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How to Cook Frozen Corn on the Cob

Yellow, sunny, good for you and an easy side dish are reasons to eat frozen corn on the cob. Knowing this recipe for how to cook frozen corn on the cob is the best way to get flavor out of the freezer. This recipe is as good as fresh corn giving you a sweet corn on the cob with fresh corn kernels!

A wonderful American side dish that you can enjoy anytime of the year if you just know how to cook frozen corn on the cob properly. Perfect for the summer months or any time of the year!

how to cook frozen corn on the cob up close

Why This Recipe Works

  • It’s EASY and makes delicious corn!
  • This recipe is FAST and ready in MINUTES!
  • Frozen corn on the cob is available when out of season
  • You save all of the vitamins, minerals and good for you everything by using frozen corn
  • ALL THE WAYS to cook frozen corn on the cob right here!! 
  • Frozen corn on the cob is AFFORDABLE! 
  • Corn on the cob (frozen) has a super long shelf life!
  • Corn has a natural sweetness!

Easy Recipe 

  1. Heat water, milk, a little butter, broth concentrate and seasoning over medium high heat. 
  2. Add frozen corn on the cob to the boiling liquid
  3. Allow to come to a boil corn for 10-12 minutes
  4. Remove corn from hot liquids and use tongs and drain. Serve hot with butter, salt and pepper and a few fresh herbs

What is Frozen Corn on the Cob

Frozen corn on the cob has been picked when near ripe and then blanched (cooked very briefly in boiling water) and then quickly frozen thus preserving most of the vitamins and nutrients of the fresh vegetable! 

This classic frozen corn on the cob always makes me think of this herbed butter for corn on the cob by Martha Stewart and this beautiful grilled corn on the cob by Ina Garten.

In general, frozen corn on the cob can be cooked by: 

  • Boiling,
  • Steaming,
  • Microwaving on a microwave safe plate
  • Crockpot
  • gas or charcoal Grill
  • Stove top
  • backyard barbecue
  • air fry corn
  • Slow Cooker

You might have considered cooking frozen corn on the cob using…

  • Instapot
  • Pressure Cooker

Because frozen corn on the cob has already been partially cooked, these are not the best applications for frozen corn on the cob. 

frozen corn on the cob cooking in water

Cook Time 

The cooking time varies depending on the method of cooking, but in general, as soon as the frozen corn on the cob is warmed through, it is done. Usually that is in 5-10 minutes

Things to Remember about Frozen Corn on the Cob

  1. The corn on the cob has already been cooked.
  2. What we are aiming to do is to add some flavor so that the cooked version isn’t so bland.
  3. You will not cook frozen corn on the cob very LONG at all. 

Pro Tip:

Always remember to add flavor to your frozen corn on the cob while cooking, for the BEST possible flavor!. 

Substitutions

All of these spices, herbs, sauces and oils taste good with corn and you can pretty safely mix and match:

Oils and Fats: 

  • Vegetable oil
  • Olive Oil
  • Butter
  • Parmesan
  • Melting cheese

Seasonings:

  • Season All Salt
  • Mrs. Dash
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Chicken seasoning
  • Various seasoning mix
  • Bacon bits
  • lime juice
  • Chili Powder

Sauces:

  • Butter sauce:  Equal mix of melted butter and parmesan cheese (roll the corn in the sauce)
  • Milk (milk is not a sauce, but where else would it go in this list?)
  • Chicken broth (chicken broth concentrate or chicken bouillon)
  • Liquid Smoke – adds a smoky flavor
seasonings for frozen corn on the cob

Cooking Methods for Frozen Corn on the Cob

Boiling

The easy steps recipe card at the end of this post gives the instructions for boiling your frozen corn on the cob so that it will have EXCELLENT flavor. It does require a large pot of water and I think it makes the perfect side! The rest listed here are other best methods.

