How to Microwave Corn on the Cob

There’s a trendy new way to cook corn on the cob that skips the mess and fuss of the silk entirely. It requires hardly any prep and might just be the easiest method of cooking corn on the cob yet! Cooking corn on the cob in the microwave using this method has become my favourite method, now that I often cook for just two of us.

For anyone cooking one or two cobs at a time, using the microwave for corn on the cob is ideal.

Also Read: How to Grill Corn on the Cob, Corn and Tomato Salad, How to Freeze Corn

The No-Trim Method of Microwaving Corn on the Cob

My mother-in-law showed me this trick a couple of years ago, and I’ve been quietly using it ever since. It skips trimming completely. No pulling off the silk or loose leaves first. You take the whole cob, husk and all and put it straight into the microwave. You don’t even need to clean up any of the loose leaves.

A reader recently asked me if this method actually works, since she’d seen another version of it online. And the answer is YES, it does.

Here’s how:

1. Skip trimming. Don’t bother removing the silk or loose leaves. Use the cob just as it comes off the stalk.
2. Microwave on high power. Use the timing guide below depending on how many cobs you’re cooking.
3. Wear oven mitts to handle the cob of corn. It will be very hot.
4. Place whole cob on cutting board and cut off the bottom (stalk) end of the cob. Make sure you cut it slightly above where the cob of corn and the plant stalk meet so that all the leaves are cut from the cob.
5. Hold the tip of the cob firmly with your oven mitts, push or slide the cob out through the cut end.
6. You’ll be left holding the husk and the silk. The beautifully cooked cob of corn should slide right out.

The husk and silk stay behind in one piece, and you’re left with a clean cob of corn, no silk picking required.

Timing:

• 1 cob: 4 minutes
• 2 cobs: 6 minutes
• Each additional cob: add about 2 more minutes

This is a starting point. Larger cobs or a lower-power microwave will need a bit more time, so check your corn and adjust as needed.

Pro Tip: The cob inside the husk is VERY HOT and steamy. Keep your oven mitt on!

If You Prefer to Trim…

Before I switched to the no trim method, I would trim any loose leaves and trim back some of the silk and THEN put it in the microwave as described above.

I also peaked in on the corn so I could judge if the kernels were cooked all the way through.

Checking for Doneness

Peel back some of the husk (careful it will be hot) and look for uniform colour of the kernels. In the photo below, the kernels toward the top are still pale and under-cooked compared to those lower on the cob.

A minute later and those kernels are a uniform color all the way through. Notice the moisture from the steam on the inside of the husk – that corn is hot and steamy!

Enjoy!

Cook with the seasons, effortlessly! I’m Getty, a food educator and Professional Home Economist, helping you select, store, and serve seasonal ingredients in delicious, simple, everyday meals. Sign up for seasonal tips and recipes delivered straight to your inbox, and dive deeper with my books, guides, or YouTube content.