Everyone loves some corn on the cob with their meals, with its sweet and buttery flavor, but there are a whole bunch of different ways you can cook the corn.
One of the most popular ways to do this is to boil it, but cooking it in the microwave is also a popular method. However, the corn should be shucked and then wrapped in a moist paper towel to do so.
So what happens if you haven’t shucked your corn, and you don’t have any paper towels to hand? Can you still cook your corn on the cob in the microwave?
The answer is yes! You can microwave corn on the cob by placing it into a bowl that’s microwave-safe. Add some water to the bowl, then seal the top of the bowl with some plastic wrap.
Put it all in your microwave and heat it for 2 minutes. Once done, remove the bowl carefully, pull back the wrap and turn the corn on the cob.
Finally, seal the bowl again with the plastic wrap, then heat it in the microwave for another 2 minutes.
This method for cooking your corn on the cob is totally easy, and it’s very useful for a last minute fix if you don’t have shucked corn or paper towels to microwave it the regular way.
There’s lots more to learn about microwaving corn on the cob with plastic wrap, and we’ve got all the answers in our handy guide below!
Can You Microwave Your Corn On The Cob Using Plastic Wrap?
Given that there are so many different methods with which you can cook some delicious corn on the cob, it’s no surprise if you haven’t heard of doing it in the microwave with the help of some plastic wrap.
After all, it’s not the most popular method that people use. In fact, it’s not even the most popular method for microwaving corn on the cob!
With that being said, you can microwave your corn on the cob using plastic wrap.
This doesn’t mean that you’re wrapping the corn itself in plastic wrap and putting it into the microwave – don’t do that since it isn’t safe to microwave with the plastic wrap actually touching your food.
Instead, it means you’re putting the corn into a bowl and then covering that bowl with plastic wrap.
Also known as cling wrap, this useful kitchen material is great for “sealing” bowls and dishes, allowing you to microwave things.
It must be said, this isn’t the best method for microwaving your corn on the cob. If you have shucked your corn, the corn has husks, and you have some paper towels available, then we’d absolutely recommend the traditional microwaving method instead.
However, if none of those things are true, then this plastic wrap method will do the job just fine.
How Do You Microwave Corn On The Cob With Plastic Wrap?
If your corn isn’t shucked and you don’t have paper towels to use, then you can microwave corn on the cob using the plastic wrap method.
In order to do this, you’ll need some plastic wrap that’s microwave-safe. The bowl needs to have high sides as well, keeping the plastic wrap far away from touching the food.
In order to use this microwaving method, follow our steps carefully. This process should take about 4 minutes to heat the corn on the cob, and then you need to leave 3 minutes of cooling time on top of that.
Get your corn on the cob and place it in the microwave-safe bowl. Add some water to the bowl, then get your plastic wrap and cover the top of the bowl with it, wrapping it over the sides.
This should seal the corn on the cob inside the bowl.
After that, put the plastic wrap bowl inside the microwave and heat the corn for 2 minutes. Once the time has passed, remove the bowl and pull back the plastic wrap so that you can rotate the corn on the cob over.
When you’ve rotated it, put the plastic wrap back where it was, sealing the bowl again. Put the bowl back into the microwave and heat it for a further 2 minutes.
When that second round of heating is over, remove the bowl and leave it to sit on your counter cooling for 2-3 minutes.
Once it’s cooled down, remove the plastic wrap and take your corn on the cob out. It should be ready to enjoy! You can now butter it, season it, or serve it however you please.
How Long Does It Take To Microwave Corn On The Cob Using Plastic Wrap?
Using the process we just covered, it takes around 4 minutes to properly heat each ear of corn on the cob.
This is because you cook each side for 2 minutes, flipping the corn halfway through and re-sealing the dish with the plastic wrap. On top of that, you need to leave about 3 minutes afterwards for the corn to cool down.
However, if you’re trying to microwave more than one ear of corn on the cob, then you’ll need to adjust the timings. How so? Well, you should add 1-2 extra minutes for each extra ear of corn you’re cooking.
In other words, if you cook 3 ears of corn, then you’ll be heating them for a total of about 8 minutes.
However, plastic wrap can melt if you have it heated for more than 10 minutes, so ensure that you don’t microwave for longer than this.
Is It Safe To Microwave Using Plastic Wrap?
Of course, many of you might be wondering how safe it is to microwave with plastic wrap in the first place. The key thing that you need to remember is: NEVER microwave with the plastic wrap directly touching your food.
If this happens, then the food might not be safe to eat, and you could risk making yourself ill. This is because the plastic could mix with the food, which would be dangerous.
This is why we have the plastic wrap wrapped over the top of a high-sided bowl, so that there’s no risk of touching the food.
