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Here’s Why People Boil Corn in Milk

Two corn cobs sit next to con kernels and a glass carafe of milk.
JUMI STORY/Shutterstock.com

Everyone has their own way of cooking certain foods, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try new techniques. If you’re used to cooking corn by boiling it in water, you might want to make a seemingly odd substitution.

You can boil corn in milk, and apparently, it’ll make the dish taste even more delicious.

What’s the deal behind using milk to cook corn? It all comes down to sweetness and sugar content. Most people love corn’s sweet flavor and crunchy texture, and milk can help enhance it. You see, milk has quite the sugar content. When you boil your corn in it, that sweetness only enhances the corn’s natural flavor. Throw in some butter, and you’ve got a delicious side dish for your upcoming cookout.

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To use this trick for sweeter, creamier corn, fill a stock pot halfway with water. Bring to a boil and then add milk and butter. Combine the ingredients and add corn. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook the corn for five to eight minutes. For a bit more flavor, you can add any seasonings or even extra sugar. When finished, remove the corn using tongs and serve immediately.

While yes, milk is a great option, the idea behind this recipe is to bring out the sweetness. If you want to save money, you can also boil corn in sugar water following these same instructions.

Whether you’ve got an end-of-summer cookout coming up or you’re simply making a side dish for dinner, you might want to consider making your corn with milk for some added sweetness.

Shea Simmons Shea Simmons
Shea Simmons is the Assignments Editor at LifeSavvy. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer with a focus on beauty and lifestyle content. Her work has appeared in Bustle, Allure, and Hello Giggles. Read Full Bio »
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