Corn on the cob (known regionally as "pole corn", "cornstick", "sweet pole","butter-pop" and "long maize") is the culinary term for a cooked ear of freshly-picked maize from a cultivar of sweet corn. The ear is picked while the endosperm is in the "milk stage" so that the kernels are still tender. Other varieties (called field corn) are edible as "roasting ears", but are not tender or sweet. Ears of corn are roasted, steamed or boiled, with or without their green husks. The husk leaves are then removed before serving.

Corn on the cob is usually eaten while still warm. It is boiled or grilled. Then it is often seasoned with salt and buttered before serving. Skewers are available to hold the ear while eating, which are thrust into the ends of the cob and allow users to eat corn on the cob without burning the fingers or getting butter and juice on the hands.