There’s nothing like enjoying tender, sweet, delicious and highly nutritious corn. But the exact amount of time it takes to boil corn depends on whether it is fresh or old, still in its husk or shucked into kernels.
Overcooking can cause corn to become mushy and lose a lot of its nutritional value. This article explains how long to boil frozen corn on the cob to achieve the perfect texture: tender, but not too soft or hard.
How Long to Boil Frozen Corn on the Cob?
First, you must consider the type and amount of corn you will put in water. For example, corn with more kernels takes longer to cook than with fewer ones.
Four medium corn ears will need around two liters of water to boil.
To maximize efficiency when preparing a large quantity of corn, boil only two or three ears at a time or however many you can fit in your pot without crowding them too much.
Use water with a little bit of sugar to ensure soft kernels.
Preparing the Corn
Here are tips that will help you preserve the flavor and texture of corn as you prepare it:
- For husked corn, give it a quick rinse under clean tap water before placing it in hot water.
- For corn on the cob, first remove the silk and husk (scrub or flame to remove silk from corn ears).
- To ensure that corn ears have no silk attached, boil them without their husks and remove the silk after cooking.
- To remove the kernels, stand the cob upright and slice down in one smooth motion.
- Cook frozen kernels and ears directly in boiling water.
The Boiling Process
The boiling process for frozen corn is similar to fresh corn; however, you will need to boil the frozen version for a bit longer to ensure it is thoroughly cooked.
Here are the simple steps for boiling frozen corn on the cob:
- Fill a big pot about halfway with water and heat until it boils.
- Add the frozen corn to the boiling water. Cover the pot with the lid and let the water boil.
- How long to boil frozen corn on the cob? Once the water is bubbling, take the lid off and boil for 3 to 7 more minutes or until the corn kernels are nice and soft.
- We recommend pairing boiled corn with butter or salt to taste.
Don’t Let Your Food’s Nutrients Go Down the Drain
To get the most out of your ingredients, you should use a cooking method that preserves most nutrients. While no cooking method ensures 100% nutrition, some are better than others.
Cooking for shorter periods at lower temperatures using minimal water is the best method to retain corn’s natural flavors and nutrients.
Here is a reference table:
| Type of corn | Appropriate boil time |
| Unhusked (fresh) | 10 minutes |
| Husked (fresh) | 2 to 5 minutes |
| Corn cobs (frozen) | 5 to 8 minutes |
| Corn kernels (frozen) | 2 to 3 minutes |
