Learn how to cook frozen corn so that you can enjoy this popular vegetable year-round, even when it isn't in season! Regardless of which method you prefer, cooking frozen corn is quick and easy to do! I'll walk you through every method and let you know which ones are the best!
Best Ways To Cook Frozen Corn
Frozen corn is one of my favorite frozen veggies to keep stocked in my freezer at all times! It can be used in a ton of different recipes or just cooked by itself for a tasty side dish.
With just a few extra ingredients, you can easily have some amazingly delicious corn, even if it isn't in season! Here are the best ways to cook frozen corn (and they are all super easy!)
Jump to:
- Best Ways To Cook Frozen Corn
- Ingredients For Cooking Frozen Corn
- How To Cook Frozen Corn On The Stovetop
- How To Cook Frozen Corn In The Oven
- How To Boil Frozen Corn
- How To Cook Frozen Corn In The Microwave
- Variations
- How To Cook Frozen Corn On The Cob
- Tips For Cooking Frozen Corn
- ❓ FAQ
- 🌽 Best Recipes Using Corn
- 📋 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Ingredients For Cooking Frozen Corn
All you really need is some frozen corn. However, simple items like butter and salt can really help to take the flavor up a notch! Try experimenting with different spices to find what you like the best.
- Frozen Corn - Grab a bag (or two) of frozen corn to get started. The exact amount doesn't matter much, as you can easily make as much as you need using these methods!
- Butter - Butter and corn are a match made in Heaven!
- Salt - I always recommend adding some salt to your corn, but hold off until you're about to serve it so it doesn't cause the kernels to dehydrate.
- Sugar (optional) - Adding a small amount of sugar (about 1 teaspoon) really helps to bring out the natural sweetness. It doesn't taste weird, trust me.
- Other Ingredients - Some other spices that taste great with corn are paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, and coriander. You could also add fresh veggies or Parmesan cheese.
How To Cook Frozen Corn On The Stovetop
The stovetop is one of my favorite ways to prepare frozen corn! You can easily add any extra ingredients (like bacon or onions) and saute them right alongside the corn!
- Rinse. Place your corn into a colander and rinse them under cold water to remove any ice crystals.
- Drain. Drain well and lightly dry the corn with a paper towel.
- Heat. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter as well as 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.
- Add. Once hot, add the corn kernels as well as 1 teaspoon of sugar. Stir to coat.
- Cook. Cook until the corn begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Serve. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
How To Cook Frozen Corn In The Oven
Roasting the corn in the oven is a hands-off way of cooking frozen corn! You can add any extra spices you like (such as paprika or garlic powder). I also recommend adding some shredded Parmesan cheese during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- Preheat. Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C).
- Prepare. Spread your frozen kernels onto a baking sheet lined with foil in a single layer.
- Coat. Toss the corn with a tablespoon or 2 of extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Cook. Roast in the oven for 20-30 minutes or until cooked to your liking.
- Serve. Remove from the oven and serve.
How To Boil Frozen Corn
While a lot of packaging for frozen corn has instructions for boiling it, I don't necessarily recommend it. I find that it removes a lot of the corn's flavor, but it is simple and easy!
- Prepare. Fill a pot with water (about ½ cup of water for each cup of corn kernels).
- Combine. Add the corn and some butter (I recommend 1 teaspoon per cup of corn).
- Boil. Bring the mixture up to a boil.
- Cook. Cook for about 2-3 minutes or until the corn is as tender as you like.
- Serve. Drain off the water and add additional butter and salt if desired.
How To Cook Frozen Corn In The Microwave
The microwave is always a good choice if you are crunched for time.
- Prepare. Add your corn kernels to a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover. Add about ⅛ cup of water per cup of corn and then tightly cover the dish with a lid.
- Cook. Microwave on high power for 2 minutes.
- Check. Stir and check the corn for doneness. If still cold, continue to microwave in 30-second increments.
- Serve. Add butter, seasonings, and serve.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
Variations
There are a ton of different ways to elevate the flavors of your frozen corn! Here are a few ideas to try out!