Steaming

To steam your corn on the cob:

  • Put 1 quart of water into a saucepan (be sure to use enough water) and add 1 chicken bouillon cube or 1 Tbs of chicken broth concentrate and 1 tsp salt. 
  • Place the steamer basket over the top of the water and place the frozen corn on the cob into the steamer basket (be careful not to burn yourself). Bring to a rolling boil
  • Allow the steam to drift through the corn on the cob until it is completely warmed (5 mins or so). 
  • Remove the corn on the cob from the steamer and put one pat of butter over the top and sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. 

Microwaving

  • Put ¼ cup water, ¼ cup milk, and 1 tbs of butter in the bottom of a microwaveable dish. 
  • Place the corn on the cob you want to cook into the dish. 
  • Sprinkle the corn on the cob with ½ tsp Season all salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper and ½ tsp garlic powder.
  • Cover with plastic wrap or paper towel but leave a small gap where the steam can escape
  • Microwave on high for 2 minutes and check to see that the corn is all hot. 
  • Run again for 30 sec intervals until the corn is hot all the way through. Be careful, microwave corn is hot!

Crockpot

  • Put 1 quart of water and 4 Cups of whole milk in the crockpot with 1 Tbs butter and 1 Tbs of chicken broth concentrate (or 2 chicken bouillon cubes).
  • Place as many corn on the cobs as you wish to cook in the crockpot as well.
  • Cook on low for 4 hours. Remove from the crockpot, drain and add butter, salt and pepper to taste.

Grill

  • Wrap the frozen corn on the cobs individually in aluminum foil.
  • In each foil packet, place 1 Tbs of butter and sprinkle the ear of corn with salt and pepper.
  • Place the foil packets on the grill over medium heat and grill till heated through (5-10 minutes)
  • Remove from the grill, open the packet and then season per your own tastes.

Let’s see how to cook this cob recipe

First assemble your ingredients. Here we are heating water…

A pot of water heating on the stovetop

Then add some milk to the water…

Adding milk to the heating water

Then add your spices to the liquids for a tasty side dish.

Adding some spices to the heating liquid for how to cook frozen corn on the cob

Now add the frozen corn on the cob

Frozen corn cobs added to the heating liquids and spices frozen corn on the cob

Here it is all done!

frozen corn on the cob on blue plate

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Can Frozen Corn on the Cob Go Bad?

In the freezer:

Yes, after a certain time, your corn on the cob can develop freezer burn. It will appear white and shriveled. The bag of corn should show an expiration date. You will want to be careful if your corn is past that date.

After cooking:

Yes, once you cook your corn, it will only be good for another 3 days if kept refrigerated.

If thawed but uncooked:

Yes, once thawed, cook the corn as soon as you can. It will stay thawed for 1-2 days in the refrigerator.

How Long Does Corn on the Cob Last?

It will last for up to 5 Days in the fridge if you keep it covered.

Can I Freeze it Again After Cooking?

It’s best to avoid that because you’ll notice that the texture changes a bit with freezing and will do so more if you freeze it again.

How to Reheat Leftovers?

You can reheat in the microwave by wrapping in a damp paper towel or in plastic wrap and microwaving for 30 seconds per ear.

Watch Me Make This Recipe

Y’all Help Me Out, OK?

Please leave me a 5 star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟  comment below in the comment section, all right? I would LOVE to know if you made this recipe or even if you are planning to! Of course, head on over to Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and tag me with some photos of your creation!

I can’t wait!

Ya’ll know I love your comments!! ❤             

Close up photo of a glistening ear of corn sitting on other ears on a blue plate

How to Cook Frozen Corn on the Cob

An easy fast recipe for cooking corn on the cob! Give your dinner a fresh taste of summer with this delicious recipe!
4.50 from 10 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to cook frozen corn on the cob, frozen corn on the cob
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 168kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 quart of water
  • 4 Cups whole milk
  • 1 Tbs chicken broth concentrate or 2 chicken Bouillon cubes
  • 4 Tbs Butter
  • 1 tsp kosher salt if using the bouillon cubes then cut this in half
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 6 cobs frozen corn on the cob
  • Extra Butter per taste
  • More salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Pour the water, milk, chicken broth concentrate and butter in a medium sized saucepan on the stove top and heat over medium heat till boiling.
  • Place the frozen corn on the cob into the water and allow liquid to come to a boil again.
  • Remove the corn on the cob using kitchen tongs as it starts to boil.
  • Place in a bowl and smear with extra butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Notes

