Can You Microwave Corn on The Cob?

Corn on the cob is one of the sweetest vegetables you can take at any time of the day. But making one to be as delicious takes more than ordinary microwaving skills.

Can you microwave corn on the cob? Although not impossible, microwaving corn on the cob requires you to follow the correct procedure. 

In this short article, we’ve detailed how to microwave corn on the cob to help you prepare the most delicious vegetable hassle-free method. Please follow through.

Is it Possible to Microwave Corn on the Cob?

Yes, you can microwave corn on the cob and have the tastiest veggie to take as a snack or even a whole meal. Microwaving corn is the most straightforward way to prepare corn compared to the traditional versions.

You can’t compare it with preparing corn on the stove or the grill. 

You can prepare your corn in five minutes with just:

How Do You Microwave Corn on The Cob?

Unlike the traditional boiling method, microwaving corn is hassle-free and quick. You’ll need the following ingredients:

  • 4 ears of corn
  • Paper towels
  • Salt and pepper to taste

After getting your ingredients ready, follow the following steps to microwave your corn in under 5 minutes:

  1.  Shuck Your Corn.

You can microwave your corn on the cob with or without the husk. Get it without the husk, or remove the husk on your own through the following steps:

  • Peel off the outer leaves
  • Expose the tip of the ear of the corn
  • Grasp the tips of the leaves and the tassel
  • Pull down in one firm tug
  • Pull towards the bottom, inverting the husk and the cob
  • Break off the leaves and the silks
  • Tidy up the cob
  • Repeat with the remaining ears of the cob
  1. Wrap Your Shucked Corn in a Paper Towel.

Wet a paper towel, then use it to wrap your shucked corn until it’s entirely wrapped. This will prevent it from drying out. 

  1. Microwave Your Corn.

Take your wrapped corn into the microwave and nuke it for 3-4 minutes. 

This duration may vary from microwave to microwave. Mine takes 4 minutes, but yours may take less or more. 

Microwaving two ears at a go works better than nuking one. 

  1. Let Your Corn Cool.

Touching it immediately after removing it from the microwave may get you burned. Allow it to rest for about a minute before touching it.

Even better, remove the ears of the corn with a potholder, tongs, or a dish towel.

Your corn will keep cooking if you leave it in the paper towel after getting it out of the microwave.

  1. Enjoy Your Corn.

After getting rid of the ears, butter them up and add salt to make them even tastier.

How Long Should You Microwave Corn in the Microwave?

The duration will vary based on whether you’re microwaving your corn to reheat or cook it. While cooking the corn on a co in the microwave can take 3-4 minutes, reheating takes less time.

Cooking corn in the microwave should happen when in a high-heat setting. The size of your corn may cause a variance in cooking time.

It is also necessary to increase the cooking time if you prefer softer kernels. Poking with a knife is the surest way to check if your corn has cooked. 

Avoid poking for too long because that can ruin the corn. And when you feel that the kernels are tender but crisp, your corn is ready to enjoy.

The following steps work best for me when I need to reheat corn cobs, and they can also be a real hack for you:

  • Transfer corn cobs into a microwave-safe container.
  • Add two tablespoons of water to the bottom of the dish.
  • Cover the dish with a wet towel to help steam the corn and prevent it from drying.
  • Microwave for 30 seconds.
  • Flip the corn and microwave for another 30 seconds.
  • Lift the towel carefully to check if your corn is ready. You can add another 30 seconds if it’s yet to get heated to your preferred temperature.
  • Garnish according to your desire and serve when it’s done.

How Long Do I Microwave 2 Ears of Corn?

Instead of microwaving a single ear at a go, you can microwave 2 ears of corn to save time and energy. It’s the quickest way to produce enough for your friends or family – assuming you’re not taking the side dish alone.

The general rule of thumb is to add 2 minutes per ear of corn. So, 2 ears will take 4 minutes to cook in the microwave. 

