Calli fails to list the best way to cook corn on the cob. A microwave oven is great for re-heating but it is poor for most cooking, but the best item you can cook in a microwave is corn on the cob. Starting with the corn still in the husk, cut off the stem just at the base of the ear - which will make it easier to remove the husk after it is cooked.

I also cut off the top at the end of the ear. Cook in the microwave in a covered dish for 3 1/2 minutes per ear. (I use an oval Corningware French white dish that can hold up to 3 ears at a time.) After cooking hold the ear in a hot pad or mitt (the mitt is better) while you strip off the husk with your other hand a "leaf" at a time - CAUTION the steam released as the leaf is removed can burn you.

The wet silk comes off easily in clumps which is much faster, easier, and more completely than when the silk is dry. The corn is steamed by the moisture in the husk giving the freshest and moistest tasting corn you have ever eaten. Grilling in the husk with or without aluminum foil does not cook as uniformly and tends to dry the kernels. Cooking in a regular oven in aluminum foil takes longer and I personally do not think get the same fresh taste because it is more of a baking than a steaming cooking.

Some people wrap a wet paper towel around the ear inside the aluminum foil but that method does not get the fresh corn taste that comes from the moisture in the husk. Try it - I guarantee you will like it.

Bob Killian

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Thank you for your ideas! I love everything I can learn from our readers. We have such amazing cooks reading our newsletters and while it is sometimes intimidating, I find it so fun to soak up all the knowledge each reader is willing to share with me!

It is funny that you would bring up microwaving corn - and even more funny that I forgot to include it! When I was younger my mom used to cook corn in the microwave (not quite like you do, however). When I got married I mentioned it to my mother-in-law one day and she was horrified at the thought. Being a new wife and fairly new to cooking for my family I took it to heart. I didn't mention it to her, but on occasion I still microwave my corn! :) I even thought about it as I wrote the article and feared I would get the same horrified response from some of the readers so I left it out.

I am so thankful that you took the time to write and explain this method to me. I am going to try it THIS week! And better than that, I am going to cook some for my mother-in-law! That should speak volumes! :) Are you a member of our Cook'n Club? I will include it in one of my upcoming meal plans to share it with our other readers.

Thank you for reading and for helping me improve!

Calli