When it comes to BBQ sides, fresh grilled corn is definitely right at the top of the list, along with BBQ baked beans, mac and cheese, and BBQ coleslaw.
Cooking corn on a natural gas grill imparts a smoky flavor that does not overpower the naturally sweet flavor of the corn, so it’s the best of both worlds.
Furthermore, grilled corn boasts a sweet and butterfly flavor that’s much more flavorful than a can of corn or boiled corn.
Unfortunately, fresh corn is only available during the summer, so we have to settle for frozen corn year-round.
It’s natural to wonder if you can grill frozen corn since fresh grilled corn is addictingly tasty.
Contents
What Is Frozen Corn on the Cob?
Frozen corn on the cob is the same thing as fresh corn on the cob. However, the corn is harvested when it is almost ripe.
The corn is then blanched before it has a chance to spoil, which makes the corn eligible to be stored at cold temperatures.
Blanching simply refers to partially cooking vegetables in hot water for a few minutes.
In this case, blanching the corn helps preserve most of the corn’s vitamin and mineral content.
Lastly, the corn is frozen, which allows it to be available year-round in grocery stores.
Can You Grill Frozen Corn?
In the same way, you can cook frozen chicken and grill frozen steak; you can also cook frozen corn.
In fact, it’s just as easy to grill frozen corn on the cob as it is to grill fresh corn on the cob.
While grilled frozen corn will not be identical to the flavor of fresh grilled corn, it is a delicious close second.
Tips For Grilling Frozen Corn
Yes, there are a more steps involved in grilling frozen corn, but as long as you follow the tips listed below, you will end up with delicious frozen grilled corn.
Although it may seem like a good idea to grill frozen corn, before cooking it on your hibachi grill, do not boil the corn.
Frozen corn has already been blanched. Most of the corn’s flavor would be lost, so boiling it would be fruitless.
Inspect the corn before you fire up your natural gas grill to ensure it is not freezer burned.
There’s nothing worse than setting up your kamado grill only to find out the corn is freezer burned.
Freezer burn can occur when the corn comes into contact with moisture, air, or cold temperatures.
Essentially, freezer-burn will suck all the moisture out of the corn and give it a bitter flavor.
This is why you should inspect the corn for signs of spoilage or freezer burn before you grill it.
When grilling corn, you can experiment with different flavors. For example, you can use your favorite BBQ rub to season the corn and boost its flavor.
To make the corn even more delicious, you can also add lime juice, cheese, or red pepper flakes for a spicy flavor.
How to Grill Frozen Corn
Of course, we could not leave you in the dark. I cannot tell you you can grill frozen corn without showing you how to grill frozen corn.
Since most frozen corn on the cob found in the grocery store is sweet corn, there will not be a drastic difference in flavor.
This grilled corn recipe only works with frozen corn on the cob.
Unfortunately, loose frozen corn kernels will not work well on the grill even if you place them in a grill basket.
They will literally fall through the grill’s cooking grates creating a giant mess that you will have to clean up.
Nevertheless, you can also place the loose corn kernels into a cast-iron skillet before placing it on the grill.
To grill frozen corn on the cob, wrap it with aluminum foil while it is still frozen.
Since you will be grilling the corn on the cob in aluminum foil, there will be less mess to clean up later.
Furthermore, the foil generates steam which can help bring out the corn’s naturally sweet flavor.
You can also add a little butter and a bit of salt and pepper before wrapping each cob individually with foil paper.
Next, set up your portable pellet grill and cook the corn for 25 minutes, turning it over every 4-5 minutes to prevent it from burning.
Since the corn is already partially cooked, you don’t need to leave it on the grill for too long.
When the corn is grilled, it will be hot and steamy, so be careful when removing it from the grill.
You can add more butter, salt, pepper, garlic, parmesan cheese, or whatever toppings you want to finish off the corn once you unwrap them.
Is It Better to Grill Corn With or Without Foil
In short, yes, it is better to grill corn especially frozen corn with foil.
Foil is a kind of metal fabricated from an aluminum alloy and another metal such as tin.
Foil is commonly used in the kitchen because it conducts heat and prevents foods from sticking to certain surfaces.
This is why some recipes, such as roasted potatoes, call for lining the baking sheet with parchment paper.
It is used in cooking because it reflects heat and prevents food from sticking to the surface.
When it comes to grilling corn, foil prevents the corn from sticking to the grill and keeps it moist and juicy because it generates enough steam just to heat the corn without suffocating it.
Even though grilling corn in foil is s tried and true method that’s been tested more than 1000 times, there are still those folks who believe aluminum foil must never come into contact with the grill.
Since aluminum foil is constructed from thin metal, it can handle temperatures up to 1400°F, so technically, it belongs on the grill.
Nevertheless, if you want to grill corn without foil, you can. Just be sure to cook it for ten minutes, turning the corn over every 2 minutes to prevent it from burning.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing like biting into freshly grilled buttery sweet corn.
However, since corn is only available in the summer, you need to get your corn fill some other way.
Luckily frozen corn is here to save the day since you can throw it on the grill and satisfy your craving for corn.
You might also be interested in the following:
- Can You Grill Frozen Shrimp
- Can You Grill Frozen Hot Dogs
- Can You Grill Frozen Burgers
- Can You Grill Frozen Steak
- Can You Grill Frozen Chicken
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.