- Before cooking, add a couple of cloves of garlic and ½ teaspoon of thyme.
- After cooking your corn, mix it together with ⅓ cup of queso fresco and a sprinkle of paprika for an Elotes-inspired dish.
- Add a couple of cloves of garlic before cooking. Once cooked, sprinkle ½ cup of freshly grated Parmesan over the top.
How To Cook Frozen Corn On The Cob
If you have some frozen corn on the cob on hand, you can cook it in a wide variety of different ways, from boiling to steaming or roasting in the oven! Whether the cob is fresh or frozen, the cooking methods are pretty similar, but the frozen version will take a little longer to cook.
Take a look at my post on how to cook corn on the cob for some ideas, tips, tricks, and recipes!
Tips For Cooking Frozen Corn
- Hold off on salting your corn until you are ready to serve. If you add salt too soon, it can cause the kernels to dehydrate and will diminish the naturally sweet flavor.
- Adding a little bit of sugar will help to bring out the natural sweetness of the corn (and it won't taste weird, trust me).
- If you are planning to add frozen corn to a recipe (rather than preparing it as a side dish), you don't need to cook it first. Just add it straight to the dish following the recipe instructions.
>>>>See all of my recipes HERE<<<<
❓ FAQ
No! Corn can easily be cooked straight from frozen. Depending on the method used, you may want to rinse it under some cold water just to remove the ice crystals.
My favorite way to cook frozen corn is in a skillet on the stovetop. It is relatively quick and is super easy to add any other ingredients you may like (such as sauteed onions)!
When frozen, your bag of corn can easily last for a year or more. This is why it is such a great ingredient to always keep on hand! You won't have to worry about it going bad, and you can have some delicious corn whenever you like!
🌽 Best Recipes Using Corn
- Corn Soup - Creamy vegetarian soup that is loaded with tons and tons of sweet corn.
- Southern Corn Fritters - A 10-minute snack consisting of battered and fried corn.
- Creamed Corn - Sweet and creamy corn that only takes 15 minutes to whip up.
- Southern Fried Corn - Pan-fried corn that is tossed with onions, butter, bacon, and seasonings.
- Grilled Corn On The Cob - An easy way to prepare some flavorful corn on the cob in the summertime.
- Jiffy Corn Casserole - A sweet and savory side dish that combines cornbread, creamed corn, and sour cream.
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📋 Recipe
How To Cook Frozen Corn
Ingredients
- 16 oz frozen corn
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Instructions
Stovetop
- Place your 16 oz frozen corn into a colander and rinse them under cold water to remove any ice crystals.16 oz frozen corn
- Drain well and lightly dry the corn with a paper towel.
- Heat 1 tablespoon butter as well as 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.1 tablespoon butter
- Once hot, add the corn kernels as well as 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir to coat.1 teaspoon sugar
- Cook until the corn begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Season with ½ teaspoon salt and pepper and serve.½ teaspoon salt
Oven
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C).
- Spread your frozen kernels onto a baking sheet lined with foil in a single layer.16 oz frozen corn
- Toss the corn with a tablespoon or 2 of extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.½ teaspoon salt
- Roast in the oven for 20-30 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
Boil
- Fill a pot with water (about ½ cup of water for each cup of corn kernels).
- Add the corn and some butter (I recommend 1 teaspoon per cup of corn).16 oz frozen corn
- Bring the mixture up to a boil.
- Cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the corn is as tender as you like.
- Drain off the water and add additional butter and salt if desired.1 tablespoon butter, ½ teaspoon salt
Microwave
- Add your corn kernels to a microwave-safe dish.16 oz frozen corn
- Add about ⅛ cup of water per cup of corn and then tightly cover the dish with a lid.
- Microwave on high power for 2 minutes.
- Stir and check the corn for doneness. If still cold, continue to microwave in 30-second increments.
- Add butter, seasonings, and serve.1 tablespoon butter, ½ teaspoon salt
Equipment You May Need
Notes
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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