Easy Instant Pot Corn on the Cob Recipe

Easy Instant Pot Corn on the Cob recipe with butter makes perfect corn every time! The perfect side dish for summer or whenever you are craving delicious sweet corn!

Chowing down on a sweet, juicy ear of corn that’s slathered with butter and seasoned with a touch of salt is pure heaven! 

Corn on the cob is seriously one of my favorite summer Instant Pot recipes, and it’s so dang easy to make!

There are so many ways to cook corn on the cob, and over the years, I think I’ve tried them all.

Making corn on the cob in the Instant Pot is the easy way to cook this summer staple. It’s definitely the easiest way of cooking corn, other than microwave corn, I’ve ever used! And, pressure cooking corn doesn’t heat up your kitchen or make a mess all over your stove.

My family loves aluminum foil grilled corn on the cob, but when it’s 120 degrees out, it’s not that practical!If grilling corn isn’t an option, I microwave corn or I make corn on the cob in the air fryer or I boil corn in salted water with a stick of butter. It’s so good, but it’s even easier to make in the Instant Pot!

Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Corn

• Fresh corn — Husked and cleaned and trimmed, if needed. You can find sweet corn in your grocery stores or in farmer’s markets during sweet summer corn season.
• Butter — for flavor
• Water — cold water to help the Instant Pot build pressure

You will also need a trivet for this pressure cooker recipe. This will keep the corn out of the water so the corn steams without a steamer basket.

How to Cook Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot

All you do is remove the corn husks and silk. Then, place your clean ears of corn on top of the trivet in the bottom of the Pot.

I used my 6-quart Instant Pot, so I added a cup of water, to the inner pot, as well. For an 8 quart or larger, use 1.5 to 2 cups of water or the recommended amount of water for your model.

And because a little butter makes everything better, I added a few pats of butter on the corn.

How Long to Cook Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot?

How long you cook the corn in the Instant Pot depends upon how soft you like it.

3 minutes cooking time was too soft for us, but 2 minutes on high pressure was perfect! Make sure you do a quick release!

The corn was still slightly firm, but definitely juicy and soft enough to easily bite and chew.

When the corn was done, I placed the ears on a large platter and poured the butter water all over. This is an optional step, but it adds extra flavor. I do this when I boil the corn, too!

Recipe Variations

If you want to take your corn to the next level, try making Mexican Street Corn! Salty cotija cheese pairs perfectly with tender corn.

You can add garlic butter and Parmesan cheese or add more spice with a sprinkle of chili pepper.

You can add a little butter and a little salt before you chow down. Mmm. So good! Juicy corn is a delicious side to serve with Instant Pot Hamburgers!

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerate leftover pressure cooker corn in an airtight container. It keeps for up to 4 days.

You can freeze cooked corn on the cob for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe bag for best results. I prefer to remove the corn kernels prior to freezing, but you can freeze whole corn cobs.

Helpful Tips

Layer ears of corn in the electric pressure cooker so they cook evenly.

The cook time is the same no matter how many pieces of corn you are cooking.

Make sure the inner seal is tightly in the lid, the vent is on sealing position and always do a quick pressure release or the corn will be overcooked.

More Instant Pot Side Dishes

• Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
• Instant Pot Orange Ginger Carrots
• Instant Pot Potato Salad
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Easy Instant Pot Potatoes

If you like this easy Instant Pot recipe, be sure to check out more easy Instant Pot recipes.

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Recipe originally published in 2018 and updated in 2023.