon or so of water, and nuke for about 1 minute per cob. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-on-the-cob/315249/6 "2005-08-02T17:06:36Z")
What **Suburban Plankton** said. When it’s hot it’s done. And if you don’t care whether it’s hot, you can eat it raw, as my wife does. If you’re boiling it, get the water to a rapid boil and put the corn in for two minutes. That’s all you need. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-on-the-cob/315249/7 "2005-08-02T17:13:28Z")
I just checked the linked thread above. Some posts talked about cooking the corn for 12 minutes, 20 minutes, **45 freaking minutes!!** That’s a recipe for tasteless mush on the cob. Trust me – two minutes is enough. More is too much. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-on-the-cob/315249/8 "2005-08-02T17:48:50Z")
> [@Gary T](#): > > I just checked the linked thread above. Some posts talked about cooking the corn for 12 minutes, 20 minutes, **45 freaking minutes!!** That’s a recipe for tasteless mush on the cob. Trust me – two minutes is enough. More is too much. Last weekend I cooked some on the grill. I usually leave it in the husk but these were partially husked so I husked them and threw them on the grill. I cooked them too long (15-20 minutes) and though they had a good “smoky” flavor, they were very dry. Just a caveat.