After testing countless methods in my kitchen, I can confidently say Instant Pot Corn on the Cob is the easiest, most reliable way to get perfectly juicy, tender corn every single time. In just about 10 minutes, you can cook fresh or frozen corn. No boiling pots of water, no babysitting the stove. As someone who develops and tests quick family-friendly recipes for busy home cooks, I love how foolproof and flavorful this method is. Once you try it, there’s a good chance you’ll never go back to any other cooking method!
There's nothing better than a big ear of buttery corn when it's in season! Here in the United States, it's a summertime staple alongside German potato salad and chicken burgers, and using an Instant Pot is by far the easiest way to cook it.
With no need to worry about standing over a pot of boiling water, corn on the cob in the Instant Pot requires minimal prep time and is ready to eat in just 10 minutes. Plus, when pressure cooking, you can use fresh or frozen corn, and enjoy your favorite side dish all year round!
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Why this Corn in Instant Pot is Great!
- No need to worry about boiling water! There's nothing worse than filling a big pot of water and waiting for it to boil on the stove top before you can boil corn. This recipe uses just 1 cup of water to make perfect corn each time you make it.
- It cooks up fast! The Instant Pot takes a few minutes to come up to pressure and then it cooks for just 5 minutes. If you were to wait for a pot of water to boil and then for the corn to cook, it could take upwards of 30 minutes before the corn is cooked.
- You can make corn year-round! Corn is typically a summer vegetable, but if you use frozen corn, you can enjoy corn throughout the year when you make it in the Instant Pot!
Instant Pot Corn, Simple Ingredients to Gather
All you need to make this easy corn recipe are the following ingredients.
- 6 ears of sweet corn. If you have a larger Instant Pot you may be able to fit more cobs into the Instant Pot. Do not let the corn exceed the "Fill" line on the Instant Pot.
- Water. To steam the corn.
Be sure to check out the printable recipe card for full recipe information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Step 1: Place the trivet insert or steamer basket in the bottom of the pot. Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot.
Step 2: Add the fresh or frozen corn cobs to the top of the trivet insert in the Instant Pot. The corn does not need to be in a single layer!
Step 3: Cover the Instant Pot and close the lid. Make sure the lid is set to the sealing position.
Step 4: Set the Instant Pot to 5 minutes on high pressure.
Step 5: After the cooking cycle has finished, carefully quick release the pressure from the Instant Pot steam valve on top of the lid. Use tongs to remove the corn from the Instant Pot, and serve warm.
How to Serve Corn on the Cob (Instant Pot)
Pressure cooker corn is an easy side dish for any barbecue!
- Simply with melted butter and a sprinkle of salt and black pepper.
- Now that the corn is cooked, you can remove the corn kernels from the cob and use them in salsas, salads, or in a variety or side dishes.
- Place the corn directly on the grill to get a few grill marks and to char the kernels a bit.
- Slather butter, feta cheese, and fresh herbs for a take on Mexican street corn.
- Alongside Instant Pot pulled chicken, chicken Caesar pasta salad, Mediterranean orzo pasta salad, Smoked tomahawk steak, Smoked Shotgun Shells, or Instant Pot chicken thighs.
Tips and Tricks for Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot
- The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come up to pressure before it begins the 5-minute cook cycle. If you use hot water, the time to come up to pressure will be less, and cold water will make the pressure time increase.
- If you are not removing the husks from the corn, cut off an inch piece of the end of the ears so they fit into the pot easily.
- Once the 5-minute cook time is up, release the pressure immediately. If you leave the corn in the Instant Pot for too long, you'll have soggy corn on your hands!
- If you are not serving the corn immediately, place it on a serving dish, and cover the cobs with aluminum foil to keep them warm.
- Serve this corn with Salmon on the Blackstone griddle!
Corn in Instant Pot Frequently Asked Questions
Place leftover corn cobs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can serve the leftover corn cold, room temperature, or you can heat up the corn cobs in the microwave for 2 minutes.
Yes! You can freeze cooked corn easily. Place the cooked corn cobs in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To defrost, simply place the bag in the refrigerator and let it defrost in the refrigerator.
When picking ears of corn, my favorite way to find a good corn cob is to gently pull down the husk and silk from the top of the corn. If it looks like the corn kernels are plump and juicy, you've got a good ear of corn. Make sure none of the corn kernels are dried up or brown.
Other Recipes To Try!
Did you love this Instant Pot Corn on the Cob Recipe? If you did, don't forget to tag me on social media on Instagram or Facebook and share this recipe on Pinterest! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these delicious recipes!
📖 Recipe
Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 Ears of Corn
- 1 cup Water
Instructions
- Place the trivet insert into the inner pot. Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot.
- Add the fresh or frozen corn cobs to the top of the trivet insert in the Instant Pot. The corn does not need to be in a single layer. If you are not removing the husks from the corn, cut off an inch piece of the end of the ears so they fit into the pot.
- Cover the Instant Pot and make sure the lid is set to the sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to 5 minutes on high pressure.
- After the cooking cycle has finished, carefully quick release the pressure from the Instant Pot steam valve on top of the lid. Use tongs to remove the corn from the Instant Pot and serve.
Notes
- The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come up to pressure before it begins the 5-minute cook cycle. If you use hot water, the time to come up to pressure will be less, and cold water will make the pressure time increase.
- Once the 5-minute cook time is up, release the pressure immediately. If you leave the corn in the Instant Pot for too long, you'll have soggy corn on your hands.
- If you are not serving the corn immediately, place the corn on a serving dish and cover the corn with aluminum foil to keep it warm.
Rebekah Kuk says
Genius idea! I use my instant pot for so many things, but never thought to make corn on the cob with it. It turned out perfectly.
Alex Bala says
Corn is always in high demand especially in the summer! I love this because I don't have to boil a big pot of water. I can set it and forget it! Thanks for the idea.
Sachi says
I love how easily I can cook corn in an Instant pot, thanks for the recipe!
Mandy Applegate says
I hadn't tried cooking corn on the cob in my instant pot and they turned out great - will be cooking them like this in the future!
Shelby says
I never thought of frezing corn, that's a genius tip. Thanks!
Allyssa says
Highly recommended! Thanks a lot for this amazing and super easy to make beef barley recipe! It's really tasty and very flavorful! Will surely have this again!
Claire says
This was so cool, I always boil frozen corn and feel it gets super watery! In the instant pot with the trivet, no extra water, so clever.
Jennifer says
Loved how easy this was! The corn turned out perfectly and it was ready so quickly!
Linda says
Instant pot is a lifesaver and I'm excited to make this recipe on repeat!