Watch the color
Raw corn looks pale and almost translucent. As it cooks, the kernels turn a bright, sunny yellow or creamy white (depending on variety).
When they look plump and vibrant, you’re getting close. And if you see a few kernels starting to wrinkle? That’s your sign to grab it now—it’s past perfection.
Give it a gentle squeeze
Pick up an ear (use a towel—it’s hot!) and press a kernel with your thumb. A perfectly done kernel feels firm but yields slightly—like a ripe avocado. If it’s rock hard, keep boiling. If it’s mushy, you’ve gone too far.
Think of it as a little handshake with your corn. You want it to say, “Yes, I’m ready!”
