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๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Grill Side Dish Recipes

Grilled Corn on the Cob Without Husks

Published: Apr 27, 2024 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 7 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Time: 15 minutes mins

The best grilled corn on the cob is quick and easy with a few tips. Pick the best corn, husk, and a brush of oil with salt and pepper, and finish by grilling over medium heat until tender with some delicious char. It's not hard, and it's so goodโ€”no husk and no aluminum foil are needed.

๐ŸŒฝIngredients

Ears of corn
Vegetable oil
For servingโ€”salt, black pepper, butter.
Other seasoning optionsโ€”smoked paprika, Old Bay seasoning if served with seafood, or Ranch powder.

grilled corn on the cob in a holder.
Jump To (scroll for more)
  • ๐ŸŒฝIngredients
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Grill Corn on the Cob Without Husksโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
  • โฐHow Long to Cook Corn on the Grill
  • ๐ŸŒฝHow to Pick the Best Corn on the Cob
  • ๐ŸŒก๏ธWhat grill temperature to grill corn on the cob?
  • ๐Ÿค”How to grill corn on the cob in the husk or aluminum foil?
  • โ“FAQs
  • ๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

For us, grilled sweet corn is the perfect side dish for grilled burgers, steaks, chicken, or any grilled meal. It is fast, easy, cheap, and so good.

I prefer my corn grilled without the husk. The corn will develop char, a Maillard reaction, and a smoky flavor everybody loves. Corn still in the husk or wrapped in aluminum foil will steam cook from the trapped moisture.

Don't miss the super easy Microwave Corn on the Cobโ€”perfect corn for two. Or other grilled side dish recipes, like Grilling Asparagus, Grilled Baby Potatoes, Grilled Mixed Vegetables, and Grilled Tomatoes

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Grill Corn on the Cob Without Husksโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

cleaning and oiling grill grates.

1. Clean and oil grill grates with a temperature of 400ยฐto 450ยฐ,

corn on the cob with salt and pepper on white plate.

2. Husk and clean corn of silks. Brush with vegetable oil and a light sprinkling of salt and black pepper.

corn on the cob with salt and pepper on white plate,

3. Grill for 10-12 minutes, turning and moving around every 3-4 minutes.

grilled corn with char.

4. Cook until you are getting the char you want. Add more seasoning of your choice.

For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.

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โฐHow Long to Cook Corn on the Grill

It will take about 10 to 12 minutes to grill corn without the husk and not in foil at 450ยฐ. Grill until the corn is tender and has moderate char.

Corn on the cob wrapped with foil or still in the husk will take about 20 minutes to cook. All methods require frequent moving of the corn and will vary by the grill temperature and size of the corn.

๐ŸŒฝHow to Pick the Best Corn on the Cob

  1. Do not peel back the husk to look; it provides no useful information and will accelerate the deterioration of that cornโ€”bad for you if you buy it and for the seller if you don't.
  2. The first step to the best corn is where you get it. The best, in order, is your garden, your neighbor's vegetable stand, the farmer's market, and finally, the supermarket.
  3. Examine the tassel; it should be brown and silky, not black and dry, which are signs of older corn.
  4. The husk should be bright green and tight against the corn. It should have good moisture and not be turning yellow or brown on the edges.
  5. Look for little brown holes in the husk, usually near the top. Those are wormholes. Just say no.
  6. Feel the kernels through the husk to ensure they are even and plump.

๐ŸŒก๏ธWhat grill temperature to grill corn on the cob?

The best grill temperature for corn on the cob is 400ยฐ to 450ยฐ, which is medium to medium-high on most gas grills. This is the correct temperature for husked, unhusked, or foil-wrapped corn.

That's the same temperature range for most grilled chicken recipes and pork, such as grilled pork loin chops and tenderloins.

Grilling at high temperatures may burn the surface of the corn before it is tender. If you are cooking with high heat on your gas grill, like grilling New York strip steaks or grilling burgers, decrease the heat in an area of the grill for the corn.

Charcoal grills may be used, but it is harder to control the grill temperature. For more discussion, see A Beginners Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill.

๐Ÿค”How to grill corn on the cob in the husk or aluminum foil?

Both methods depend on the corn's internal moisture to steam cook it in a closed space. Both will take about 20 minutes or more to cook at 450ยฐ, although the corn with husks may take a few more minutes. Be sure to rotate every 4 minutes.

To grill in the husk, soak the corn in the husk in water for 20 minutes after trimming off the silks and loose husk. To grill in foil, remove all husk and silks and wrap tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil or double wrap in standard foil.

