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The most common way to steam corn is using a steamer basket, but what if you don't have one? Luckily, there are lots of other ways to steam corn; you can even use an oven or a microwave! There are a few tricks to doing it just right, however. If you steam corn the wrong way, you will end up with tough, chewy corn instead.
Ingredients
- Corn
- Water
- Corn
- Water
Steaming Corn in the Oven [1] X Research source
- 6 ears of corn, cut in half
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- ¼ teaspoon seasoned salt
- Water
Steaming Corn in the Microwave [2] X Research source
- 2 to 3 ears of corn
- 2 tablespoons of water
Steps
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Choose a pot that is large enough to fit the corn, then fill the bottom with water. You will need 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) of water. You can cook quite a large amount of corn using this method, especially if you stand the corn upright. -
Place a steamer basket in the bottom of the pot. The water should not touch the bottom of the steamer basket. If it does, pour some water out, but try to keep it as close to 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) as possible. Keep in mind that you may have to refill the water as the corn steams.Advertisement
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Add the corn and cover the pot with a lid. If you are inserting the corn vertically, make sure that the stems are pointing downwards. If the corn is too big for the pot, cut the corn in half. [3] X Research source
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Bring the water to a boil, then simmer it for 7 to 10 minutes. [4] X Research source Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low, and cook the corn for 7 to 10 minutes. If you like your corn more crisp, check it after about 4 minutes. The corn is ready when the kernels turn bright yellow.
- Keep an eye on the water; don't let it fall below 1 inch (2.54 centimeters). You will be more likely to scorch your pot this way.
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Use a pair of tongs to take the corn out of the pot, and transfer it to a serving plate. Be careful when taking the lid off the pot.; the steam will be very hot.
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Serve the corn. At this point, you can garnish the corn with some salt, pepper, and butter.
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Prepare the corn. Husk the corn first, then pull off any threads or strings. Rinse the corn in cool water, then use a knife to cut away any bad spots. If you'd like smaller portions, cut the cobs in half.
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Fill the bottom of a large skillet with water. You will need about 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) of water. [5] X Research source
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Bring the water to a boil. Do not add any salt to the water, or your corn will turn out too tough. [6] X Research source
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Add the husked corn to the skillet in a single layer. If you need to, you can cut some of the ears of corn in half to get them to fit.
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Remove the corn from the skillet using a pair of tongs. Be careful when opening the lid. The steam rushing upwards will be very hot. Do not lean over the pot.
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Serve the corn. At this point, you can season the corn with some salt and/or butter.
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Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C).
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Get the corn ready. If you have not yet done so, husk the corn and pull away any threads or strings. Rinse the corn, then chop off any bad spots. Cut the corn in half when you are done.
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Place the corn into a 3-quart (3 liters) glass baking dish. Do not grease the baking dish.
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Fill the baking dish with ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) of water. Do not add any salt to the water, or it will make the corn tough.
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Cover the dish with foil, and bake it for 30 minutes. As the water heats up, it will steam the corn. [9] X Research source
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Mix the parsley, butter, and salt in a small bowl just before the corn is done steaming. Cut the butter into cubes first, then melt it in the microwave or in a small saucepan over the stove. Stir in the parsley and salt, then set it aside.
- The parsley is optional, but it will give the corn more flavor.
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Take the corn out of the oven, and drain the water from it. You can also use a pair of tongs to transfer the corn from the baking dish to your serving platter.
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Pour the butter mixture over the corn just before serving it. Use a pair of tongs to turn the corn cobs around in the baking dish. This will help the butter coat them evenly. [10] X Research source
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Get the corn ready. Pull the husks off of the corn as well as any remaining threads or strings. Rinse the corn, then chop off any bad spots, if needed. If you want smaller portions, cut the cobs in half.
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Pour 2 tablespoons of water into a microwave-safe baking dish. The dish needs to be big enough to fit your corn. Note that this method is only good for 2 or 3 ears of corn. If you need to make more, you'll have to do them in separate batches—or try another steaming method.
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Add the corn. If you need to, cut the corn in half so that it fits. It should lay firmly against the bottom of the dish. You don't want the ends hanging over the edge of the dish.
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Cover the dish with some plastic wrap, and poke a vent hole using a fork. This will allow the steam from the cooking water to escape.
