Corn on the cob is as all-American as apple pie and the fourth of July. In fact, what would the celebration of American independence be without grilling delicious outdoor feasts, which nearly always includes fresh corn on the cob?However, grilling is not necessarily the only way to prepare fresh corn on the cob, in fact, it may not be the best way to heighten corn’s flavor. Corn tastes best when cooked briefly so microwave cooking works well for corn. It also saves precious space on the outdoor grill for things that taste best cooked over an open fire.
This microwave method makes it easy to enjoy this delicious grain quickly and easily, as an accompaniment to a meal, or all by itself.
Selecting, preparing, and microwaving corn on the cob:
Corn is best bought, prepared and served freshly picked. Shuck and then rinse the fresh ears in cold water. Absorb excess moisture with a paper towel.
Then wrap each ear of corn in a fresh paper towel, plastic wrap, or wax paper. Place each ear of corn on a microwave safe plate. Microwave one ear of corn for 2 minutes and add 1 minute of cooking time for each additional ear of corn you cook at one time. Unwrap the corn carefully; attach skewers to the ends of each ear, and enjoy with your favorite accompaniment, such as butter, salt, pepper, olive oil and lime.
Additional ways to serve corn on the cob:
Try something new on your ear of corn. Here are some great ideas.
Go Italian and spread olive oil rich pesto on your corn on the cob followed by a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Fresh corn also tastes incredible with garlic butter and a shake of oregano seasoning.
Take your corn south of the border by squeezing a lime wedge over it and then sprinkling your corn with fresh chopped cilantro, salt, and red pepper or chili powder. For an extra special treat roll your south of the border seasoned corn in a little finely grated cheddar cheese. Do you like your corn extra spicy? Sprinkle on some finely chopped jalapeno peppers.
Serve it New Orleans style by dusting your ear of corn in Cajun spices and sprinkling it with Tabasco sauce to taste.
Finally, make your ear of corn a sweet treat with butter and cinnamon and sugar or honey.
There’s no end to the ways one can enjoy fresh corn of the cob so don’t be afraid to get creative.
Is corn good for you?
While some folks think of corn as a vegetable or even a fruit, the USDA lists it as a cereal grain, like wheat, brown rice, wild rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, amaranth, and spelt. A great deal of debate also exists regarding how healthy corn is for the human body.
The consensus seems to be that corn is a grain and should be treated as such in your diet, and that whole grains are much better for the human body than processed grain forms. Since corn on the cob is just about as whole and unprocessed a grain as you get, enjoying it on occasion, is good for you. Corn is high in fiber and is a great source of vitamin B1 (thiamin), B5, B9 (folic acid), and vitamin C.
The USDA advises that we have a minimum of three servings of whole grains per day. Finally, it is suggested that we vary the whole grains we ingest as well as our choices of fruits and vegetables.
More complete nutritional information on corn can be found by at the following links:
Nutrition Data: Corn, White
Nutrition Data: Corn, Yellow
