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Learn how to make the best Instant Pot Corn on the Cob with simple ingredients in my easy side dish recipe. You’ll never make fresh corn another way!

Five ears of corn cooked in an Instant Pot on a white ceramic serving platter

Growing up, I loved grilling corn in the backyard during the hot summer months. When the grill was in use, we’d boil the corn on the cob in a big pot of water. While it tastes great that way, it takes so long for a large pot of water to boil.

Now that I have an Instant Pot, I turn to it for making dishes that traditionally take a long time to make. After playing around with the Instant Pot method, it’s become my favorite way to cook sweet corn.

You get perfect corn every time with an electric pressure cooker! It’s the easiest way to get juicy corn on the table quickly. It comes out super tender, evenly cooked and delicious too.

Next time you pick up some corn on the cob at the farmers market or one of your local grocery stores, try making it in the Instant Pot. The first time you try it, I think you’ll agree is the easy way to make it.

Table Of Contents

Ingredients
Equipment
By the Numbers: How to Make Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Tips for Making the Best Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob Recipe
More Gluten Free Instant Pot Recipes

Ingredients

5 ears of corn on the cob
1 cup of whole milk
1 cup of filtered water
2 tablespoons of salted butter
Sea salt and black pepper

Equipment

Measuring cups and spoons
6-quart Instant Pot
Tongs
Serving platter

By the Numbers: How to Make Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to make the most tender corn on the cob in your Instant Pot pressure cooker.

Step 1: Add Liquids to Pot.

The first thing you need to do is add 1 cup of water, 1 cup of milk and 2 tablespoons of butter to the bottom of the pot for your Instant Pot.

Water milk and butter in Instant Pot inner pot.

Step 2: Add Corn to Pot.

Remove the husks from each of the 5 ears of corn, then add the corn to your Instant Pot insert with the liquids.

Ears of corn added to Instant Pot with milk, water and butter.

Step 3: Pressure Cook Corn.

Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and set the pressure release valve to the sealing position. Cook on High Pressure using the manual setting for 2-3 minutes, depending on how tender you want your corn.

Once the cooking time is up, allow for a full natural pressure release before removing the lid. Once all of the pressure has dissipated, remove the lid and use tongs to transfer the cooked ears of corn to a serving platter. Rub with a little butter, then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Try herb butter instead for a delicious variation!

Yellow and white corn on the cob cooked in the Instant Pot on a white serving platter.

Tips for Making the Best Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

Answers to all of your questions about making this recipe for easy Instant Pot Corn on the Cob, including tips and serving ideas.

1. How to shuck corn?

If you’ve never made corn on the cob, here’s the best way to shuck it:

Grab an ear of corn and pull the husk in the opposite direction from the top end.
Once you’ve pulled all of the husk down towards the bottom, you can use a sharp knife to cut it off by the end if it’s not easy to tear off.
Once the husk is removed, wash the ear of corn and make sure all of the corn silk has been removed and washed away.

2. Can you make a bigger batch?

Yes, you can cook as many ears of corn in your Instant Pot as you can fit in there. While I typically use my 6-quart, if you have an 8-quart Instant Pot you can fit more in there (just make sure to increase the liquid by 50% if you use the larger model).

Cutting them in half or into smaller pieces will also allow you to fit more. Just don’t go over the fill line in your pot.

3. Do you use the trivet?

I don’t typically use the trivet in my Instant Pot when I’m making corn on the cob. You can if you’d like, but we prefer the flavor when the corn is cooked directly in the liquid. Some people also like using a steamer basket as it makes it easy to remove the ears from the pot after cooking corn.

4. What if it’s under or over cooked?

I find that every Instant Pot cooks just slightly different, so sometimes you have to adjust the cooking method a bit. Try increasing or decreasing the pressure cook time by 1 minute the next time you make it.

If it’s still too cooked, you can quick release the pressure after 10 minutes by moving the sealing valve to the venting position instead of waiting for a full natural pressure release.

5. What main dish to serve with corn on the cob?

While Mexican street corn is popular, we find that pressure cooker corn on the cob is the perfect side dish for Mexican food like:

6. Ways to use corn on the cob?

There are so many uses for cooked corn! You’ll want to use a sharp knife to cut the corn kernels off the cob to make these recipes:

7. How to store leftovers?

If you make too much corn to eat in one night, you can store the leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

8. Can you freeze corn on the cob?

Yes, once you cook it, allow it to cool fully to room temperature, then lay the ears out on a baking sheet and freeze individually until frozen solid (1-2 hours). Wrap each ear of corn tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. Use frozen corn within 2 months.

9. Where to buy corn?

Depending on the time of the year, you can find the best corn at a farm stand since it’s sold near where it’s grown, but we often pick ours up at the Farmer’s Market or from Misfits Market.