Instant Pot Corn-on-the-Cob
When I found out how to quickly make corn-on-the-cob in an Instant Pot, I immediately gave it try. I couldn’t believe it!
The corn cooked perfectly and tasted delicious.
Get our THIS LITTLE HOME OF MINE nEWSLETTER
Delivered directly to your inbox!
Why You Should Cook Corn-On-The-Cob In The Instant Pot
- It’s FAST – Can you imagine? Yum! Perfectly cooked, tender corn on the cob in 3 minutes! THREE! You can’t top that!
- It Cooks Corn Perfectly – Sometimes, we avoid these “shortcut” ways of cooking food, because we assume maybe it won’t taste as good. Friends, I’m here to assure you that this easy Instant Pot Corn-on-the-Cob tastes just as tender, juicy, and sweet as corn on the cob cooked any other way. When it comes to texture and flavor, no corners have been cut!
- It’s Hand’s Off – No more staying near the stove, keeping an eye on a large pot of boiling water. No more hovering over a grill, turning the corn regularly so that they don’t scorch. Put the corn in the Instant Pot, set the timer, and then go about another task while your pressure cooker does the magic.
- It’s More Nutrient Dense – Boiling vegetables, including corn, causes some of the nutrients from the vegetable to be lost to the water. Cooking corn in the Instant Pot uses steam to cook the corn, rather than setting the corn in boiling water. This means that the corn keeps more of it’s nutrients and is a healthier food for you!
Ingredients Needed For This Perfect Side Dish
Two things! That’s it!
- Corn – How many ears of fresh corn you need is determined by the size of the crowd you’re feeding. You will also want to consider how large your Instant Pot is. If you need to cook multiple rounds of corn because the size of your inner pot limits you, no worries! The cooking time is so, so short!
- Water – For a 6-quart Instant Pot, you’ll need one cup of cold water. For an 8-quart Instant, you’ll need a cup and a half of cold water.
- Salt – This ingredient is optional. Just as you may add a pinch of salt to the water when you boil pasta, you can also add salt to the water when you pressure cook corn. It adds a slightly salty flavor to the corn, without being overbearing.
How To Cook Sweet Corn In The Instant Pot
Using my Instant Pot to pressure cook corn on the cob is my favorite way to cook this favorite summertime side!
These step-by-step instructions will help you get family dinner on the table in no time.
- First, prep your ears of corn. If you bought your corn fresh from a farmer’s market (or got it from your own garden!), then take the time to thoroughly remove the husks and corn silk.
- Place the metal trivet in the bottom of the pot, and add a cup of water. It won’t seem like much water, compared to boiling the corn in a big pot of water, but remember – you’re using steam to cook the corn! A cup of water produces plenty of steam! Also, have you misplaced your trivet? It happens. You can use a silicone steamer basket to achieve the same results.
- Arrange the ears of corn on top of the trivet. You can do this in two ways. Either place all the corn upright, with the base of each ear of corn resting on the trivet and the top tips facing up. Or, layer the corn in rows. Typically each row will consist of 3 ears. Place 3 ears facing one direction, and another layer of 3 ears running perpendicular.
- Place the lid on your Instant Pot, and make sure that the steam release valve is in the sealing position.
- Set the pressure cooking time to 2-3 minutes at high pressure. It will take about 10-12 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure, and then the cooking time will start.
- As soon as you hear the timer go off, immediately move the steam release valve to the venting position, for a quick pressure release.
- Once the quick release of the remaining steam has finished, open the lid and enjoy your perfect corn!
How To Top Freshly Cooked Corn
There’s more than one way to top that sweet summer corn!
If you need some ideas, I’ve got you covered.
- Butter – Slather butter all over the ear of corn. Nothing will top this!
- Salt + Pepper – If you want slightly salty ears of corn without ever biting down into an overly salty bite, just add a generous pinch of salt to your cooking water. Then once the corn is finished cooking, give each ear a good sprinkle of pepper.
- Chili Powder – This is just one of the many flavors found on Mexican street corn! You can load the ear of corn all the way up (with mayo, sour cream, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime), or simply enjoy a sprinkle of the chili powder on its own.
- Parmesan Cheese – This adds just a bit of salty cheesiness, without getting too gooey.
- Honey – Typically, people top their sweet corn with slightly salty ingredients. But if you have a sweet tooth, a drizzle of honey is another great option. You may even want to try adding a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.
Ways To Enjoy Delicious Sweet Corn
A perfect piece of corn on the cob is a great side dish for many summer recipes, like grilled hamburgers or pulled pork sandwiches.
They’re perfect for any barbecue or potluck, and cooking your corn in the Instant Pot is a great way to free up valuable grill space.
But of course, that juicy corn is just as delicious off the cob!
Use a sharp knife and a cutting board to slice the yellow kernels off of the cob and use them to make a yummy corn salad.
I’ve got a recipe for Mexican Street Corn Salad right here!
Storing Leftover Sweet Corn
The sad truth is that leftover corn-on-the-cob doesn’t store well.
If you have leftover ears of corn after the meal, slice the delicious corn off of the cobs and store them in a freezer-safe bag.
Now, you have frozen sweet corn kernels ready to go, just like what they sell in the freezer section of the grocery store.
You can compost the corn cobs, or give them to any livestock you might have.
Instant Pot Corn-on-the-Cob
Perfectly cooked, tender corn on the cob in 3 minutes! Instant Pot Corn-on-the-Cob is absolutely perfection!
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- Corn
- Water
- Salt
Instructions
- First, prep your ears of corn. If you bought your corn fresh from a farmer's market (or got it from your own garden!), then take the time to thoroughly remove the husks and corn silk.
- Place the metal trivet in the bottom of the pot, and add a cup of water. It won't seem like much water, compared to boiling the corn in a big pot of water, but remember – you're using steam to cook the corn.
- Arrange the ears of corn on top of the trivet. You can do this in two ways. Either place all the corn upright, with the base of each ear of corn resting on the trivet and the top tips facing up. Or, layer the corn in rows. Typically each row will consist of 3 ears. Place 3 ears facing one direction, and another layer of 3 ears running perpendicular.
- Place the lid on your Instant Pot, and make sure that the steam release valve is in the sealing position.
- Set the pressure cooking time to 2-3 minutes at high pressure. It will take about 10-12 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure, and then the cooking time will start.
- As soon as you hear the timer go off, immediately move the steam release valve to the venting position, for a quick pressure release.
- Once the quick release of the remaining steam has finished, open the lid and enjoy your perfect corn!
