The Corn Shucking Hack To Speed Up Memorial Day Prep

The long Memorial Day weekend is widely regarded as the unofficial start of summer, a.k.a. barbecue season. It's the perfect time to gather friends and family and take in the delicious smell of grilled goodies. Everyone wants to talk about the meat, but a truly great barbecue means the sides need to stack up to the mains, and nothing embodies summer more than sweet corn. It can be a delicious side on its own, or the foundation of a vibrant condiment like avocado-corn salsa (perfect if you're grilling shrimp for tacos).

The trouble with corn is always the shucking. Cleanly removing the whole husk without disturbing the corn itself can be tricky and laborious. But you can take the pain out of this chore with the help of an unexpected tool: Your microwave. A quick spin in the microwave will loosen the husk, and you'll be able to slide the whole cob of corn right out. You can even steam the corn in the microwave if you don't want to deal with boiling it, or if you don't have space on the grill.

The reason microwaving corn makes it easier to shuck is all about steam. As the corn spins in the microwave, steam will build up beneath the husk, causing it to pull away from the kernels. Soaking the ears of corn with a bit of water beforehand can help to generate even more steam. To do this, start by cutting off the stalk of the corn just above the first row of kernels, taking an inch or two off. This will make it easier to slide the corn out of the husk at the end. Then, arrange the corn on a microwave-safe plate, and you're ready for the steam.

You can actually cook the corn to completion in the microwave. To do this, microwave the corn on high. This should take about three minutes for every two cobs of corn. The corn will be very hot when it comes out of the microwave, and you should let it cool a bit until it's safe to touch. Then, you can simply shake the corn right out of the husk. You can remove the silk with a potato brush, and then you're ready to eat.

If you don't want to cook the corn completely in the microwave, so you can boil or grill it afterwards, all you need to do is reduce the microwave time. One minute should be sufficient for this, after which you can shuck that corn and throw it on the grill for your family and friends.