Anyway you cook it, fresh corn and butter are perfect party fare

Boiled
Remove the husks and the silk and place cobs of corn in boiling water for 5-6 minutes.

 

Perfect Match: Herbed Onion Butter on boiled corn on the cob
Butter, basil, parsely, chives, green onion and oregano formed into a log and melted over steaming cobs of corn.

Roasted
Keep the corn wrapped either in its husk or in aluminum foil, and place it directly in hot coals or the embers of a campfire for 15-20 minutes. For convenience, corn can also be roasted in a 350ºF (180ºC) oven on a baking sheet for about 30 minutes.

 

Perfect Match: Bacon and Tomato Butter Spread on roasted corn on the cob
Butter, crumbled cooked bacon, sundried tomatoes and basil spread over the cob before it's wrapped in its husk and roasted over a fire or in the oven.

Grilled
Corn grilled on the BBQ is tender and delicious!

 

American-style: brushed with melted butter and cooked right on the grill for about 15 minutes.

or wrapped in aluminum foil and cooked on the coals

Perfect Match: Tequila Lime Butter Mop on grilled corn on the cob
Melted butter mixed with tequila, lime, and cayenne pepper basted over corn on the grill.

Microwaved
Quick and tasty for the corn-lover with a busy schedule! For those of us who learned to cook using an oven and stovetop, a microwave is only good for heating up certain liquids and dishes in sauce! However, I admit that the microwave is unequalled for cooking corn because it retains all the kernels' flavour while making them nice and tender. All you have to do is remove the largest outer leaves, without uncovering the kernels; allow 3 minutes per ear on high power…. that's it!

Steamed
Ears of corn can be steamed (ideal for preserving their flavour and nutritional properties. See microwaved.

Sautéed
When sautéing corn kernels in butter, a little minced onion is a tasty addition

To soak or not to soak?
When grilling, roasting and micro waving corn, some corn connoisseurs swear by pre-soaking the cobs in their husks. Others skip the soaking, but peel back the husks and brush some butter on the cobs before cooking. No mather soaking or buttering, the important point is to create humidity so to keep corn moist and tender.

 

---

How do I butter thee? Let me count the ways…

Cold
Kids love to roll their steaming cob of corn on a block of cold, fresh butter. The butter coats the cob and melts a cob-shaped curve right into the block.

Softened
Softened butter melts right onto the cob. To soften butter, cut the amount you require into small pieces. Put the butter on a plate over a bowl of hot water, or beat the butter with an electric mixture.

Melted
Some corn lovers prefer to dip hot corn on the cob into melted butter. Melt butter in a double boiler so it doesn't burn, and then put it in a tall container for easy dipping.

Before Cooking
When grilling or roasting corn, peel back the husks, spread a little butter onto the corn and then re-wrap with the husks. This adds moisture and flavour during the cooking process.

 

Perfect Match: Chili Lime Butter

Flavoured
Butter can be flavoured with herbs and spices to jazz up classic corn on the cob. Some ideas: garlic, tarragon, dill, chili powder, limejuice, or honey.

 

Perfect Match: Rosemary and Thyme Butter