โ“FAQs

How to get the sweetest corn on the cob.

There are several hundred types of corn on the cob, commonly called sweet corn. Some have enhanced the sweetness; you wouldnโ€™t know the variety unless you planted the corn.

What you can control is the freshness since the sugar in the corn starts to deteriorate rapidly as soon as picked and, in 3-4 days, will be mostly starch. The easiest route for most of us to the sweetest corn is getting the freshest corn.

What is Mexican street corn (elote)?

Mexican street corn, known as elote, is sold by street vendors. The husk is peeled back and tied with twine, then grilled and coated with a spicy sauce of mayo, sour cream, crumbly cheese, and spices, commonly topped with lime juice and cilantro.

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions

grilled corn on the cob in a holder

Grilled Corn on the Cob Without Husks

4.36 from 14 votes
From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
The best grilled corn on the cob is quick and easy with a few tips. Pick the best corn, husk, and a brush of oil with salt and pepper, and finish by grilling over medium heat until tender with some delicious char. It's not hard, and it's so goodโ€”no husk and no aluminum foil are needed.
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjustable :2
Print | Pin | Email share | Like and save for later Saved!

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric
  • 2 ears corn - husked and cleaned, do as many as you need
  • vegetable oil
  • salt
  • pepper
  • butter - to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions
 

  • Husk and clean corn of silks. Brush with vegetable oil and a light sprinkling of salt and black pepper.
  • Grill over medium-high heat of 400ยฐ to 450ยฐ surface temperature for about 10-12 minutes, turning and moving around every 3 minutes.
  • Cook until you are getting the char you want. Serve with the seasoning of your choice.

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

  1. Assuming you are cooking this with something else, corn can tolerate a hot grill but cooks much faster and can easily burn. Most chicken and most pork recipes are cooked at the suggested temperature for corn. For steak or burgers, create a lower temp section on the grill.
  2. Fresh corn equals the sweetest corn.
  3. You don't need to peek at the corn under the husk. The silk needs to be brown and moist, not black and dry. The husk should be moist and bright green, and the kernels should feel full through it.

Your Own Private Notes

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To adjust the recipe size:

You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.

Nutrition Estimate (may vary)

Calories : 98 kcal (5%)Carbohydrates : 11 g (4%)Protein : 2 g (4%)Fat : 5 g (8%)Saturated Fat : 2 g (10%)Polyunsaturated Fat : 1 gMonounsaturated Fat : 1 gCholesterol : 5 mg (2%)Sodium : 850 mg (35%)Potassium : 1 mgFiber : 2 g (8%)Sugar : 5 g (6%)Vitamin A : 50 IU (1%)

Originally Published August 20, 2010. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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  1. Patty says

    June 22, 2017 at 6:29 am

    I only make corn on the cob 2 ways. This is my favorite way! But occasionally I will milk boil it. Milk boiled reminds me of my Granny. That's how she always made hers. The 1st time I told my oldest granddaughter that I was going to grill the corn naked...she couldn't understand why I could GRILL naked but had (at the request of their parents) told her & her brother that they were to old to SWIM naked. Of course being from the south we don't ever think we're too old to skinny dip. But that's a whole different story...lol.

    Reply
    • DrDan says

      June 23, 2017 at 10:52 am

      Hi Patty,

      This is just a post title I just had to use. I remember my mother and grandmother always boiled the corn with a splash of milk in the water.

      While I love that char from the grill, recently, I seem to never have the space on the grill and end up with the microwave method which is always good. https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/how-to-cook-corn-on-cob-three-easy/

      Thanks for the note.
      Dan

  2. Lori says

    September 05, 2016 at 10:20 pm

    Yummy

    Reply
  3. Charlene says

    September 09, 2010 at 12:59 pm

    I wanted grilled corn this last week, and my husband thought it should be wraped in foil on top of the husks. It was horrible, not even as good as corn in the husks I do in the microwave. Thanks for these tips, I'll do the grilling myself next time and do it right!

    Reply
  4. Julie says

    August 20, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    Sounds simple enough even I could do it :)

    Reply
  5. Dr Dan says

    August 20, 2010 at 7:19 pm

    It's not grilled corn without char. Corn boiled is great for what it is and in January I'm fine with it but not in the summer.

    Reply
  6. Chris says

    August 20, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    Whatever way I grill my corn (I've tried many of the ways you mention), I like to have char on it at the end so they end up naked at some point.

    Hard to be that taste on the cob or in a salsa.

    Reply

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