Summer Corn Recipes + Facts

Feast on sweet summer corn, fresh from the farm stand.

Related To:

Fresh corn is at its peak May through September.

Fresh corn is at its peak May through September.

Though corn is available year round, its peak season is May through September. That's why summer corn tastes so much sweeter. The sugars in corn begin to turn to starch the minute it's picked, so the fresher, the better. Ideally, fresh corn should be cooked and served the day it is purchased, but it can be refrigerated for up to a day.

In the grocery store or farmers' market, look for ears with bright green, tightly fitting husks and tightly spaced kernels that come all the way to the ear's tip. There are two major varieties of corn: Yellow, with larger kernels, and White, with smaller, sweeter kernels. Bi-color corn (also called Butter and Sugar corn) is a hybrid with yellow and white kernels. 

Here are 10 tempting ways to use fresh summer corn:

Chuck Hughes: Creamed Corn
Chuck Hughes: Stove-Top Clambake
Roger Mooking: Grilled Corn With Five Spice and Lime
Luke Nguyen: Sweet Corn Pudding (Che Bap)
Michael Symon: Corn Crepes With BBQ Duck Confit
Michael Symon: Corn and Lobster Chowder
Michael Chiarello: Skillet-Fried Corn and Tomatoes
Ingrid Hoffman: Avocado and Corn Tostaditas
Emeril Lagasse: Crispy Bacon and Corn Maque Choux
Daisy Martinez: Steamed Mussels With Corn and Tomatoes

Browse 100 More Great Corn Recipes

Next Up

Summer Fest: Four Grilled Corn Favorites

Markets are overflowing right now with bins of fresh summer corn. P

Summer Produce: Beans and Greens

Savor summer produce like fresh cukes and zukes, fresh from the farm stand.

How to Can Tomatoes

Capture a taste of summer with this step-by-step tomato canning how-to.

Zucchini and Cucumber Facts

Savor summer produce like fresh cukes and zukes, fresh from the farm stand.

Fire Up the Grill for a Mexican Grilled Corn Fiesta

Get Mexican grilled corn recipes using Cotija cheese, lime, cilantro, cilantro, cayenne pepper and more toppings.

Beach Picnic Menu

Break out the beach blanket and snack on these recipes that make beachside feasting a breeze.

Stone Fruit Recipes + Facts

Savor juicy stone fruits—including cherries, plums, apricots, nectarines and peaches—fresh from the farm stand.

Fresh Summer Berries

Find great berry recipes from Cooking Channel chefs.

Summer Fest: Five Fresh Tomato Salsa Recipes

With summer in full swing what better way to spend an evening than with a few cocktails and chips and dip? Skip the store-bought brand of salsa and use in season tomatoes to make these fresh versions and you'll never go back to jarred.

So Much Pretty Food Here