As long as you’re using the plastic wrap this way, then you should be safe to use it when heating corn on the cob in the microwave.
Obviously, do not under any circumstances simply wrap the corn itself in plastic wrap and cook it. That would also be dangerous.
Additionally, you NEED to use a plastic wrap that is microwave-safe. If you use a plastic wrap that isn’t suitable for the microwave, it could put toxins into the corn, making you ill and threatening your health.
Can You Microwave Corn On The Cob In A Plastic Bag?
Speaking of microwaving corn on the cob whilst it’s wrapped in something, can you microwave it while it’s in a plastic bag?
The answer is yes – as long as the plastic bag is microwave-safe, and as long as the corn is also wrapped in a damp paper towel.
To microwave corn on the cob using a plastic bag, first wrap each ear of corn with a dampened paper towel. Then place the wrapped corn into a microwave-safe plastic bag, but leave the bag unsealed.
Microwave the corn on a high setting for 3 to 4 minutes. Once the time has passed, flip the plastic bag over so that the corn has rotated, then cook it for a further 4 minutes.
When Is My Microwaved Corn Finished?
With all these timing guidelines for microwaving your corn, it’s useful to know what to look out for as well in order to know that the corn on the cob has been properly cooked.
Thankfully, there are a range of different methods you can use (in addition to following the timings) to know whether it’s done.
For one, have a look at the corn. Is it golden yellow? If it is, then it’s likely cooked. If it’s still plain yellow, it may need more time.
On top of that, you could remove one of the corn cob’s kernels and eat it. If the kernel isn’t firm, rather being easy to chew instead, then the corn is likely cooked properly. Undercooked corn will be hard.
Finally, try poking the corn ear with a fork. If the prongs of the fork easily go into the kernels, then you’ll also know it’s done, because they’re clearly not hard anymore.
What If The Corn Is Too Tall For The Microwave?
It might be the case that your ear of corn is too tall for you to fit it into the microwave properly, or it’s too tall that it won’t go in the bowl without touching the plastic wrap.
Thankfully, you can get around this problem really easily!
Simply carefully cut the top inch off your corn with a knife (be careful when handling sharp objects), then split the corn in two. The corn should now fit into the bowl, allowing you to microwave it with the plastic wrap process.
How Do You Remove The Plastic Wrap?
It’s always important to be safe in the kitchen, and this is especially true when you’re cooking and dealing with hot things.
Anybody who’s ever used a microwave will know that your bowl or container will be hot when you remove it, but safety needs to go one step further in the case of microwaving corn on the cob with plastic wrap.
Why? Well, when your corn is properly cooked, you’ll need to remove the plastic wrap covering from the bowl in order to access the food. Be careful!
The plastic wrap will have become very hot in the microwave, and you could hurt yourself by touching it.
As a result, get an oven mitt and remove the plastic wrap using that, keeping your fingers and skin protected from the heat.
How Should You Serve Corn On The Cob?
Corn on the cob is a delicious food that you can enjoy with all kinds of meals. For example, corn goes really well with various types of salads, such as leafy ones, potato salads, and even pasta salads.
On the other hand, corn pairs perfectly with grilled meats. You can even enjoy corn with some fresh fruit in a fruit salad! The possibilities are endless.
However, what if you want to spruce the corn on the cob up a little bit? As delicious as it is on its own, it’s a good idea to season it in different ways in order to add extra flavors.
A great way to make your corn on the cob extra tasty is by buttering it, which makes it extra creamy.
On the other hand, you can season it with all kinds of seasonings. For example, a mixture of salt, onion powder, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika are a great choice.
The paprika gives the corn an edge of spiciness that tickles your taste buds, but doesn’t overwhelm the flavor.
Microwaving Corn On The Cob With Plastic Wrap
Prep: 1 minute
Cooking Time: 4 minutes per ear
You’ll Need
Microwave-safe bowl with high sides
Plastic wrap
Method
Put corn in the bowl.
Add water to the bowl.
Seal the bowl with plastic wrap.
Cook for 2 minutes.
Rotate the corn, then re-seal the bowl with the plastic wrap.
Cook for another 2 minutes.
Remove the bowl and let it cool for 3 minutes.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t have paper towels, you can microwave your corn on the cob by putting it in a bowl and covering the bowl with plastic wrap.
Have you ever made something so delicious that you wished you could savor it forever?
Only to find that the recipe has now mysteriously vanished from your phone and the entirety of the internet. Yep, there’s not much more painful than that.
Hi, my name is Mark Williams and I have been infatuated with cooking since I was young. I would beg my mother to pull a chair up to the counter so I could watch what she was doing.
