I discovered Instant Pot Corn on the Cob a few summers ago. I was cooking at home when I realized every cooking space was taken and I didn’t know where I was going to cook the corn. We had our family over and lot of food was being prepared and I needed that corn to go somewhere! Luckily, I knew my Instant Pot had saved the day before- so I put it to use.
You don’t need to spend time standing over a large pot of boiling water trying to cook your corn on the cob- try it in the instant pot! It is done in just a few minutes and the results are consistent every time.
Pressure cooker corn on the cob is truly the easiest way to cook corn. No boiling water, no microwaving, no wrapping in foil and trying to figure out when they are “done” on the grill. Place some water in your Instant Pot, set it for two minutes and it is done!
Why We Love Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot
- Instant pot does all the work: Once you learn to pressure cook corn on the cob you’ll never want to do it any other way. Simply place the corn and water and it is done in just a few minutes!
- Consistent results every time: I used to love grilling corn but depending on the grill temperature, corn temperature and what else was on the grill the time varied so much- it was hard to plan around when the corn would be done. The pressure cooker ensures that the corn is cooked perfectly every time.
- Frees up room for other cooking: your microwave, grill or stove are now free for other use while your Instant Pot does the cooking.
Pair the corn with a slice of sourdough bread slathered in butter and smoked brisket.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Corn on the cob: 5-6 ears of fresh corn, husks removed
- Water
- Butter and salt (optional, add after corn is cooked)
Equipment
- Instant Pot or a pressure cooker
- Trivet (optional)
How to Cook Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot (Step by Step)
- If using, place your trivet inside of your Instant Pot. Pour 1 cup of water in the pot.
- Stack the corn in criss cross layers going around the pot. Seal the lid and set valve to “sealing”
- Set pressure cooker to high for 2 minutes. After the beep, carefully turn the valve to venting for a quick release. Keep face and hands away from the steam.
- When all pressure is released (the pin will drop) you can carefully open the lid and remove the corn immediately.
- Serve with salt and butter or your preferred toppings.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Remove husks prior to cooking. If you cook with husks on, the steam gets trapped in the husks and it is hot (ouch!) and uncomfortable to peel.
Recipe FAQs
The biggest question we get is how long to cook corn on the cob in instant pot and although you only cook for 2 minutes at high pressure that time does not include the time it takes to come to pressure (which can be a few minutes).
Yes, pull off the husks and rub away as much silk as you can before cooking. It’s much easier to do this before cooking than after.
Yes, this keeps the corn out of the water so it steams instead of boils. If you don’t have a trivet or steamer basket be sure to stagger the corn when stacking to allow the steam through.
Yes. Add two to three extra minutes to the cook time since it’s starting frozen.
Other Instant Pot Recipes to Consider
If you tried this instant pot corn on the cob recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Make corn on the cob in the Instant Pot in a few minutes! Once you try it in the instant pot you’ll never stand over a hot grill or a boiling pot again.
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Instructions
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Peel back the outer leaves and pull off all the stringy silk from each ear of corn. Break or cut each ear in half if needed to fit your pot.
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Pour 1 cup of cold water into the bottom of your Instant Pot insert. Place the metal trivet (the rack that came with your Instant Pot) into the pot on top of the water.
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Lay 2 ears of corn on top of the trivet. Then place the remaining ears on top, facing the opposite direction (like a crisscross pattern). This helps them fit and steam evenly.
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Place the lid on your Instant Pot and twist it to lock. Turn the pressure release valve to the Sealing position.
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Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button. Make sure it is set to High Pressure, then set the time to 2 minutes. The Instant Pot will take about 8 to 10 minutes to build pressure before the 2-minute countdown begins.
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When the timer beeps, carefully turn the pressure release valve from Sealing to Venting. Keep your hands and face away from the steam vent, as the steam is very hot. Wait for the steam to fully release and the float valve (the small metal pin on the lid) to drop down completely before opening the lid.
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Use tongs to lift the corn out of the Instant Pot immediately. Leaving it in the pot will cause it to get soggy and shriveled.
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Slather with butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve while hot.
Notes
For corn with husks on: Trim the ends and add 1 extra minute to the cook time (3 minutes total), then quick release.
How many ears fit? A 6-quart Instant Pot holds about 4 large ears of corn (or up to 6 if you cut them in half). You do not need to change the cook time or water amount based on how many ears you add.
8-quart Instant Pot: Use 1½ cups of water instead of 1 cup.
Serve immediately: Corn is best eaten right out of the pot. The longer it sits, the more it can soften.
No trivet? No problem. You can place the corn directly in the water. The trivet just helps keep the corn out of the water so it steams rather than boils.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.2g | Protein: 0.03g | Fat: 0.01g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 0.1mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 0.02mg | Iron: 0.01mg
