Cooking Corn In The Microwave

The Easiest Way to Microwave Corn on the Cob

Cooking corn on the cob in the microwave couldn't be easier. Microwave with the husks on for four minutes, then cut off the bottom, slip off the husks, and that's it!

Updated September 03, 2021

Elise Bauer

A video came my way on Facebook the other day for a drop dead easy way of cooking corn on the cob. Like my favorite grilling method for cooking corn, you don't shuck the corn first, but leave it in its husk.

How to Cook Corn on the Cob in the Microwave

After a few minutes on high, you remove the corn from the microwave, cut off the bottom, and cleanly slip off the husk and silk. Perfectly cooked corn with no mess!

This I had to see for myself.

You know what? It works!

It is probably not the most efficient way to cook corn if you are cooking more than a couple of ears. In that case, it's faster and easier to steam or boil.

But since I'm often cooking for one, and I have the patience of a hummingbird, I like the idea of quickly cooking one ear of corn in the microwave. Watch how here.

Why You Should Cook Corn on the Cob in the Husks

I also like cooking the corn in its husk. Cooked this way, the corn steams in its own juices and absorbs flavor from the husks, resulting in a wonderful, undiluted corn taste. If your corn is farm fresh, you don't even need butter. (But don't let me stop you!)

Eliezer Martinez

Watch This Microwave Corn on the Cob Recipe

Tips for Making Multiple Servings

This recipe is for one ear of corn, but depending on the size of your microwave, you may be able to do up to four ears at a time. Follow these tips for microwaving multiple ears of corn.

The general rule of thumb is to add 2 minutes per ear of corn. You may need to experiment a bit because cooking times for one ear or multiple ears will vary by microwave.
To make it easy: 6 minutes for 2 ears; 8 minutes for 3 ears; 10 minutes for 4 ears.
If you need to cook more than four ears, consider grilling or boiling the corn instead.

How to Get Corn Off the Cob

While there's something delightful about biting into a fresh ear of corn, sometimes you need to remove the kernels from the cob if you're using it as an ingredient in a dish like Mexican Street Corn Nachos.

The easiest way to strip kernels off the cob is with the assistance of a Bundt pan. Place the cob in the center hole of the pan to hold it in place. When you cut the kernels off, they fall into the bowl of the Bundt pan. For more details, see Easy Tip for Getting Corn Off the Cob.

Storing and Reheating Corn on the Cob

Wrap leftover corn on the cob tightly in plastic for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave until just heated through. You can also boil some water, remove from heat, and throw the corn in the water with the lid on for 2 to 3 minutes.

How to Freeze Uncooked Corn on the Cob

Stretch out summer's bounty by buying fresh corn on the cob to freeze for use when it's no longer available from local farms. Freeze the whole cob, or freeze just the kernels. And, while you don't have to cook it all the way, blanching the corn first can help it keeps its taste and texture. For all the details you need, see How to Freeze Corn on the Cob.

More Corn Recipes to Try!

Grilled Mexican Street Corn
Corn Chowder
Corn Salsa
Grits With Corn and Onion Greens
Grilled Corn Salad

These instructions are for one ear of corn. If you want to microwave more than one ear at a time, increase the cooking time by 2 minutes for every additional ear of corn, depending on the power of your microwave and the size of your ears of corn. You may need to experiment to find the right time for your microwave.

1 medium ear of corn

Put the corn in the microwave:

Place the corn in the microwave, do not remove the husk. Microwave the corn on the high setting for 4 minutes.

Note that every microwave is different. If this timing over-cooks the corn in your microwave, reduce it to 2 to 3 minutes the next time.

Eliezer Martinez
Cut the bottom off the stem end:

Use a kitchen towel or pot holder to remove corn from the microwave (it's hot!) Cut off the bottom of the corn, stem end, about one row of corn in from the stem.

Eliezer Martinez

Eliezer Martinez

Eliezer Martinez
Remove the husk:

Slip off the husk and silk.

That's it!

Eliezer Martinez

Eliezer Martinez

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
76	Calories
1g	Fat
17g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories	76
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g	2%
Saturated Fat 0g	1%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 200mg	9%
Total Carbohydrate 17g	6%
Dietary Fiber 2g	7%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 4mg	22%
Calcium 2mg	0%
Iron 0mg	2%
Potassium 172mg	4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

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