Can You Microwave Corn On The Cob To Make Popcorn?

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Got a craving for microwave popcorn, but only have fresh corn on the cob at home? We’re going to help you make the transition from an ear of corn to crunchy popcorn.

Are you trying to figure out whether it is possible to microwave popcorn with corn on the cob? If yes, you may find quite a few things useful and meaningful in this article. 

Can you microwave corn on the cob to make popcorn? With the right approach, it is possible to microwave corn on the cob to make popcorn. The corn on the cob must be fully dried out before you are able to make popcorn.

Let us try and answer some common doubts when it comes to making popcorn in a microwave on the cob. This article details tip and tricks that will help you achieve the crunchy popcorn results that you are looking for.

Can corn pop on the cob?

Yes, the kernels can be carefully and neatly removed from the corncob, or the unhusked corn on the cob can be left whole. Either way, the corn must be fully dried before the kernels will pop into popcorn.

There is nothing that stops us from making popcorn on the cob using a microwave oven. However, it has to be done carefully and the right steps have to be followed.

Can an ear of corn turn into popcorn?

Yes, an ear of corn can be turned into popcorn. However, the husk must be removed and the ear of corn must be fully dried to pop the corn.

An ear of corn is the spike that holds the kernels together and each ear of corn is wrapped in a husk. As the corn matures and grows, the ears also grow in size and the husk offers a protective layer for the kernels. 

How do you make popcorn from fresh corn?

You can make popcorn from fresh corn, however the corn must be completely dried out before it can be popped. It should be done carefully with a few steps that we must follow. 

The fresh corn can either remain on the cob, or it can be cut off the corncob. Slice the corn away from the cob or if you wish you can keep the corn kernels on the cob. 

Place the cut corn or fresh corn into a low oven with the door left slightly ajar, dehydrator or you can use a microwave on low to fully dry the fresh corn. 

Once it has ben dried, place the corn into a microwave popcorn popper or use two brown paper bags to pop the corn.

Can we make popcorn from sweet corn?

No, normally it is not possible to make popcorn from sweetcorn. This is because the shell around each kernel of sweet corn is not sturdy and strong enough for this purpose. 

As it turns out, you cannot simply make popcorn from just any corn variety. Sweetcorn varieties do not have the right type of shell around each kernel to transform into popped corn.

Additionally, the corn kernel as a whole needs the right amount of moisture. Excess moisture or too little of it could prevent the corn from popping. 

How to dry corn on the cob for popcorn in the microwave?

There are some simple ways to efficiently dry corn on the cob so that it can turn into popcorn in the microwave. Let us briefly find out how this is done in most cases.

Place the corn on the cob into a low oven with the heat set to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and leave the oven door slightly ajar. Slowly dry the ear of corn for 4 to 6 hours, taking the time to rotate the cob every hour or so to dry out evenly. 

You can also dry the corn on the cob using a dehydrator overnight, or a microwave set on the lowest power setting and nuke for about 1 hour. Stop the microwave every 5 minutes to check on the dryness and rotate the cob on all sides. 

After the corn on the cob has been completely dried, place the whole corncob into a medium size paper bag. You could also extract the kernels from the cob and do it, but we will discuss how it can be done with the cob in place. 

The bag-end must be folded twice to secure the closure, then put it in the microwave and set it to high heat. Nuke for 2½ to 4 minutes, or until the popping interval slows down to 2 to 3 seconds before stopping the microwave and taking out the bag. 

If you are not sure about how long to microwave, set the time to 2 minutes, then incrementally add 30 seconds until the popping slows to 3 seconds in-between each pop.