How to Reheat Corn on the Cob

If you’ve got leftover corn on the cob from the night before then you don’t have to suffer and enjoy it cold. You can, in fact, reheat it pretty easily… In fact, there are so many options when you decide to reheat corn on the cob.

You can grill it, bake it, poach it, microwave it or air fry it. Each method has benefits and drawbacks, so read through each option below and decide which will work best for you.

How to Reheat Corn on the Cob on the Grill

Corn of the cob is an excellent addition to any summer BBQ. While you’re grilling some burgers and hot dogs, you can also throw corn on the cob there to reheat. If you’ve already got the BBQ fired up, this is the best way to reheat corn on the cob.

Grilling the corn on the cob will give the corn those pleasing grill lines and a slight smokiness. Of course, lighting the BBQ just to reheat corn is a bit extravagant so you can achieve this under your oven grill too:

1. Cover With Butter
   To ensure that the corn on the cob remains hydrated while being reheated, brush some butter directly onto the corn. 
2. Move To The Grill
   Do not place the cob directly in the centre of your grill. Instead, put it somewhere slightly to the side of the grill where the heat is more medium than high. 
3. Reheat
   Allow the corn on the cob to reheat for 20 seconds. 
4. Rotate
   After 20 seconds, use a pair of tongs to rotate the cob 90 degrees. Then, leave to heat for a further 20 seconds. 
5. Repeat
   Continue to rotate the cob every 20 seconds until the corn is hot. This will take roughly 2 rotations but may take longer depending on your grill’s temperature. 
6. Serve
   Remove the corn on the cobs from the grill and serve immediately. 

How to Reheat Corn on the Cob in the Oven

When it comes to the end of corn on the cob’s harvesting season, you don’t have to brave the cold to enjoy a well-reheated cob. You can instead use your oven. 

Using your oven to reheat your corn on the cob does take a few minutes longer than when using the grill, but the results will be even more juicy and sweet as you will be using the oven to steam the cobs: 

1. Preheat The Oven 
   Set your oven to 200°C before prepping the corn on the cob. 
2. Prep A Baking Dish 
   In a baking dish, pour some cold water until there is around 1 centimetre of water in the bottom. You could use a baking tray instead, but the tray will need to be deep enough to hold enough water without spilling everywhere. 

3. Organise The Corn
   Take your corn on the cobs and equally space them in the baking dish. Do not let the cobs touch each other as they could end up stuck together. 
4. Cover With Foil 
   Cover the baking dish with kitchen foil to create the steam needed to rehydrate to cobs. Fold down the foil’s sides to keep the steam trapped. 

5. Reheat
   Place the dish in the centre of your oven. Then set a timer for 4 minutes and leave the cobs to heat. 
6. Remove The Water
   After 4 minutes, uncover the cobs and carefully pour the water out of the baking tray. 
7. Brush With Butter
   Take a pastry brush and cover the tops of the corn in a thin layer of butter. 

8. Reheat (Again) 
   Place the cobs back in the oven for another minute or until the butter has melted into the corn. Then serve and enjoy. 

How to Reheat Corn on the Cob in the Microwave

Of course, the easiest way to reheat just about anything is to use the microwave. However, be warned that you may find it a little soggy. No one wants wet corn! Here’s a step-by-step method for reheating corn on the cob in the microwave:

1. Prepare
   Place the corn on the cob in a microwave-safe dish.
2. Add Water
   Sprinkle a bit of water over the corn to help generate steam.

3. Cover
   Optionally, cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, leaving a small gap for steam to escape.
4. Microwave
   Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, depending on the size and number of cobs.

5. Remove
   Using oven mitts or a tea towel, carefully remove the dish from the microwave.
6. Stand
   Let it stand for a minute, then carefully remove the covering, watching out for hot steam then serve the corn immediately with a pat of butter or seasoning of your choice.

