Baby corn may not be everyone’s go-to vegetable, but those who like it, love it. It is a vegetable most often seen incorporated into Asian stir-fries or served with baby greens alongside other British pub classics.
Though it is just premature corn on the cob, baby corn is typically cooked and treated differently from other corn varieties when preparing.
But is it possible to microwave baby corn? And how does microwave baby corn compare to traditionally cooked baby corn?
To microwave baby corn, place it into a dish with a splash of water, then cover and microwave for 5 minutes. Shake it after 5 minutes, then microwave for an additional 3 minutes.
How to Microwave Baby Corn
Typically, baby corn is either roasted or steamed, cooked in a wok, and then added to a stir-fry. Rarely will a packet of baby corn instruct you to microwave it unless it is pre-steamed corn, in which case you aren’t cooking it.
However, in the fast-paced world that we live in, trying to incorporate vegetables into everyday meals can be difficult and time-consuming.
That is why you should follow this method for microwaving baby corn to make dinner times easier and healthier:
- Place In A Bowl
Place your baby corn in a microwavable bowl or plate. Do not have the corn overlapping, but instead lying flat. - Add Water
Your bowl or plate should be deep enough to fill the dish with 1 centimetre of water. - Cover
Grab a tea towel and cover the top of the bowl to prevent steam from escaping. - Microwave
Set your microwave to 75% heat or a high power. Then microwave your baby corn for 5 minutes. - Agitate
After 5 minutes, take the bowl out of the microwave and shake lightly to agitate the baby corn without removing the covering. - Microwave (Again)
Place the baby corn back in the microwave and microwave for a further 3 minutes to let the corn finish cooking. - Drain
Uncover the bowl and drain any remaining water when the corn is cooked. - Serve
Use tongs or a fork to remove the hot baby corn from the bowl and serve.
How to Microwave Baby Corn Successfully
Now that you know the basics of microwaving baby corn, why not push your cooking skills that little bit further? Try these tips on how to successfully microwave baby corn:
- Know How To Check That Baby Corn Is Cooked – Baby corn can be deceiving when you are trying to figure out if it needs to be cooked for longer. To check if your baby corn needs a minute or more to cook, uncover the bowl and prod the corn with a fork. The baby corn is ready to eat when the fork sinks in slightly.
- Just Add Butter – To push your baby corn’s flavour to that next level, spread some sunflower butter or naturally flavoured butter over the corn as soon as you have drained it. Toss the baby corn in the butter to coat evenly.
- Serve Immediately – You don’t want to wait too long to service your baby corn after it has finished cooking in the microwave. Cold and limp baby corn is not what you want to be eating. As soon as the baby corn has finished cooking, serve it with the rest of your dish.
Why You Should Microwave Baby Corn
Some may turn their nose up at the idea of microwaving a vegetable. But baby corn is one of the few veggies that holds up surprisingly well when microwaved:
Easy to Incorporate Into Other Dishes
Cooking is all about timing. What ingredients you add when will change the final outcome of your dish.
Baby corn is a difficult vegetable to include in dishes as its cooking times vary vastly depending on how fresh the corn is in the first place.
But using a microwave to cook baby corn means that you can simply add the corn to your dish when you are ready to serve and it will still taste delicious.
Quick and Easy
Microwaves are a student’s best friend for a reason.
They are much easier to use and control than an oven and produce quicker results. At least in the case of baby corn.
Why You Shouldn’t Microwave Baby Corn
As quick and convenient as microwaving baby corn may be, there are some drawbacks to skipping the complexities of traditional cooking methods:
Soggy or Undercooked
Some people are not a fan of the texture of baby corn already. It is not quite hard enough to be chewy, but neither is it soft enough to be creamy like potatoes.
The methods used for microwaving baby corn can make the corn itself soggy and limp, which is not particularly appetising. Likewise, the corn is just as likely not to cook all the way through and be too hard to eat in the centre.
Bland
Most of the time, the flavour of baby corn comes from the dish that it is in rather than the corn itself. Removing those other flavours and cooking the corn on its own can result in quite a tasteless result.
You could add your own seasoning to baby corn, but it still will not taste nearly as good as if you were to cook the corn with other food.
Microwaving Baby Corn FAQs
If you still have a question or two about microwaving baby corn, these FAQs might help you out:
Yes, if you want to impart as much flavour to your baby corn when microwaving it, you can rub it in your favourite herbs and spices beforehand.
We would avoid microwaving baby corn alongside other vegetables as they are all likely to have different cooking times. Instead, cook baby corn on its own then combine with other veggies afterwards.
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
