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Yes, You Can Shuck Corn in Your Microwave — Here’s How

Kelli Foster
Kelli FosterCulinary Producer at The Kitchn
I'm a recipe developer, food writer, stylist, and video producer, with more than 10 years of professional experience. As an expert meal planner and avid home cook who loves grocery shopping and helping people figure out what to cook for dinner, I'm a natural fit as The Kitchn’s Dinner Therapist. Since graduating from The University of Scranton and The French Culinary Institute, I've authored three cookbooks: Buddha Bowls, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, and The Probiotic Kitchen. My kitchen superpower is turning a random assortment of ingredients into easy, delicious dinners that even my young son will eat.
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Andrea Rivera Wawrzyn
Andrea Rivera WawrzynAssociate Food Editor, The Kitchn
Andrea is the Associate Food Editor at The Kitchn. She is a lifelong chef and full-time clog enthusiast. Her passions include grabbing more books at the library than she can read in the time allotted and the relentless pursuit of the perfect burrito. She lives in Salem, MA with her husband and two cats.
updated Aug 1, 2024
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Sweet Corn
Credit: Getty Images/BRETT STEVENS

Let’s say you’ve already mastered how to cook corn on the cob in the microwave. Don’t turn away from the appliance just yet. As it turns out, you can also use your microwave to shuck that corn.

Shucking corn is easily one of my least favorite cooking tasks of all time. I inevitably make a mess every single time and, no matter how hard I try, I can never seem to get all those darn silks off.

Well, I recently discovered a ridiculously easy and nearly hands off method of shucking corn on the cob using a microwave. There are more than a few videos and articles around the web that talk about how to shuck corn in a microwave. This video from America’s Test Kitchen was the first one to really catch my eye. I decided to put this technique to the test and see if using the microwave to shuck corn actually works.

How to Shuck Corn in the Microwave

  1. Cut off the end of the cobs. Cut a couple of inches off the stalk end of the ear, leaving the husk in tact.
  2. Microwave the cobs. Place the rimmed cobs on a microwave-safe plate and heat in the microwave for 2 to 4 minutes.
  3. Shake! Remove the corn from the microwave. Hold the un-cut end of the ear in one hand and shake. The steam created during cooking causes the corn and husk to separate, so, not only will the ear of corn slide right out, but it will also be silk-free.

Inspired by this video, I decided to conduct my own test, I cut the end off a single ear of corn and heated it on high for 2 minutes in the microwave. After 2 minutes was up, I removed the ear of corn from the microwave, held the un-cut end with a kitchen towel and gave it a little shake. Tada! A freshly shucked ear of corn, with no silks.

Does the Microwave Cook the Corn?

The original tip suggests microwaving the corn for 2 to 4 minutes, but the latter seemed a bit long to me and I wanted to avoid cooking the corn. While the kernels were softer after being in the microwave, the corn was definitely not cooked through. This method of shucking corn also performed well in our side-by-side Skills Showdown of nine ways of shucking corn and removing all the silk.

Credit: Photo: Erik Bernstein; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Tips for Shucking Corn in the Microwave

  • Protect your hands. The corn is very hot when it comes out of the microwave. It’s best to use an oven mitt or kitchen towel when handling it.
  • Start with less heating time. Since you’re using the microwave to help separate the husk from the corn, but not cook the corn, start with 2 minutes. If the cob doesn’t come free easily, return it to the microwave in 1-minute intervals until it does.

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