Corn on the cob is sweet and delicious in season, whether you eat it scraped off the cob and sauteed in a pan, steamed quickly, grilled, or even raw, right off the cob. In case you've ever wondered how you can prep it other than these methods, or what can you put on corn other than butter, here's a suggestion: Have you ever tried marinating it and smoking it on the grill or in a smoker?
Using a smoking technique, which takes about an hour over low heat, adds another dimension entirely; it brings out some sweetness in the corn. Soaking the ears ahead of time softens them, and afterward, they're brushed with a marinade of chili and onion powders, paprika, brown sugar, olive oil, and salt that infuses the cobs with additional flavors and aromas.
Smoke corn for an hour or so and remember to leave the husks intact. You can soak and smoke these ahead of time and serve them at room temperature, pack them for a picnic or party, or eat them hot out of the smoker. You can leave them whole or cut them in half if you'd like. But any way you choose to serve these smoked ears, they're delicious.
![Smoked corn on the cob on a plate](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/aT1m05ra2Y9Tu6cJvbqoY6LyZfk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/smoked-corn-on-the-cob-recipe-336609-6629_preview-5b19896dfa6bcc00361482ca.jpeg)
"I was a little afraid that the smoke flavor would be overwhelming, but it wasn't. There was just a delicious hint of smoke that added great depth of flavor to the sweet corn and spicy rub. I only soaked my corn for 1 hour and it was plenty." —Danielle Centoni
![Smoked Corn on the Cob Tester Image](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/xBks3IHZ7-yCLpVXZeYiQsuiA20=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/smoked-corn-on-the-cob-recipe-336609-d-centoni-20201-93559abfca2a4baa910174fa08048f48.jpg)
Ingredients
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Gently pull back the husks on each ear of corn. Remove the silk but not the husks.
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Place the ears in a large pan and fill with water to cover the corn. Let sit for a minimum of 1 hour.
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Combine olive oil with onion powder, brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, and salt.
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Remove from water and brush the corn with oil mixture.
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Pull the husks back over the corn.
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Prepare your smoker and smoke the ears of corn at 225 F/110 C for about 45 minutes to one hour.
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When they're done smoking, pull back the husks and top with green onions. Serve and enjoy.
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Can You Soak Corn on the Cob Too Long?
For this recipe, we recommend soaking the corn for at least an hour, and you can soak it overnight, up to 8 hours, if need be. However, any longer than that, it will become too soft. You want it soft for the smoking process, but not the point where it becomes mushy.
Tip
- Soaking the corn and leaving the husks on while you smoke it will help to steam the corn, while simultaneously ensuring that the corn kernels don't dry out.
- Use extra corn husks to tie the ends of the corn closed, which helps keep the steam and therefore the moisture inside the husks as they smoke.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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290 | Calories |
20g | Fat |
29g | Carbs |
4g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 6 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 290 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 20g | 26% |
Saturated Fat 3g | 14% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 514mg | 22% |
Total Carbohydrate 29g | 11% |
Dietary Fiber 4g | 14% |
Total Sugars 9g | |
Protein 4g | |
Vitamin C 8mg | 41% |
Calcium 30mg | 2% |
Iron 1mg | 7% |
Potassium 333mg | 7% |
*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. |