Microwave Corn on the Cob Guide

Corn on the cob in the microwave is the easiest way to cook ears of corn for perfectly cooked corn. You can cook it with or without shucking it – once you’ve mastered this delicious idea, you may never make it another way again! This is one of our favorite ways to make corn on the cob.

Ever since I learned how to make corn on the cob in the microwave, I fell in love with the delicious corn that results. You can cook it with either the husk on or off for amazing results, and I’m going to teach you how. I think you’re going to love it, too! Another delicious way to bring up the flavor of the corn is through my Fiesta corn casserole recipe. I have been cooking this for a while now and it never failed to please my family.

Ingredients

• Cobbed Corn
• Butter
• Salt
• Pepper

Supplies

All you need is a damp paper towel and a microwave!

Instruction for Microwave Corn Without Husk

The first step is to shuck the corn so you have cobs without the husk and silk.

Wrap corn cob in a wet, not damp, paper towel.

Place corn in the microwave – you can put them directly in the microwave or on a microwave-safe plate.

Cook at full power (microwave on high) for four minutes for one, four and half minutes for two or three, and five minutes with a rotation halfway through cooking if you are cooking an additional ear (max 4).

Remove from microwave carefully with either tongs or thick oven mitt.

Let the corn cool slightly on a kitchen towel, and carefully unwrap each cob (be careful – corn steams!), and serve with butter salt and pepper.

Instruction for Microwave Corn with Husk

1. Pull off the silks at the top of the cob if they are soggy or falling off
2. Place the corn in the microwave
3. Cook on full power for four minutes, or four and half minutes for two or three ears, and five for four ears, rotating halfway through.
4. Carefully remove the cobs with kitchen tongs or a thick hot pad to protect you from any hot moisture released by the corn
5. Using a large kitchen knife, cut through the ear at its thickest point, cutting through the kernels, not just the stem to ensure it will slip off
6. Wrap the corn in a towel and squeeze the corn out of the hole made when you cut off the stump. Just three or four squeezes should do the trick
7. Remove any final silks and serve with butter salt and pepper

Corn on the Cob Seasonings

There are so many great toppings you can consider!

• Melted butter
• Olive oil
• Lime
• Chili powder
• Mayo – especially when seasoned with Tajin seasoning
• Lime juice
• Salt
• Pepper
• Sugar

Why You Should Cook Corn on the Cob in the Husks?

Cooking corn on the cob with the husks on can help speed up the cooking process in the microwave. It can also make the kernels more tender and just make for a more tasty piece of corn.

Can You Microwave Corn on the Cob?

Yes, you can!

Here are some of the benefits of making microwaved corn on the cob:

• A great weeknight shortcut to getting a fun, tasty, and healthy side dish on the table in no time.
• It is the fastest way to have corn on the cob in a couple of minutes
• You can cook the whole ear of corn – with or without shucking it.
• You can cook one piece or multiple pieces!

We love a nice, piece of delicious corn – especially during the summer. Slathered in butter and salted with pepper and salt, there are a few things more delicious. However, it can be a bit of time suck when you are making it! This is why we love to make our summer corn in the microwave.

Making your sweet corn on the cob in the microwave is an easy trick to make it so you can enjoy corn on the cob any time. Whether you grow your own corn, pick some up from the farmer’s market, or buy it at the store, this method has the best results. We are big fans of microwave cooking – if you are a college student in a dorm room, you’ll love having freshly cooked corn this way.

What’s the difference between white and yellow corn?

For years, yellow corn was the sign of summer. But in recent years, white corn has shown up in markets across the US.

What’s the difference? Which one is better? These are questions you might have. Here’s what you should know:

• Yellow corn is the classic sweet, juicy summer snack.
• White corn is becoming more popular, with its super sweet, soft kernel and unique color.
• For the most part, they are interchangeable and perfect on any table.

When you’re in the store, you can’t really tell based on the size, shape, or color of the corn husk whether the corn will be white or yellow, or even a hybrid. Just peel back the husk a bit and peek inside to check the color.

How do pick a good piece of corn on the cob?

There is nothing more disappointing than coming home to find you have a piece of wilted, non-juicy corn. Here are a few tips:

• You can peel back the husk a tiny bit to make sure it’s not wilted (not ideal)
• If the tassels of the corn are brown and somewhat sticky, this is a good sign
• Look for a husk that’s green
• Search for corn that has the husk tightly wound
• Touch the outside of the corn to see if the kernels feel juicy and full.