How to Reheat Corn on the Cob on the Hob

Using the hob stovetop can be effective, especially if you want to retain the corn’s moisture and flavour. Here’s a simple method:

1. Choose Your Pan
   Use a large enough skillet or frying pan to accommodate the number of corn cobs you intend to reheat.
2. Butter or Water
   There are two primary methods:
   • Butter Method: Melt a generous pat of butter in the skillet over medium heat. This adds flavour and prevents the corn from drying out.
   • Water Method: Add enough water to the skillet to cover the base, around half an inch or so. This creates a steaming effect to reheat the corn.

3. Place the Corn
   Once the butter is melted (or water is simmering), place the corn cobs in the skillet. If you’re using water, you can cover the skillet with a lid to trap steam, ensuring a more even and faster reheating.
4. Turn Regularly
   Whether you’re using butter or water, turn the corn every couple of minutes to ensure even reheating.

5. Monitor Heat
   Keep an eye on the heat. If the water starts to evaporate too quickly, you might need to add a bit more. If using butter, ensure it doesn’t burn; you might need to adjust the heat or add a touch more butter.
6. Check for Warmth
   After 5-7 minutes (depending on the size and number of cobs and how cold they were), use a fork to test a kernel. If it’s warm to your liking, the corn is ready.
7. Serve and Season
   Remove the corn from the skillet and place it on a plate. Season with additional butter, salt, or any other favourite seasonings before serving.

How to Reheat Corn on the Cob in the Air Fryer

Reheating corn on the cob in an air fryer can be a great method as it retains the corn’s texture and can reintroduce a bit of a roasted flavour. Here’s a step-by-step method:

1. Preheat
   Preheat your air fryer to around 180°C.
2. Brush
   Lightly brush the corn with a bit of oil or melted butter. This ensures it doesn’t dry out during reheating.
3. Add Corn
   Place the corn cobs in the air fryer basket, ensuring they’re not overcrowded.
4. Reheat
   Reheat for 3-4 minutes. If the corn was refrigerated and particularly cold, you might need another minute or two.
5. Check
   Check the corn. If it’s heated to your liking, remove it. Otherwise, give it another minute or so. Serve immediately with your preferred seasoning or condiments.

Tips for Reheating Corn on the Cob

The key to reheating corn on the cob is rehydrating the corn as much as possible without diluting the flavour of the corn. That is how you can recreate fresh corn without any effort.

Follow these tips to achieve the freshest-tasting corn on the cob, no matter how you choose to reheat the cobs: 

• Use Neutral Butter: It may be tempting to go crazy with various butter flavours when prepping the corn to be reheated. However, this can completely disbalance the taste of the corn itself. When reheating corn on the cob, use neutral-flavoured butter. Then, once the corn has been reheated, you can pair it with any flavours you wish. 
• Warm Up: Before reheating it, allow it to come up to room temperature. This will speed up the reheating and ensure you get an even heat.
• Husks On: If you’ve stored your corn with the husks still on, they can act as a natural barrier to moisture loss. This is especially handy when reheating on the grill or oven.
• Aluminium Foil: When reheating on a grill or in an oven, you can wrap the corn in aluminium foil. This helps to provide even heating and prevents the corn from drying out. Add a drop of water or butter inside the foil for added moisture.
• Two-Turn Technique: If using a grill, employ the two-turn technique. Heat one side for a few minutes, then give the corn a half-turn, and then another few minutes and a final half-turn. This ensures even reheating and char.
• Check by Kernel: The best way to know if your corn is heated is by testing the corn kernels. If it’s warm to your liking, the entire cob likely is too.
• Reheat with Milk: If you’re reheating corn using a stovetop method, consider warming it in a mix of milk and water. This can reintroduce some creaminess to the kernels.
• Avoid Overheating: Corn contains natural sugars which can become tough or chewy if overheated. It’s better to aim for a gentle reheat than to blast it with high heat quickly.
• Re-season: Always remember, reheating can sometimes dilute flavour. After reheating, don’t forget to season your corn again, whether it’s with butter, salt, or any of your favourite seasonings.
• Don’t Overcook It: As corn on the cob is just sweetcorn still left on the cob, it tends to dry out as sweetcorn does. The times listed in the methods above are the perfect lengths of time to ensure the corn retains its juicy sweetness. Reheating the cob any longer will ruin the corn’s flavour and texture.