How to Microwave Corn on the Cob Plastic Wrap?

If you’ve ever microwaved corn on the cob, you know it’s always a good idea to have it wrapped up with something or microwave it in the husk. This keeps it from drying out, so the corn is soft and juicy at the end. But what if you only have plastic wrap?

In this article, I’ll tell you how to microwave corn on the cob with plastic wrap. I’ll also go over the safety, microwaving times, and other factors you need to know.

Can you microwave corn on the cob with plastic wrap?

Yes, you can microwave corn on the cob with plastic wrap.

Cooking corn in a microwave is something I do quite often, and even just the other day, I ended up having to do it.

I was in a hurry to get dinner on the table. I had planned to microwave some corn on the cob, but I realized my corn wasn’t in the husks, and I had no paper towel to microwave the corn. I didn’t have time to run to the store, so I had to come up with a plan B.

A few months ago, I learned that you could microwave corn with cling wrap. I wasn’t sure whether it would work back then, but I didn’t have much to lose. So I did it, and it worked fine.

So I did it again by simply wrapping the corn in plastic wrap and microwaving it for about 3-5 minutes. Again, it worked like a charm! The corn was soft and juicy and didn’t dry out at all.

With that said, I can personally confirm that you can microwave corn on the cob using saran wrap. However, I’d only recommend doing it if you have corn without husks or don’t have a paper towel on hand.

How to Microwave Corn on the Cob Plastic Wrap?

To microwave corn on the cob in plastic wrap, place the corn in a microwave-safe bowl with high sides. Add water to the bowl and seal the top of the dish with plastic wrap. Then nuke on high for 2 minutes. After that, rotate the corn on the cob, then nuke for another 2 minutes until done.

Once you are done cooking corn, allow it to sit for 2-3 minutes so the corn on the cob can cool down a bit before removing it from the plastic wrap. After removing the plastic wrap, go ahead and butter the corn or add your favorite seasonings.

Is it safe to microwave corn with plastic wrap?

It is not safe to microwave fresh corn with saran wrap directly touching the food. Some plastic wraps are microwave-safe, but only if you use them as intended with one inch of space between the food. If the saran wrap touches the food, it might not be safe to eat.

So in the case where you wrap the corn directly in saran wrap, you have no way to prevent it from touching the corn and having the plastic mixed in. For this reason, it’s best not to use plastic wrap when microwaving corn on the cob.

Instead of wrapping your corn in saran wrap, you can also try one of these methods to cook corn:

• Wrapping the corn with wax paper.
• Microwave corn on the cob with a damp paper towel and place it around each ear of corn. (Using a paper towel is one of the best ways to microwave corn)
• Place the ears of corn in a large bowl and cover the bowl itself with plastic wrap so that there is a one-inch gap in between.
• Microwave the corn in the husk directly instead of removing it from the husk.

If you want to know more about the safety of microwaving plastic wrap, read this article.

You may also like: How to Cook Canned Corn in the Microwave: Quick and Easy Instructions

How long to microwave corn on the cob in plastic wrap?

The duration depends on the number of ears you are cooking. However, You will need to microwave it for about 4 minutes in total for one ear of corn on the cob. Cook it for 2 minutes on one side and then rotate before microwaving again for another two minutes.

For multiple ears of fresh corn, add 1-2 minutes extra per additional ear of corn. So if you are cooking three ears at a time, microwave them for 8 minutes. Just keep in mind that plastic can melt pretty quickly, so you don’t want to be microwaving it for more than 10 minutes at a time.

You should also keep in mind the USDA’s guideline of one inch between the corn and the plastic wrap.

How do I know when my corn is done?

Once your timer goes off after microwaving the second time, check if your cobs have more golden yellow color. You can also check the doneness by poking them with a fork. If you can easily poke the kernels, you will know it’s done.

Otherwise, you can try to pry one of the kernels off the cob and do a taste test. If it is done, it should be easy to chew and not hard.

Tips for microwaving corn on the cob with plastic wrap:

Here are a few tips to make sure your microwave corn on the cob experience is a success:

• First, use microwave-safe plastic wrap as non microwave-safe plastics can leach toxins into your food.
• Add water to the bowl before microwaving. Doing this will help create a steamy environment and cook the corn evenly.
• If you are cooking more than one ear of corn, add 1-2 minutes extra per additional ear of corn.
• To check for doneness, prick the corn with a fork or take a kernel from the cob to taste.
• Allow the corn on the cob to cool down for 2-3 minutes after microwaving before buttering or adding your favorite seasonings.
• Be careful when removing the hot plastic wrap from the corn – it might be a good idea to have an oven mitt nearby just in case.
• If the corn is too tall to fit in your microwave, cut off the top inch and split the corn into two pieces so it will fit.

Can I microwave corn on the cob in a plastic bag?

Yes, you can microwave corn in a plastic bag that is microwave friendly by wrapping each ear of corn on the cob in a damp paper towel. Place the corn in the plastic bag without sealing it and into the microwave to cook on high for 3-4 minutes. After 4 minutes, flip the plastic bag so the corn rotates, then nuke the corn on the cob for another 4 minutes.

The Bottom Line

Microwaving corn on the cob is a delicious and nutritious side dish, but there are some things you need to do to make sure it is safe. First, if you are using saran wrap, be careful not to let the plastic touch the food.

To avoid this problem, make sure you use a pyrex dish or bowl with high sides to have enough space between the plastic and the corn. Also, you should never wrap the corn on the cob directly in plastic wrap, even if it says it’s microwave safe using plastic wrap isn’t a good idea.

I’ve seen some recipes claiming that you can do that, but trust me, doing so is bad. Once you keep that in mind, you should have no issues microwaving corn on the cob using plastic wrap.