Whole food · Vegetables and Vegetable Products
Photo: Wikipedia
Boiled white sweet corn kernels are plump, juicy, and tender-crisp, offering a clean, milky sweetness with a satisfying pop. Nutritionally, it's a low-fat, high-fiber carbohydrate source, providing steady energy and essential minerals like magnesium. The simple preparation with a pinch of salt enhances its natural, bright flavor without adding complexity.
Calorie split: 12% protein · 77% carbs · 11% fat
↓ Full nutritionPeople adore its inherent, comforting sweetness and the satisfying textural contrast between the tender kernel and the slight pop of the skin. It's a beloved, versatile staple that can be a simple side, a vibrant salad ingredient, or a hearty soup component.
Its high carbohydrate content can cause blood sugar spikes, especially for those with diabetes or insulin resistance. The added salt increases sodium intake, which may be a concern for blood pressure management. To mitigate, pair it with a protein like grilled chicken or a healthy fat like avocado, and opt for low-sodium cooking or rinse after boiling.
The average ear of corn has about 800 kernels arranged in 16 rows, and each silk thread corresponds to a single kernel on the cob.
| Water | 72.8 g |
| Energy | 97.0 kcal |
| Energy | 408 kj |
| Protein | 3.3 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 1.4 g |
| Ash | 0.70 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 21.7 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 2.7 g |
| Total Sugars | 7.7 g |
| Sucrose | 6.0 g |
| Glucose | 0.70 g |
| Fructose | 1.0 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 4.5 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 2.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.55 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 31.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 92.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 252 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 253 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.54 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.21 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.80 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 6.2 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.09 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.05 mg |
| Niacin | 1.7 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.75 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.13 mg |
| Folate, total | 20.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 20.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 20.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 29.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 1.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 2.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 43.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.09 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.40 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.20 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.18 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.37 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.37 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.60 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.59 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
| Tryptophan | 0.02 g |
| Threonine | 0.13 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.13 g |
| Leucine | 0.36 g |
| Lysine | 0.14 g |
| Methionine | 0.07 g |
| Cystine | 0.03 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.15 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.13 g |
| Valine | 0.19 g |
| Arginine | 0.14 g |
| Histidine | 0.09 g |
| Alanine | 0.30 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.25 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.66 g |
| Glycine | 0.13 g |
| Proline | 0.30 g |
| Serine | 0.16 g |
Is boiled corn a good source of protein?
While it contains some protein (about 3.3g per 100g), it is not considered a high-protein food. It's best viewed as a carbohydrate-rich vegetable that contributes to overall protein intake.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 1.00 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.