However, you may have to experiment a lot to come up with an accurate duration based on the cooking speed of your microwave. But you can follow this general strategy to start with:

  • 6 minutes for 2 ears 
  • 8 minutes for 3 ears
  • 10 minutes for 4 ears

It is also essential to keep checking after every 30 seconds to avoid overcooking. 

Is It Better to Boil or Microwave Corn on The Cob?

By now, it’s clear that microwaving corn on the cob is pretty easy and fast. But does boiling have more benefits than what we’ve seen in microwaving?

There’s only one way to determine this – checking the downsides and the benefits of each to make an end-to-end comparison.

What are the Benefits of Microwaving Corn on the Cob?

Here are some benefits of microwaving corn on the cob:

  • It helps you make a fun, tasty, and healthy side dish on the table in no time.
  • You can cook the whole ear of corn with or without shucking it.
  • You can cook one piece or multiple pieces at once.
  • You don’t need vast amounts of water to make the side dish.
  • The process does not make your dishes dirty.
  • It allows you to check the readiness to prevent overcooking your corn.

What Are The Downsides of Microwaving Corn on the Cob?

Despite being speedy and less messy, microwaving corn on the cob has several downsides. They include:

  • Lack of a grilled finish.
  • Easy to overcook.

What are the Benefits of Boiling Corn on The Cob?

  • It allows you to cook several foods at once – you can throw in other vegetables or wrap your corn with a piece of meat.
  • It’s a fast way to prepare your side dish.
  • It’s a healthy way to get your corn ready.

What Are The Downsides of Boiling Corn?

Boiling corn also has its share of downsides. They include:

  • Easy to overcook.
  • Make your dishes dirty.
  • Requires more water than microwaving does.
  • Time-consuming because you have to wait for the water to boil before dipping your corn.

Both methods have their benefits and downsides. But as you can see, boiling has more drawbacks than microwaving.

While selecting the best method to use, always remember to compare the benefits and drawbacks to make a better decision.

What is The Difference Between White and Yellow Corn?

Yellow corn has been the most common during summer. But white corn has shown up recently in the markets across the US.

What’s their difference? Which one is better? 

You might be having these questions. Here is what you should know:

  • Yellow corn is the classic sweet, juicy summer snack.
  • White corn is getting more popular within the markets in the US
  • People love white corn for its super sweet, soft kernel and its unique color.
  • You can interchange the two types anytime because they are perfect for any table.

You can hardly tell the differences based on the sizes, color, or shape of the corn husk, whether the corn will be yellow, white, or hybrid. Just peel the husk back and peep inside to tell the color.

How Do I Pick a Good Piece of Corn on the Cob?

There is nothing as disappointing as coming home to find that you have a piece of wilted, non-juicy corn. You can avoid such a mess through the following steps:

  • You can peel back the husk to confirm that it’s not wilted.
  • If the tassels of the corn are brown and somewhat sticky, this is a good sign.
  • Look for a husk that’s still green.
  • Search for the corn with a tightly wound husk.
  • Touch the exterior of the corn to find out if the kernels feel juicy and full.

FAQs

Can You Microwave Corn on The Cob Without The Husk?

Yes. There’s no problem microwaving your corn, with or without the husk. If you microwave it with the husk, wait for it to cool for some minutes after microwaving, then you can cut off the ends and remove the husk and silk.

When is The Best Time to Enjoy microwave corn on The Cob?

You can take microwaved corn on the cob anytime you feel like enjoying a delicious vegetable snack. It is also an excellent side dish you can enjoy during main meals.

What are the Health Benefits of Microwaved Corn on The Cob?

  • Better gut health
  • Minimizes your risk of heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
  • Its fiber helps you stay full for longer between meals.
  • Protects against colon cancer by feeding healthy bacteria in your digestive tract.

Wrapping Up

It is possible to microwave corn on the cob. There are many benefits to it that you don’t want to miss.

But you must follow the outlined strategy to microwave your corn on the cob correctly and avoid overcooking. It would be best if you also considered buying tongs, or paper towels to hold your corn out of the microwave to avoid burning.

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