National Corn on the Cob Day is on Friday, June 11, 2027, and it falls on June 11 every year. It celebrates sweet corn, buttered, grilled or boiled and eaten right off the cob. It’s an early start to the summer cookout season.
When Is National Corn on the Cob Day?
It’s always June 11. It’s an unofficial food day. Local sweet corn peaks later in summer in many northern states, but southern crops are often ready by June.
Who Started National Corn on the Cob Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Background: where fresh sweet corn comes from
Sweet corn is a different crop from the field corn grown for animal feed and processing. The top four states for fresh-market sweet corn are California, Florida, Georgia and New York, a University of Florida review notes.
Why Fresh Corn Tastes Best
Sweet corn is at its best right after harvest. Once ears are ripe, the sugar in the kernels starts turning to starch, Fine Gardening explains. Gardeners have about three days before the sweetness fades.
That’s why many cooks try to boil the water before they pick the corn. Newer “supersweet” varieties hold their sugar longer, but fresh is still best. The day celebrates that short, sweet window.
How to tell when corn is ripe
Check the silks: they should be brown, dry and shriveled, about three weeks after they first appear. Then pierce a kernel with your fingernail. Milky liquid means it’s ready; clear, watery liquid means it needs more time.
How to Celebrate National Corn on the Cob Day
- Grill it in the husk: soak ears in water for 15 minutes, then grill for about 15 to 20 minutes, turning often.
- Boil it quickly: drop shucked ears into boiling water for just a few minutes.
- Make elote: slather grilled corn with mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder and lime, Mexican street-corn style.
- Try flavored butter: mix soft butter with garlic and herbs, or honey and chili.
- Visit a farm stand: buy ears picked that morning for the sweetest flavor.
- Cut it off the cob: toss leftover kernels into salsa, salads or chowder.
- Use the cobs: simmer bare cobs in water for a light corn stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell if corn is ripe at the store?
Look for green, tight husks and brown, slightly sticky silks. Gently feel the ear for plump kernels all the way to the tip.
Should you store corn in the husk?
Yes. Keep it in the husk in the refrigerator and cook it as soon as you can, since the sugar keeps turning to starch.
Is corn on the cob a vegetable or a grain?
Both, depending on how it’s eaten. Fresh sweet corn is cooked as a vegetable, while dried corn is a grain.