Whole food · Vegetables and Vegetable Products
Photo: Wikipedia
Sweet yellow corn, boiled and drained, is a vibrant, plump kernel that bursts with a juicy, starchy sweetness and a satisfying, tender bite. It's a naturally low-fat, fiber-rich source of energy, delivering a notable amount of carbohydrates and a touch of plant-based protein in every serving.
People love it for its comforting, sun-sweet flavor and the satisfying pop of its kernels, which make it a joyful addition to countless meals. Its incredible versatility allows it to shine in everything from simple side dishes to complex salads, salsas, and baked goods.
The high carbohydrate content can cause blood sugar spikes for some individuals, and it's a common allergen for those with corn sensitivities. To mitigate blood sugar impact, pair it with a source of protein (like beans or meat) or healthy fat (like avocado or olive oil) to slow digestion, and practice portion control.
The average ear of corn has about 800 kernels arranged in 16 rows, and each silk thread is attached to a single kernel, guiding pollen for fertilization.
| Water | 73.4 g |
| Energy | 96.0 kcal |
| Energy | 401 kj |
| Protein | 3.4 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 1.5 g |
| Ash | 0.71 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 21.0 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 2.4 g |
| Total Sugars | 4.5 g |
| Sucrose | 2.7 g |
| Glucose | 0.84 g |
| Fructose | 0.79 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.17 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 7.2 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 3.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.45 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 26.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 77.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 218 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 1.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.62 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.05 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.17 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 5.5 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.09 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.06 mg |
| Niacin | 1.7 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.79 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.14 mg |
| Folate, total | 23.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 23.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 23.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 29.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 13.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 66.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 23.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 161 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 263 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 906 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.09 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.19 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 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 |
| 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 |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Is boiled corn a good source of vitamins?
Yes, it's a good source of B vitamins like thiamine and folate, as well as vitamin C, though some nutrients can leach into the cooking water. Steaming or microwaving can help retain more.
How does the nutrition change if I add butter or salt?
Adding butter significantly increases the fat and calorie content, while adding salt increases sodium. The base nutrition of the corn itself remains the same.
Is corn considered a vegetable or a grain?
Botanically, it's a fruit (a caryopsis), but culinarily, it's treated as a starchy vegetable. When dried and ground, it becomes a grain (cornmeal).