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Cook the corn on high until it is done, about 4 to 6 minutes. The exact cooking time will vary, depending on the strength of your microwave. [11] X Research source The corn is done when the kernels turn bright yellow.
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Remove the plastic wrap from the dish. Once the corn is done steaming, use a pair of potholders to remove the dish from the microwave. Carefully pull the plastic wrap from the dish, then use a pair of tongs to serve the corn.
- Do not lean over the dish when removing the plastic wrap. The steam will be very, very hot. Consider using a pair of tongs to remove the plastic wrap. [12] X Research source
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How Do You Cook Corn On The Cob?
Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs it better to steam or boil corn?Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience.Well, you can boil it to get the same effect as steaming. Put a large pot of water on high heat, add in your salt and seasonings, throw in a little butter or oil and wait for it to come to a rolling boil. Then, shuck and drop in your corn. It usually takes about 10-15 minutes to boil fully, and you can usually tell it’s done by the bright yellow color.
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QuestionHow long does it take for corn to steam?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt depends on which method you use. Corn steamed in a basket can take between 7 to 15 minutes; steaming in a skillet takes about 5 minutes; steaming in the oven takes about 1/2 an hour; cooking in the microwave takes about 4-6 minutes. Instructions for each cooking method are provided in the article above.
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QuestionHow do you know when steamed corn is ready?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerSteamed corn is usually ready when the time specified for steaming it (usually around 5-10 minutes, depending on the method chosen) is up. Also, if it steam dries within seconds after removing it from the steaming medium, it is ready.
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Tips
- If you'd like to make the corn more flavorful after you cook it, season it with some olive oil, lemon, salt, and pepper. [13] X Research sourceThanks
- Blend some melted butter with basil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour this over your cooked corn. [14] X Research sourceThanks
- If you made the corn ahead of time, cover it with aluminum foil until you are ready to serve it. The foil will keep it moist and warm until serving time.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Leave the husks on the corn. Then, cut a little off the bottom and microwave it for 4 minutes. The husk and silk can be removed easily.
- If you aren't lucky enough to have sweet corn in your area, add a little sugar to it to bring out the sweetness of the corn
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Warnings
- Be careful when taking the lid off of the pot. The steam rushing up will be very, very hot.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
Steaming Corn in a Steamer Basket
- Deep pot
- Lid
- Steamer basket
- Tongs
Steaming Corn without a Steamer Basket
- Deep pot
- Lid
- Tongs
Steaming Corn in the Oven
- 3-quart (3 liters) baking dish
- Aluminum foil
- Tongs
Steaming Corn in the Microwave [15] X Research source
- Microwave-safe dish
- Plastic wrap
- Tongs
References
- ↑ https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/oven-steamed-herbed-corn/bb5addf1-c225-4b17-9631-6421cff4b51a
- ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-cook-corn-on-the-cob
- ↑ http://www.food.com/recipe/shirleys-perfect-steamed-corn-on-the-cob-every-time-249731
- ↑ http://www.healwithfood.org/chart/vegetable-steaming-times.php
- ↑ http://asweetandsavorylife.com/how-to-buy-steam-and-grill-corn-and-how-not-to/
- ↑ http://asweetandsavorylife.com/how-to-buy-steam-and-grill-corn-and-how-not-to/
- ↑ http://www.loveandlemons.com/skillet-steamed-corn-on-the-cob/
- ↑ http://asweetandsavorylife.com/how-to-buy-steam-and-grill-corn-and-how-not-to/
- ↑ https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/oven-steamed-herbed-corn/bb5addf1-c225-4b17-9631-6421cff4b51a
- ↑ https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/oven-steamed-herbed-corn/bb5addf1-c225-4b17-9631-6421cff4b51a
- ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-cook-corn-on-the-cob
- ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-cook-corn-on-the-cob
- ↑ http://www.loveandlemons.com/skillet-steamed-corn-on-the-cob/
- ↑ http://www.loveandlemons.com/skillet-steamed-corn-on-the-cob/
- ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-cook-corn-on-the-cob
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To steam corn without a steamer basket, start by husking the corn and filling a skillet with 1-2 inches of water. Then, bring the water to a boil, and add the corn to the skillet in a single layer. Next, reduce the heat once the water returns to a boil, and let the corn cook for 3-4 minutes covered. Finally, remove the corn from the skillet with tongs and dig in. To learn how to steam corn in an oven or microwave, scroll down!
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