- Serves
- 6
- Grill heat
- Medium-high, about 400–450°F (approximate)
- Grill time
- About 10–15 minutes (approximate)
Ingredients
Makes 6 ears (serves 6).
- 6 ears fresh corn
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- 4 tbsp (½ stick) butter, softened
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp finely grated lime zest, plus lime wedges to serve
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, optional
Instructions
Prep
- Shuck the corn and pull off the silk. Rinse the ears under running water and pat them dry.
- In a small bowl, mash the butter with the chili powder, lime zest and salt.
- Brush the corn lightly with the oil.
Grill and serve
- Preheat the grill to medium-high, about 400–450°F, and clean the grates.
- Grill the corn directly on the grates, turning every 2–3 minutes, for about 10–15 minutes in total, until the kernels are tender and charred in spots.
- Move the corn to a clean platter and brush it with the chili-lime butter right away. Sprinkle with cilantro if you like, and serve with lime wedges.
Food safety for this recipe
- Brush on the butter after the corn comes off the grill: melted butter dripping onto the burners or coals can cause flare-ups.
- Rinse fresh produce under running water before cooking. USDA advises against using soap or produce washes.
Tips
- Prefer it plain? Skip the chili powder and lime and use butter and salt.
- To cook it alongside other food, move the corn to a cooler part of the grill once it's charred and keep the lid closed until the kernels are tender.
Timings are approximate. Corn and grills vary, so go by tenderness and color.
Grill safely
- Use a food thermometer. Beef and pork steaks, chops and roasts are safe at 145°F with a 3-minute rest. Ground meats need 160°F, and all poultry 165°F.
- Marinate in the refrigerator, not on the counter. To brush marinade on while grilling, use fresh marinade or bring the used one to a boil first.
- Keep raw and cooked apart. Put cooked food on a clean platter, never the one that held raw meat.
- Mind the heat. Keep cooked food at 140°F or warmer until serving, and don't leave it out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour when it's above 90°F outside.
- Set up the grill safely. Keep it well away from the house, deck railings and overhanging branches. Open a gas grill's lid before lighting it, keep kids and pets 3 feet away, and never leave a lit grill unattended.
- Clear grease and fat buildup from the grill and the trays below it. Built-up grease is a fire risk, and it's exactly what our grill cleaning removes.
Sources: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart and Grilling and Food Safety; NFPA, Grilling safety.