Once You Boil Corn in MILK, You'll Never Cook It Any Other Way (2024)

Updated: Sep. 08, 2023

Learn how to make corn on the cob with milk and butter for the ultimate summer side dish!

Have you ever boiled corn on the cob with milk? If not, you’re in for a sweet treat. The end result is rich, fresh corn that’s bursting with flavor. Plus it takes less than 10 minutes to cook!

Growing up in the South, eating corn on the cob was a weekly staple from early June through late August. Whether it was served alongside dinner or used in an appetizer, sweet corn was always the star of the meal.

I remember my mom teaching my sister and me how to pick corn at the grocery store or farmers market at a young age. Firm, plump cobs with tightly wrapped bright green husks that are slightly damp are the freshest. I know grilling corn is popular at barbecues and cooking corn in the air fryer is a quick alternative, but there’s an even better method: cooking corn on the cob with milk.

Why Do People Boil Corn in Milk?

Boiling corn on the cob brings out its natural sweetness. But if you want an even juicier and sweeter crisp-tender bite, swap out some of the water for milk. The milk enhances the flavor and texture. It also infuses the corn on the cob with milk and butter, resulting in salty, buttery kernels.

How to Boil Corn on the Cob with Milk

Ingredients

  • Water (enough to cover the corn)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup butter (a half stick)
  • 6 ears of corn, husks and silks removed

Directions

Step 1: Bring water to a boil

Fill a large stockpot about halfway with water. Bring it to a boil, then add the milk and butter.

Editor’s Tip: To make this dairy-free, use a non-dairy milk alternative (like soy milk) and plant-based butter.

Step 2: Cook the corn

Reduce the heat to a low simmer and add the corn. Cook the corn for 5-8 minutes, or until tender.

In-season corn is typically pretty sweet, but if it’s lacking flavor, add about a tablespoon of sugar.

Step 3: Enjoy fresh corn on the cob

Once cooked, remove corn using tongs and serve immediately. The corn will be melt-in-your-mouth creamy with just the right amount of crunch.

Serve corn on the cob as is or slathered in butter! I personally like to cut corn off the cob so it’s easier to eat. You can also use the kernels in these fresh corn recipes.

Other Ways to Cook Corn on the Cob

Once You Boil Corn in MILK, You'll Never Cook It Any Other Way (1)Nelea Reazanteva/Getty Images

Beyond boiling, there are plenty of other ways to cook corn on the cob. There’s grilling corn on the cob, steaming corn, slow cooking corn on the cob or even microwaving it! Yup, the microwave!

Other Ways to Flavor Corn of the Cob

Not only are there more ways to cook corn on the cob, there are also other flavors to try out when cooking the grain. We adore this basil grilled corn along with this scrumptious Parmesan corn on the cob. And sriracha fans will not be able to get enough of this slow cooker sriracha corn. Yum!

However, while all these flavors are distinct, there’s nothing quite like the sweetness that comes from the tried and true method of boiling corn on the cob in milk.

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Once You Boil Corn in MILK, You'll Never Cook It Any Other Way (2024)

FAQs

Why do people boil their corn in milk? ›

Boiling corn on the cob brings out its natural sweetness. But if you want an even juicier and sweeter crisp-tender bite, swap out some of the water for milk. The milk enhances the flavor and texture. It also infuses the corn on the cob with milk and butter, resulting in salty, buttery kernels.

Is 30 minutes too long to boil corn? ›

Some recipes claim that 10-20 minutes of boiling is enough, but a long boil makes all the difference when it comes to tender kernels. 45 minutes is the sweet spot! Eat corn within 2 days of purchase.

Why is my corn still hard after boiling? ›

If your corn is still hard, tough, or even chewy after it's boiled, it can be a result of two factors. For one thing, you may have over-cooked your corn. Set a time to ensure your corn isn't boiling for too long. Another reason might be the freshness of your corn.

Is corn milk good for you? ›

Corn milk is rich in vitamins.

Vitamin A prevents various eye diseases such as myopia, blindness, heart disease.

What is the point of boiling milk? ›

Thus, you don't have to boil milk for safety reasons unless it's raw, unpasteurized milk. In that case, bringing it to a boil or near a boil will significantly reduce most bacteria levels sufficiently ( 1 ). People often boil milk when they use it in cooking. You can boil raw milk to kill any harmful bacteria.

How to tell if corn is bad? ›

The appearance and aroma of your corn are the two main ways to tell whether or not it has gone bad. If it's giving off a rancid or moldy smell, or has a slimy and mushy texture, it should be tossed in your compost. Similarly, if there's any visible mold on your corn, it has gone bad.

How do you know when corn is fully boiled? ›

It's a delicate change, but corn on the cob is cooked when the yellow color intensifies, the kernels grow plumper, and the kernels should feel tender (you can poke one with a sharp knife if you must). Leaving them in the pot for too long will cause them to turn tough or soggy.

Does corn get tougher the longer you cook it? ›

Avoid cooking corn for too long. "If you have super fresh corn — which can even be eaten raw — it's a waste of time to cook for the common recommended time of 20 [or more] minutes," says Jones. Overcooking can also result in chewy and firm kernels. You can steam for 8-10 minutes or less, or even use the microwave.

Should corn float when boiling? ›

In a large pot, enough to hold the corn, fill it with water to cover the corn (the corn should float). On a medium heat allow the pot of water to boil. Once the water is boiled, add in the corn into the pot and cover. Cook for 10-15 minutes depending on how soft you want your corn.

Is white stuff on corn mold? ›

Diplodia ear rot appears as white mold growing on corn ears. A dead flag leaf is an easily recognized symptom of Diplodia ear rot. Visible signs of Diplodia ear rot on corn ear.

What does milking the corn mean? ›

Milking corn cobs means you cut the kernels off the corn, as you do for many recipes, and then scrape the bare cob with the back of a knife to release the corn milk.

Can you turn corn into milk? ›

Homemade corn milk, just like millet milk, is a light, thin milk with a slight hint of sweetness. Ingredients: 100g organic corn (I used yellow corn, the kind you'd use to make popcorn) 1 litre hot water.

What happens when you boil human milk? ›

Boiling, in addition, destroys lipase and reduces the effect of immunoglobulin A and secretory immunoglobulin A. The nutrient value of human milk is essentially unchanged, but the immunological properties are reduced by various storage techniques.

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