How to Cook Frozen Corn

Frozen corn is a great asset to many kitchens as it allows families everywhere to enjoy fresh-tasting corn even long after the fields have grown bare.

an upclose aerial view of a skillet full of cooked corn with a large metal spoon resting inside.

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A warm and flavorful side dish made of cooked corn is always in season thanks to bags of frozen golden kernels. Frozen corn is a great asset to many kitchens as it allows families everywhere to enjoy fresh-tasting corn even long after the fields have grown bare

We love eating frozen corn and once you know how to cook frozen corn, you’ll find yourself making it more often too. I love how fast and simple this recipe is as it’s such a quick way to add more color and nutrition to every plate.

Within just a few minutes, you can have a tasty sweet, and savory side dish that’s perfect for summer, winter, fall, and spring. Use a bag of your favorite corn kernels, storebought or homemade. You can even use corn on the cob if you wanted to.

When you decide to figure out how to cook frozen corn on the cob you’ll see that it’s very similar to whole kernel corn.

The only difference is that the cooking might be extended just a bit to help all the kernels get cooked perfectly. Other than that, there’s not much difference at all. So choose whole kernels or cobs, and enjoy your tasty side dish no matter what the meal may be.

Table of Contents

Ingredients needed for cooked frozen corn

Frozen corn: You’ll need about 12 ounces of frozen corn to make sure that there is enough for everybody.
Garlic: Minced garlic will add a lot of flavor to every bite and we only need 1 teaspoons worth (about 2 cloves) to do it.
Salt: With ½ teaspoon of salt we can enhance the flavors in the dish.
Pepper: We only need ¼ teaspoon of black pepper to help give us a little subtle spiced flavor that pairs great as a contrast to the natural sweetness.
Water: ¼ cup of water will help to cook the corn and distribute the seasonings amongst the corn as it cooks.
Parsley: Adding in ½ teaspoon of parsley, fresh or dried will add a little color and freshness to the dish. Add more fresh parsley at the end for garnish if desired.

a skillet full of corn and spices with butter

adding liquid to the pan full of corn and spices

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all of the ingredients.
Heat the pan over medium heat until it’s nice and simmering.
Let the mixture continue to simmer until the water is almost completely evaporated. This should take about 5-8 minutes.

Frozen Corn FAQs

Is frozen corn as good as fresh?

Frozen corn is the second best thing to fresh because most of the nutrients are kept intact and there are rarely added ingredients like salty brines to keep them shelf-stable.

Is frozen corn already cooked?

Yes, whether you buy storebought or you did it in your own house the corn has been (or should have been) cooked before freezing. This happens through a process called blanching which helps to prevent color and nutrient loss in the corn. It also helps to maintain the texture too.

Is frozen corn healthier than canned?

While both are better than nothing, frozen corn can be seen as better than canned. Frozen corn is specifically prepared to help hold in nutrients while canning does remove some through the process. Not only that, but canned corn (and any canned vegetables) often contain high amounts of sodium.
For healthier canned corn or frozen corn, make sure to look at the ingredients labels. Keeping it fresh with just corn or just corn and water can help to keep your options as healthy as possible. Just because a label says “organic” or other fancy words doesn’t mean it is better for you, but a quick glance at the ingredient label will help you to make better-informed choices and doesn’t take long to do either.

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