How to Reheat Corn on the Cob (5 Simple Ways)

With these simple and easy-to-follow reheating methods, you can have buttery corn on the cob any time, any day.

Whether you’re having it as a side dish or as a snack, corn on the cob is always a sweet and juicy treat. 

But don’t you just hate sinking your teeth into unevenly warmed corn? On one side it’s still a bit cold, while on the other, it’s so hot, it burns your tongue. No fun!

You don’t want to overheat it, either. Dried-up corn on the cob isn’t nearly as a-maize-ing as when it’s perfectly reheated!

If you’ve had trouble reheating corn, you’re not alone.

Fortunately, I have four simple methods for reheating corn on the cob to be sure it stays moist, evenly-heated, and tasty!

How to Reheat Corn on the Cob in the Oven

Reheating via the oven is the best option for getting the most evenly warmed corn on the cob. It takes less than 10 minutes and doesn’t require supervision at all.

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place your corn on a baking dish. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the dish. 
3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and reheat in the oven for 5 minutes.
4. Butter your corn and season with salt and pepper, if desired. 

Another way to reheat your corn on the cob with the oven is to broil it. Here’s how:

1. Place your corn on a cooling tray, then place the tray in a baking sheet.
2. Pop the sheet in the oven. Make sure it’s at least 6 inches away from the heat source. 
3. Broil it for one minute and rotate it 45 degrees. Repeat the step until you’ve done two full rotations. 

How to Reheat Corn on the Cob in the Microwave

This option is super convenient, but you’ll need to follow these steps, otherwise your corn will be unevenly warm. 

The key is to reheat your corn on the cob in increments. It takes a little bit more effort, but it’s worth it!

1. Place your corn on a microwave-safe plate. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to the dish and cover it with a plate or damp towel. This will steam the corn and prevent it from drying out.
2. Microwave it on medium for 45 seconds and flip the corn over. Microwave for another 30 to 45 seconds.
3. If the corn hasn’t warmed enough, microwave for another 30 seconds. 

Note: be careful when removing the lid off the plate. Because you’ve added water to it, there will be hot steam coming out from the dish.

How to Reheat Corn on the Cob in Boiling Water

Another quick and easy way to reheat your corn is to boil it in water.

1. All you need is to boil water in a large pot, add your corn, and boil for just 2 minutes. 
2. Slather it with butter and salt for more flavor.

Note: Some people think adding salt to the water will give the corn more flavor, but all this does is dry out the kernels. Instead, season your corn post-reheating.

How to Reheat Corn on the Cob on the Grill

Grilling is a fantastic option because it adds a new dimension of flavor to your corn.

Plus, if you used the grill to cook your corn, you’ll want to reheat it using the same method. Reheating by any other method in this case will just give you subpar quality corn. 

Start by brushing your corn with oil or butter. Place it on your grill and rotate it every 30 seconds until all sides are warm.

This won’t take long — just about 2 full rotations will do.

How to Reheat Frozen Corn on the Cob

If you’re dealing with frozen corn, you’ll need to do things a little differently. Don’t worry, though, because the steps are still super easy.

1. Start by placing your corn in a large pot of cold water.
2. Boil the water over high heat. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low and keep cooking for 5 to 8 minutes.
3. Drain the corn and season with salt, pepper, and butter.

Tips & Tricks

• When shopping for corn, you’ll want to check the husk. It should have a vibrant green hue and no dried out leaves. Also, check for wormholes — you don’t want to see any of those on your corn.

Here’s another way to check for freshness: give your corn a squeeze. It should be firm, but not squishy. 

• Don’t leave your corn at the counter. The sugar in the corn attracts bacteria, so be sure to refrigerate it as soon as it cools to room temperature. This takes about 2 hours.

Wrap the corn in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or a Ziploc bag to prevent air exposure. When using a Ziploc bag, squeeze out as much excess air as you can before you seal it.

Store it in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. 

• You can also freeze uncooked corn on the cob for up to 12 months. Leave the husk on and pop it in the freezer! The husk will act as a natural covering that will protect your corn from ice crystals.

If your corn has already been husked, just place it in a freezer-safe bag, squeeze out excess air, seal, label, and freeze. Husked corn on the cob will keep well in the freezer for up to 6 to 8 months.

• If you’re dealing with previously cooked corn, however, I don’t recommend freezing it as is. It’s better to remove the kernels from the cob or it won’t keep well in the freezer.

Once the kernels are out of the cob, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Flash-freeze it for 30 minutes to an hour.

Transfer the kernels into a freezer-safe bag, squeeze out excess air, seal, and freeze. Frozen corn kernels will keep well for up to a year. Once it’s defrosted, you can store it in the fridge for 3 days.