Top 25 Corn Recipes

Looking for easy corn recipes? You're in luck! These are the 25 best corn recipes for dips, salads, pastas -- even pancakes and scones -- that feature the natural sweetness of corn. 

collage of corn recipes

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Up to your ears in corn? (hardy har har) Or just looking for a crop of fresh corn recipes to try? I've got you covered. 

I reached out to top food bloggers and asked for their very favorite corn recipes and boy, oh, boy, they didn't disappoint.

They hit me with the most delicious appetizers, salads, main course dishes, even breakfast and dessert recipes featuring the fresh flavor of corn. I even threw in a few of my own favorite recipes!

Whether your harvest comes from ears of corn or cans of corn, the farmers market or the grocery store, I hope you enjoy these 25 a-maize-ing (yes, I did that) sweet corn recipes. 

How to Choose the Best Sweet Corn Every Time

Wondering how to pick the best ears of corn at the grocery store or farmers market without peeling back the husk? Here's what to look for. 

Heavy weight. Juicy corn should feel heavy for its size. If it feels lighter than it should, it's probably dry. 

Bright green husk. Look for ears that are tightly wrapped with a fresh-looking, bright green husk. Pass on any that have a brown or yellow husk that feels dry. If you see little brown holes, insects may have already chosen that ear. Let them have it. 

Light brown tassel. Those corn silks sticking out the top of the corn should feel a little sticky and be a light brown, almost golden color. And if it smells fresh, go for it. If the tassels are dry, black, or mushy, the corn is old. 

Plump kernels. Gently squeeze the ear of corn to feel if the kernels are firm and plump. If you feel mushy spots or missing kernels, pass on it. 

What not to do. You've probably noticed other shoppers before you have left behind ears with the husks peeled back. But please resist -- it's kind of frowned. Once you peel back the husk, it causes the corn to dry out. Instead, try the tips above to see what's going on inside the husk.  

How to Store Fresh Corn at Home

Chill it. As soon as you get home, put the corn in the fridge to help maintain the sweetness. If left too long in a warm temperature, those sugars can turn into starch and it will be less sweet. Leave the husks on and place the ears of corn in a loose-fitting bag. 

Eat within a few days. Fresh corn is best eaten within 2-3 days. You can freeze leftover corn (see recipe #25 above) to enjoy the fresh flavors of late summer any time of year. 

FAQs

Should fresh corn be refrigerated?

Yes. To preserve the sugars in sweet corn, refrigerate the corn as soon as you get home. Otherwise, those sugars can turn to starch and the corn won't taste as sweet.

How long does corn on the cob last in the fridge?

Fresh corn on the cob is best eaten the day of, however, you can store it in the refrigerator in a loose-fitting bag for 2-3 days.

How can you tell if corn is bad?

There are a few tell-tale signs (without pulling back the husk) that a cob of corn with the husk on is no longer fresh.
Light for its size. Fresh corn should feel heavy for its size. If it feels light, it means it's dry.
Brown or black tassels. If the silks of the corn are dried out or black, the corn isn't very fresh.
Missing kernels or mushy spots. Feel the corn through the husk from silk to stem. If it feels soft or like there are bare spots, pass on it.

Once it's home, refrigerate and eat it within a few days. You can tell that corn has gone bad if it is slimy or has an offputting odor, mold, dark areas on the kernels, or the kernels are shriveled. If you are at all in doubt, toss it.

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