  • Check the corn for freezer burn before cooking. Freezer burn looks like white chalky crust or over white colored kernels, large ice crystals, shriveled kernels.
  • Consider topping your corn with a variety of toppings like red pepper flakes, Mexican crumbling cheese, paprika, etc.
  • Corn on the cob goes great with a cookout of hamburgers or a family meal of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How to Cook Frozen Corn on the Cob
Amount Per Serving (1 cob)
Calories 168 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 7g35%
Cholesterol 36mg12%
Sodium 542mg23%
Potassium 214mg6%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 500IU10%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 191mg19%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

This article originally appeared on Loaves and Dishes on November 18, 2018 and has been updated with more cooking tips and tricks, pro tips, an updated recipe card and reconnected to it’s YouTube video.

A Verse To Share

There’s a lot of strife in the world. Many do not believe, maybe they never did. He has to know who believes and who is his.

Matthew 10:34

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




Marcia tache

Saturday 23rd of July 2022

I'm reading about microwaving corn and you tell me to check to see if the broccoli is cooked. ??????

Wendi Spraker

Wednesday 27th of July 2022

Must have got a broccoli on the brain while I was writing. good catch.

Tatiana Sobko

Saturday 29th of January 2022

Thank you very much for the recipe. It's very simple to follow. And thank you very much for sharing your heart about Jesus' commandment to love each other. He loves each one of us equally whether we are good and bad. And I agree with you that all people, without exception, have their contribution to make. God bless.

Wendi Spraker

Tuesday 1st of February 2022

Thanks Tatiana for your support. You don't know how much it means. :)

Karen

Tuesday 20th of July 2021

Thankyou ! I just tried the cob in paper towel method. Bloody perfect ! And I mean perfect lol. I live in a shared house with shared kitchen . I often leave the little extras off my plate because it's practical to do so, but tonight I've had my sweetcorn with my spuds and quiche etc. And I bloody enjoyed it ☺️ thanxx again. Btw, u came up first when I asked my browser how to microwave sweetcorn.

Wendi Spraker

Thursday 22nd of July 2021

So glad it worked out perfectly for you!

Diane Martin

Monday 5th of July 2021

I am curious.....why milk? I have always just to put sugar in the water. It inhances the flavor of the corn.

Wendi Spraker

Tuesday 6th of July 2021

The milk gives it a creaminess.

Ellen

Sunday 4th of April 2021

This is awesome!! There aren’t many who have Bible verses on their page. Love it!! Now, I have a question, when a person is not nice to actually, abusing and cruel. You keep trying, when your talking to them, and asking God to give you the words to say, and help me nit to be ugly. They are still mean and say things that aren’t nice. Blaming, shaming, and joy stealers. You pray for this person, and keep being nice. Jesus doesn’t want us to be miserable, nor He doesn’t want us to be abused. So what would you do in this situation? I love this place you have here.

Wendi Spraker

Sunday 4th of April 2021

There's probably a world of difference between what I would do and what I should do. I have a list of "rules for life" that I follow and one of them is "avoid poison". Generally, I consider someone like this poison and I completely steer clear of them (as much as humanly possible). That said, yes, pray for the person, avoid them if possible but when you get right down to the nuts and bolts I try to think about who Jesus was as a human being. I can't give you an answer, you'll have to answer for yourself, based on what you know of Jesus. What do you think Jesus expects us to do when our happiness conflicts with what he has told us to do? What did we see Jesus do in this situation? I mean, today is Easter. By our accounting, Jesus died on the cross to save us from our own sins. I'm 100% positive that this did not make him happy. We see in his example what we should do, always. On the cross he prayed for those murdering him, "Forgive them, they know not what they do". So..... I don't actually have any answers and I know how I have behaved when faced with bullies in the past. I do know how Jesus behaved when faced with something he didn't want to do and when it made him miserable. He is a much better example than I am. The perfect example, as a matter of fact.

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