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Perfect Sous Vide Sweet Corn on the Cob – Easy & Delicious Recipe

Perfect Sous Vide Sweet Corn on the Cob - Easy & Delicious Recipe

Discover the magic of sous vide cooking with this mouthwatering corn on the cob recipe. Prepare for an explosion of flavor and juiciness that will revolutionize your corn game!

Sous vide cooking brings out the best in corn, delivering unparalleled tenderness and a concentrated, sweet corn flavor that’s impossible to achieve through traditional methods. While there are many great ways to prepare corn, sous vide takes it to a whole new level of deliciousness.

Forget about tough, dry corn! With sous vide, each kernel bursts with natural sweetness and moisture. This method locks in all the goodness, resulting in the most flavorful corn you’ve ever tasted.

The Science Behind Sous Vide Corn

Sous vide cooking excels with corn due to its precise temperature control. At 183°F (84°C), the corn’s pectin begins to break down, creating that perfect tender-crisp texture we all crave. The sealed bag environment intensifies the corn’s natural flavors, producing an ear of corn that’s essentially a more robust version of itself.

Unlike some vegetables that can become overpowering when cooked sous vide, corn benefits from this flavor concentration. The result? Corn that tastes more like corn than you ever thought possible!

To Brine or Not to Brine?

Here’s a game-changing tip: skip the brine! Contrary to popular belief, brining corn before cooking can actually make it drier and tougher. Our tests show that unbrined corn cooked sous vide comes out juicier and more tender every time.

The beauty of this method? It’s both the tastiest and the easiest. No pre-soaking required – just pop your corn in the bag and let the sous vide magic happen!

Flavor Boosters: What to Add to Your Sous Vide Bag

While the corn itself is the star of the show, you can elevate its flavor even further with some choice additions to your sous vide bag. Here are some winning combinations we’ve discovered:

  • Dried ancho chile for a subtle smoky heat
  • Cilantro stems for a fresh, herbal note
  • Lemon zest for a bright, citrusy kick
  • Garlic for a savory depth

But here’s the kicker: the corn husks themselves are one of the best flavor enhancers! Cooking the corn in its husk inside the bag imparts a complex, grassy note that complements the sweet kernels beautifully.

Troubleshooting Your Sous Vide Corn

Even the best cooks encounter challenges. Here are some tips to ensure your sous vide corn turns out perfectly every time:

  1. Keep it submerged: Use a pot lid rack or clip a weight to the bag to keep your corn fully immersed in the water bath.
  2. Prevent leaks: Triple-seal your bags to avoid any water seeping in during the cooking process.
  3. Watch the time: While sous vide is forgiving, corn can become mushy if left too long. Aim for about 30 minutes at 183°F for optimal results.

Sous Vide Corn on the Cob Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 ears corn, still in the husk, both ends trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons butter, plus more for serving
  • Kosher salt
  • Aromatics such as cilantro, scallion, garlic, or dried chiles if desired (see notes)

Directions

  1. Set your sous vide precision cooker to 183°F (84°C). Place corn, butter, salt, and any chosen aromatics into 1 or 2 vacuum-seal bags. Seal the bags, adding two extra seals on each end for security.
  2. To keep the corn submerged, clip a heavy metal spoon or knife to each bag using a binder clip. Place the bags in the sous vide cooker and let them work their magic for 30 minutes. Once done, open the bags, remove the corn from the husks, discard aromatics and husks, and serve your perfectly cooked corn with extra butter on the side.

Notes

When adding aromatics to the bag, remember that a little goes a long way. A few herb sprigs or half a dried chile should provide plenty of flavor without overpowering the corn.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
127 Calories
7g Fat
17g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 127
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 481mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 4mg 22%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 174mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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