Can You Microwave Corn on the Cob? Yes, in the Husk

Corn on the cob is a side dish that usually means a big pot of water and a wait for the boil. For one or two ears, the microwave skips both, and you don’t have to shuck the corn first.

Can you microwave corn on the cob?

Corn on the cob microwaves well, either in its husk or with the husk removed. Left on, the husk traps steam around the kernels so the corn cooks evenly. Afterwards the husk and silk slide off together, which is easier than pulling silk off raw corn.

The method suits a dinner for one or two. For a crowd, a big pot still cooks more ears at once.

Corn is usually the side, and on a tired night the main is the harder call. I tried my own app, Today’s Mealow, with the location set to downtown Los Angeles. I asked for a light Western dinner for one. It suggested butter chicken, grilled salmon and chicken noodle soup from places nearby.

Of those three, the grilled salmon is the one I’d put next to an ear of corn. Butter corn and a plain piece of fish don’t fight each other on the plate. If none had fit, “Show me others” would have dealt three more.

How do you microwave corn on the cob in the husk, step by step?

To microwave corn on the cob in the husk, cook the ear on a plate and let it rest. Then cut off the stem end and squeeze the ear out from the top. The silk stays inside the husk, so the corn comes out clean and ready for butter.

1. Leave the husk on. Trim any long, dry silk sticking out of the top so it doesn’t scorch. Don’t rinse or peel anything.
2. Cook it on a plate. Lay the ear flat on a microwave-safe plate. Cook one ear at a time if your microwave is small.
3. Check, then add time. Start with a few minutes for one ear. Peel back a little husk at the tip and look at the kernels. If they aren’t done, close the husk and cook a bit longer.
4. Let it rest. Leave the ear on the plate for a short while. It keeps cooking in its own steam and becomes easier to hold.
5. Cut off the stem end. Use a sharp knife and slice through the ear just above the bottom row of kernels, cutting through husk and cob together.
6. Squeeze it out. Hold the ear by the silk end and squeeze. The corn slides out of the cut end, leaving the husk and silk behind.

The husk gets very hot, and steam escapes when you cut it. Hold the ear with an oven mitt or a folded kitchen towel for the last two steps.

How long do you microwave corn on the cob?

How long to microwave corn on the cob depends on your microwave’s power and the size of the ears, so go by the kernels, not the clock. Done corn has bright, plump kernels that give a little when you press one with a fingernail. Pale or firm kernels need more time.

Cooking two or more ears together takes longer than one, because the microwave’s power is shared between them. Add time in short bursts and check between each one. Overcooked corn turns chewy and the kernels start to wrinkle, which is harder to fix than an ear that needs another minute.

Your microwave’s manual is the best guide to its power. Many list cooking times for fresh vegetables that you can use as a starting point.

Can you microwave corn without the husk?

Corn without the husk microwaves fine too. Wrap each shucked ear in a damp paper towel, or put it in a covered microwave-safe dish with a splash of water. Either way, the steam stands in for the missing husk and keeps the kernels from drying out.

Shucked corn from the store often comes on a tray in plastic wrap. Take it out of the packaging before you cook it, and use the damp paper towel method. Check it the same way: bright, plump kernels mean it’s done.

Is it better to boil or microwave corn on the cob?

For one or two ears, microwaving corn on the cob is easier than boiling. There’s no pot of water to heat and nothing to drain. Boiling is better when you’re cooking many ears for a group, because a large pot holds more ears than a microwave plate.

Both give you sweet, tender corn when you don’t overcook it. Grilling adds char, so it changes the flavor more. If you’re already cooking outside, grill the corn too.

What should I eat with corn on the cob tonight?

Corn on the cob goes with grilled and roasted mains: grilled chicken, burgers, barbecue ribs, grilled salmon or a pork chop. It also fits next to chili or a bowl of soup. Pick the main by how much effort you have left, and let the corn be the easy part.

A low-effort night calls for a main someone else cooks, or one that only needs reheating. With more energy, put a chicken breast or a burger patty in a pan while the corn rests, and both are ready together.

Corn’s sorted, but the main isn’t? Today’s Mealow asks six questions, from the meal to how you’re feeling, then picks 3 dishes from real places near you.

Pick a main for me

If you’re cooking the main yourself, the guide to eating at home helps you choose between cooking and ordering. Stuck on the main entirely? Spin a random food generator and take or skip what it lands on.