What’s the best way to shuck corn?

When you’re cooking corn in the microwave, it’s actually faster, easier, and cleaner to shuck the corn after cooking it:

• The husk serves as a steamer
• This makes the corn perfectly tender, juicy, and delicious every time.

If you prefer to shuck it and don’t have kids to send out to the back step to prepare it:

1. Peel off the outer leaves, exposing the tender green leaves and the silks on the corn.
2. Grab half the silks and pull down one side, tearing them off.
3. Repeat on the other side, then pick off any remaining silks.
4. Silks don’t impact the flavor, but they are annoying to pick out of your teeth.

Why didn’t my corn cook all the way?

If your corn did not cook in the microwave completely, it’s likely due to the wattage of your microwave or your paper towel not being wet enough.

What is the best size of corn?

We recommend getting a medium-sized earn of corn. If you get one that is really large, it may be trickier for it to cook all the way through.

If you have large ears, you may want to limit how many you cook at a time. The size of the corn doesn’t matter A TON, but it can make a difference.

Learn how to Cook Corn in Your Microwave

Cut off the base of the cob so that you see kernels, indicating the cob can slip out of the husk.

Is it safe to microwave corn on the cob?

Yes! It’s definitely safe.

When cooked in the husk, the husk works as a natural steamer for the corn. If you shuck it before cooking it, wrapping it in a wet paper towel will provide moisture and get the corn tasty and ready to eat in just about four minutes.

Either way, it’s safe, and perfect for summer because you can avoid a large pot of water. Boiling water will make a hot kitchen even hotter.

And don’t worry – you still get juicy kernels and tender corn cooking it in the microwave. It’s just an easy way to enjoy corn a little more quickly. It’s really one of our favorite recipes for the summer.

After removing the corn from the microwave, simply cut off the bottom of the cob. Holding the top of the cob in a towel, squeeze the corn and the cob will slide out from the husk in two or three squeezes. So easy!

How many can I do at once?

Four ears at a time.

This process is all about convenience, but you can only cook four cobs at most at one time. Since the corn sits directly on the turntable and needs a small gap between each piece, you cannot overfill the microwave, or you’ll have unevenly cooked food.

How long do I cook the corn?

Here are the different cooking times to use as your starting point:

• 1 corn cob: f you cook one cob, set the timer for four minutes.
• 2 ears of corn: can be cooked for four and a half minutes.
• 4 ears of corn: For an additional ear of corn, cook them for five minutes, but rotate them, putting the two that start inside to the outside to help things cook more evenly.
• You can’t fit more than four, and they won’t cook evenly.

What microwave wattage is this best for corn on the cob?

We used a 1200-watt microwave, so if yours is a lot less than that, you may need to cook your corn for a little bit longer. If you feel it’s not done, you can cook it for longer in 30-second intervals, but this shouldn’t be necessary.

How can I tell that the corn is cooked?

The best way to check the corn is cooked is to rely on the time, and then take a peek inside. Peel back the top a bit. If the corn cob itself is very hot, then it’s cooked.

Also, if it looks shiny instead of matte, the water has come out and cooked the corn. If your corn is fresh, when it’s cooked, it will release enough water to steam up the microwave. But if it’s more than a few days old, this won’t be a reliable indicator.

How can I save corn on the cob for later?

Corn on the cob is always best when eaten soon after cooking, however, you could wrap leftovers in saran wrap or wax paper and keep it in the fridge.

Can I reheat corn on the cob?

Yes, you can. We recommend doing so in 20-second increments so as to not overcook it.

What can I do with leftover corn?

One of the nice things about this method of cooking is that you can cook just a small amount so you don’t end up with lots of corn leftover. However, if you do, the good news is there are so many dishes you can use it in – brunch recipes, Mexican recipes, Italian recipes, stew recipes, Thai recipes, and, of course, side dishes! We especially love corn salad (such as this Mexican Street Corn salad), creamed corn, corn fritters, or adding to cornbread!

While there are many ways you can make and enjoy corn, it doesn’t get easier than the microwave method! It beats boiling a bunch of hot water and you’ll have fresh corn on the cob in just a few minutes whenever you want it!

Other Vegetable Side Dishes You May Enjoy:

• Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
• Sweet Instant Pot Carrots
• Longhorn Steakhouse Parmesan Broccoli
• Instant Pot Kale
• Parmesan Roasted Squash
• Longhorn Steakhouse Creamed Spinach Recipe
• Skillet Creamed Corn
• How to Steam Green Beans