Sweetcorn is a great veg to have as part of your 5-a-day, because it’s rich in fibre and high in carbohydrates which makes it quite filling. It also has nutrients that support the wellbeing of our body and it’s so versatile that you can use it in all sorts of recipes.
Let’s get back to the basics first and learn what some of the best methods are to cook sweetcorn in order to maximise that sweet flavour and retain all the nutrients.
How to cook frozen sweetcorn
Frozen sweetcorn makes for a great freezer staple because you can add it to so many dishes. To cook it properly and make sure you retain more of its vitamins, it’s always best to microwave it straight from the freezer.
Place the amount of sweetcorn you need in a microwaveable bowl with a tablespoon of water. Set your microwave on a higher setting, and leave it between 3-4 ½ minutes (depending on the setting). Let it cool down and season to taste, or add it in the recipe that you’re making.
You can also cook it on the hob, by bringing a pan with sweetcorn and water (just to cover it) to the boil, and let it simmer for 2 ½ minutes.
How to boil sweetcorn
If you have fresh corn on the cob you can either cook it whole or shuck the kernels before. To boil corn on the cob:
- fill a large pot (depending on how many cobs you have) with water to fully cover the corn, and bring to a boil
- add some salt into the water and let it boil between 6-8 minutes – it might take longer, depending on how fresh the corn is
- to check if it’s done, you can poke the corn with a fork and see how tender it is.
Once it’s done, place it on a plate set with a kitchen towel to drain and serve it warm with a bit of butter, salt and pepper to taste.
How to steam sweetcorn
If you prefer a bit of crunch to the bite, you can steam the corn rather than boiling it. Steaming will also help preserve some of those delicious nutrients that make sweetcorn good for you.
There are two ways of steaming the corn: on the hob, or in the microwave.
To steam it on the hob, you’ll need a large pot and a steamer.
- fill the pot with with enough water to cover the base, but without touching the steamer and bring it to the boil.
- place the corn in the steamer and cover it with the lid or a plate, and let it cook between 3 to 5 minutes, depending how tender you want it to be.
Steaming corn in the microwave is super easy and quick:
- place the corn on a microwave-safe dish
- heat it at a high setting for about 3-4 minutes.
- let it cool for a few minutes, then season to taste with salt and pepper
- enjoy!
Grilling corn
A barbecue wouldn’t be complete without a bit of grilled corn on the cob and that smoky flavour we all love. To become a grilled corn master, here’s what you need to do.
Peel the husks off and remove all the silk, then brush the corn with some butter or olive oil. You can grill it in the husk, which will steam the corn a bit, or directly on the grill. Leave it on for about 15 minutes on a medium-hot grill.
Once it’s cooked, season with salt, pepper, and slather a bit more butter on that cob. Delish!
Now that you’re all equipped with the cooking techniques, why not explore our recipe section and get inspired with some meal ideas or find out more about our own Field Fresh Frozen Supersweet Sweetcorn.