Did you know there's a much easier way to cook perfect corn on the cob? Lose the big, hot, steamy pot of boiling water. Microwave corn on the cob, and life will be so much easier. The corn is done perfectly, and those annoying silks practically fall off!
"Corn on the cob." Those sweet words alone conjure up happy childhood memories of summertime. Hot dogs on the grill, ice-cold popsicles, sticky watermelon, and fireflies. Oh, those lovely, warm nights in the backyard.
Did you ever have a summer when you'd lost your front teeth or had a loose tooth that kept you from eating the sweet kernels right off the cob? Tough year, wasn't it? Were you a typewriter-style eater of corn on the cob, or did you chomp randomly all over the place until every bite was gone?
Mom may have different memories, such as lugging that huge pot of water onto the stove o boil in a kitchen that was already sweltering. Maybe it was the mess of shucking the corn, plucking off the silk, and disposing of all those husks!
Poor Mom was left to deal with butter-stained tee shirts and what to do with all the soggy cobs when everyone ran from the supper table to play Red Rover or Andy Andy Over. (Shameless plug: you may still end up with some butter-stained tee-shirts, so don't miss my wonderful homemade laundry detergent that is filled with great stain-fighting tips, too!)
Now that the kids have flown the nest, it's just the two of you at dinner. Don't ever get out a big pot to boil your corn on the cob again! Popcorn is not the only thing that's quick and easy in the microwave!
Follow these simple steps, and you can have 1, 2, 3, or 4 ears of perfectly cooked corn on the cob in minutes with minimal mess! It's so easy! One ear, cooked this way, takes about 4 minutes. Time can vary by wattage. If your microwave is rated at 800 W or less, or over 1,200 W, you may want to test with one ear first.
Add two minutes to the cooking time for each additional ear of corn. However, check it periodically to avoid overcooking, as every microwave is different and ears can vary in size and maturity.
So, for example, if you only want two ears, cook for six minutes. Don't try to do more than four at a time; it doesn't work well.
I'll show you exactly how I make four perfectly cooked ears in about 10 minutes in my 1000-watt microwave oven.
Grab four plump ears of corn, preferably some you bought from a local farmer, so you know it's fresh! Besides that, when you do, you support a local family business!
Using a serrated knife, cut the silk and stem ends off of each ear. Remove the coarsest, darkest green husks. Leave the rest of the husk intact. Don't worry about removing the silk; that part is magic when you make it this way.
I used to use paper towels for this, and it still works, but one time, I decided to use a clean dish towel instead, which eliminated some waste and expense. I'm thrifty and so darn practical.😅
Once the corn has been trimmed and the outer husks removed, lay them on that dishtowel you have wet and wrung out. (If you'd rather use paper towels, it still works great. Wrap each ear in a damp paper towel.)
Now wrap the dishtowel loosely around the ears of corn, and you're ready to roll.
Now, plop that bundle in your microwave oven and cook the corn for 10 minutes at full power. I suggest you put on rubber gloves when you pull them out because they are HOT!
Sometimes, I pull the corn out halfway through the cooking time, rearrange the ears, and flip the bundle over. This is probably "Betty overkill," and it may not be necessary, but if the ears are not all the same size, it can't hurt.
I can't wait to show you what happens next! Take a peek!
Now, starting at the top, the skinny end where the silk was, peel off the husks to find perfectly steamed microwave corn on the cob and silks that practically fall off and stay stuck on the husk as you unwrap each ear!
The moisture from the dish towel and the husks make the corn wonderfully fresh-tasting! It's amazing, it really works, and tastes absolutely delicious. What a slick trick, don't you think?
And you've just got to see how the silks stick inside the steamed husks and stay out of your way! When you're done, the silks stay with the husks, and not on the ear of corn!
If you like, cook an extra ear or two and cut the kernels off the cob. Add them to a can of drained and rinsed black beans, and pour on some salsa from a jar. Bam! You've just made quick and easy black bean and corn salsa; it's great with tortilla chips!
Add leftover corn to sloppy joes, or put it in tacos or taco salad! Another time, add some fresh corn kernels to a box of corn muffin mix for a wonderful treat- real corn muffins!
I like to saute leftover corn that I cut off the cob in a little butter. I add a bit of garlic powder and some thinly sliced green onions. It makes a great little side dish when we have burgers.
Some folks think sweet corn is nutritionally bankrupt, but nothing could be further from the truth! Corn has loads of health benefits. The high fiber content can aid digestion, help prevent constipation, and keep you feeling full for longer between meals.
Sweet corn also contains vitamins essential to overall health, such as B, E, K, and C. It is also rich in minerals, including zinc, potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese.
So don't feel guilty about eating sweet corn this summer! Corn is delicious and versatile, and the season for fresh sweet corn is short, so enjoy it you can as long as you can!
A quick and easy way to make perfect corn on the cob and leave the pesky silks behind.
Corn is one of summer's most wonderful gifts, and while it's abundant, we eat as much as possible, as often as possible! Here are two recipes we love using corn: Sweet Corn Salad and Corn Fritters. Here's how to freeze corn for enjoyment in the winter. It tastes freshly picked!
If you liked this microwave method for cooking corn, you're my people! If you did, please share it on your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter! It would sure tickle me, and I would be ever so grateful!
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🐝 My Bee-Attitude for Today: "Bee grateful: Fresh seasonal food — like a good day — tastes sweeter when you pause long enough to notice."
See you next time! 💛
Love GB (Betty Streff)
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We leave an inch on the top and cut the bottom at the fattest point, then we can hold the top and the cob full of corn falls out clean. We don’t put the paper towel on, it stays moist in the husks.
I'll give it a try! Are you MY Carol B from Tekamah??