I love corn on the cob! However, when it comes to cooking it perfectly, I have struggled with knowing how long to boil it for and how high of heat to cook it in, which sometimes leads to mushy corn.
Most people will boil their corn on the cob. I use a large stock pot full of water and bring it to a boil, then add my corn and let it cook for 3-4 minutes (don’t go any longer if you want it crisp! Most people over-boil their corn). I discovered that you can cook corn on the cob in your Instant Pot, and I will never go back to cooking it any other way ever again!
Recipe Ingredient Notes
To make our corn on the cob in the Instant Pot, you need corn and water. Butter and salt are optional additions after the corn is prepared.
Equipment Needed
I have the Instant Pot LUX 6 Quart 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker. It’s basically 6 appliances in 1 – pressure cooker, rice cooker, sauté, steamer, cake maker, and warmer.
The only things that you need to make corn on the cob is water, corn on the cob, and a trivet to put in the bottom of your pot. Most Instant Pot’s come with a trivet, but if you don’t have one, you can find one here.
In a pinch, you can substitute a metal lid of a large jar in place of the trivet. A stainless steel cookie cutter or small bowl will also do the trick. Whatever you use, you want to be sure that it’s made of food-grade heat resistant materials. You can cook this without a trivet, but it may leak some of the flavor from the corn into the water. The cooking time will remain the same though.
How to Make Corn on The Cob in the Instant Pot
- Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the pot. Some people will say to add milk or even butter at this point, but it’s completely unnecessary. Water does the job and then you can add all that good stuff after it’s done cooking.
- Remove the husks and silk from the corn and and place 2-3 ears of corn on top of the trivet. Stack 2-3 more ears of corn on top of those, turned the opposite direction. I have done as few as 2 ears of corn and as many as 8 ears of corn at a time.Some people prefer to cook their corn in the husks. If you do this, just add 1 more minute to the cook time.
- Place the lid on the instant pot and turn the valve to “sealing”.
- Press the “MANUAL” button and set timer for 2 minutes. Then walk away and let the Instant Pot do it’s magic!
- As soon as it is finished cooking, press the cancel button to turn off the heat and do a “quick release” on the pressure. Remove the lid after all the pressure has been released.
- For this recipe, you don’t want to let the corn stay in the Instant Pot – you want to get it out as soon as possible to keep it from getting soggy, squishy, or shriveled.
- When it’s done, slather butter, salt and pepper over that crisp and tender corn . . . it’s delicious!
Enjoy More Delicious Side Dishes
Need the perfect compliment to your main dish? You’ll want to try these delicious side dishes. Browse our comprehensive collection of simple side dish recipes.
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Instant Pot Corn on the Cob Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 ears corn, (husks and silk removed)
- 1 cup water
Equipment
Instructions
- Place trivet in the bottom of Instant Pot.
- Pour water into bottom of Instant Pot.
- Place 2-3 ears of corn on top of the trivet. Stack 2-3 more ears of corn on top of those, turned the opposite direction.
- Place the lid on the instant pot and turn the valve to "sealing".
- Press the "manual" button and set timer for 2 minutes. Then walk away and let the Instant Pot do it's magic!
- As soon as it is finished cooking, press the cancel button to turn off the heat and do a "quick release" on the pressure. Remove the lid after all the pressure has been released.
- Use tongs to remove hot corn from Instant Pot. Slather with butter, salt, and pepper and enjoy.



















Where do you buy good corn on the cob this time of the year
Our Kroger store has some corn on the cob in the produce dept. Some are already shucked and pre packaged and come 4 to a package.
Absolutely love all of your recipes.
Couple of questions:
1. When using the manual pressure should it always be on high unless specified?
2. On my Instant Pot … There’s another option below Low/High for Less, Normal or More. Which of those settings should be used?
Thank you so much for your help 🙂
I have is the same Instant Pot for couple years now. I’d love to buy a larger instant pot. After these few years they probably have many styles. What is the air fryer lid? Is that a separate accessory?
I’d like a 10’qt which do you recommend? I might buy two maybe a 8 and 10! You can’t have many. We invite the kids and grandkids a lot.
The Air Fryer Lid can be purchased separately. We love our 8 quart for bigger recipes.
Thanks I did for frist time was very good
I have some corn on the cob in the freezer in vacuum sealed bags. I would have to open up the bag as I have 6 ears to a bag and it’s just two of us; however, sometimes I would cook all 6 or as much and I can as there are 11 when we all get together. How long would you cook it this way from frozen?
Place your frozen or fresh corn in the cobs (ours were cut in half) into your pot and close lid and steam valve.
Close lid and vent to closed. Pressure cook on high for 3 minutes for whole cobs of frozen corn on the cob or 2 minutes for fresh corn on the cob.
Do a natural release for 1 minute, then a quick release when done and serve immediately for best results. The added time at the end will allow it to continue to steam as it sits in there.
Great recipe. After 50 yrs of cooking I found a way to make corn taste like sweet corn. Boiling the corn in pot with 1/2 cup of sugar for 10 minutes on slow boil. I don’t want to use pots any more just my insta pot. Can you figure out how to make a sweet corn insta pot recipe please
Thanks for the suggestion – we will definitely keep it in mind!
Corn cooked perfectly and tasted great! Much easier than waiting on a pot to boil and then ending up with soggy tasteless ears!
I have had the recommendation of this recipe from two different sources one being sick sisters or should that be seven sources either way it’s amazing. I can use a total of 8 to 10 years of corn in my 8 quart and six no problem at all if they’re not too long in my court.