Free corn on the cob batch calculator. Enter servings to find the corn cobs and butter you need for a corn on the cob batch at a party.
Your results will appear here.
Enter your values and press Calculate.
Enter the number of servings. This corn on the cob batch calculator multiplies servings by 2 cobs and by 15 grams of butter per serving, so 20 servings give 40 cobs and 300 grams of butter. The sections below explain how that rate compares with competitor ear counts, halves, dozens, and large-batch cooking methods.
The formula is shown on the page: cobs = servings × 2, and butter grams = servings × 15. Worked example: for 20 servings, 20 × 2 = 40 cobs and 20 × 15 = 300 grams of butter. For 10 servings, the corn on the cob per person calculator gives 20 cobs and 150 grams of butter. Two cobs per serving is a generous barbecue rate, chosen so big eaters and second helpings are covered without a second cooking round.
Enter servings, the number of people eating corn, and read the cob count and butter total at once. Buy by the dozen where possible, round up to whole dozens, and keep extra butter, salt, and toppings in proportion to the cob count. If children are a large share of the group, the comparison section below explains why the generous rate still works, and when a lower count is safe.
How many ears of corn per person? Competitor calculators disagree, which is why this page shows its rate openly. One calculator plans 0.67 to 1.5 ears per adult by serving plan, with children at about 55 percent of an adult portion. Another plans 1.5 ears per adult, 2 for teens, and 1 for children, plus a 15 percent buffer. Is one ear of corn enough per person? For a light side, yes, but for a barbecue main side, 1.5 to 2 ears is the safer plan. Corn on the cob halves per person is a useful cut-down option: halve each ear and serve 2 halves, which reads as a full portion while stretching a small batch.
How much corn on the cob for a large group follows the same multiplication, with dozen rounding on top. How many ears of corn for 20 people? This calculator gives 40 cobs, which is 3 dozen plus 4, so buy 4 dozen. How many ears of corn for 50 people barbecue planning gives 100 cobs, or 8 dozen plus 4, so buy 9 dozen. How many dozen ears of corn for 100 guests? Two hundred cobs, or 16 dozen plus 8, so buy 17 dozen. The ears of corn per person chart in this section is the calculator formula itself, so the chart and the tool can never disagree.
How do you cook corn on the cob for a large group? Boil in the largest pot you own in batches, grill in rows over medium heat, or use cooler corn for a crowd: clean a large cooler, add boiling water, and hold shucked ears in the hot water for about 30 minutes. How long to boil corn on the cob for a crowd? Boil small batches for about 3 to 5 minutes once the water returns to a boil, and hold finished ears warm and covered. Corn on the cob grilling time is about 10 to 15 minutes, turning often, until the kernels are tender and lightly charred. A cooler corn for a crowd calculator approach, one large batch held hot, removes the need to time batches to the meal.
Corn on the cob butter and toppings start with the calculator butter total of 15 grams per serving, plus salt, pepper, lime, chilli, and melted herb butter for variety. Elote corn per person follows the same cob count, topped with mayonnaise, cheese, chilli, and lime, and served as a street-food variation at a barbecue. Corn on the cob kernel cups per ear is about 3/4 cup of kernels per ear, useful if you cut kernels for a salad or a seafood boil. Corn on the cob for a seafood boil per person is usually half an ear to one ear per person, since the boil carries many other foods.
Sweet corn buying guide in brief: choose ears with bright green husks, moist silk, and plump kernels that release milky juice when pressed. How to tell if corn is fresh? The husk should feel fresh and tight, the silk should not be dry or black, and the ear should feel heavy for its size. Should I buy corn the day before a party? Yes, if you refrigerate it unshucked, but corn is sweetest the day it is picked, so buy as close to the event as possible. Can you prep corn in advance? Yes: shuck, clean, and refrigerate ears up to a day ahead, and keep butter and toppings ready so serving is quick.
This calculator uses 2 cobs per serving, a generous barbecue rate. For a light side, 1 to 1.5 ears per adult is common, with children at about half to one ear each.
For a light side dish, one ear is usually enough. For a barbecue where corn is a main side, plan 1.5 to 2 ears per person so second helpings are covered.
With this calculator, 100 servings need 200 cobs, which is 16 dozen plus 8, so buy 17 dozen. Round up to whole dozens and keep a few spare ears for breakage.
Boil small batches for about 3 to 5 minutes once the water returns to a boil, then hold finished ears warm and covered. For very large groups, cooler corn holds a whole batch hot at once.
Boil in batches, grill in rows, or use cooler corn: hold shucked ears in a clean cooler of boiling water for about 30 minutes. Grill for about 10 to 15 minutes, turning often.
You can buy corn the day before and refrigerate it unshucked, but corn is sweetest on picking day, so buy as close to the event as you can and keep it cool.
Look for bright green husks, moist silk, plump kernels, and an ear that feels heavy for its size. Dry silk, loose husks, and dull kernels are signs of older corn.
Yes. Shuck and clean ears up to a day ahead, refrigerate them covered, and prepare butter and toppings in advance so serving is fast on the day.