10 Canned Corn Brands To Buy And 10 To Avoid

We love corn, and we're gonna guess that you do, too. This staple food remains unrelentingly popular, and the United States plows through a wild amount of it every year, with over 12.4 billion bushels of corn eaten in 2021-2022, per Statista. And if you've bought corn recently, there's a good chance that you bought it in canned form. Corn is one of the most widely-available canned vegetables out there, arguably because it's so fiddly to prepare fresh corn, and partly because it remains fresh and tasty, even in canned form. As well as this, corn remains nutritious even when it's been placed in a can, and it is full of B vitamins, fiber, and healthy phytochemicals, compounds that can keep your eye health sharp. So what's not to love?

Well, simply put, there are a lot of canned corn brands out there. This is, of course, driven by its huge popularity, but all that choice can make your head spin. And the huge range of options out there means that while some canned corn brands are on-point with their offerings, others can be a little less rigorous about quality control, or resort to putting additional ingredients in the can to keep things fresh that you may not love. So let's take a deep dive into all the corn brands out there, and separate the good kernels from the bad ones.

In the corn space (yes, we're calling it a "space," it's classy), few names are as big as Green Giant. Founded in 1903, with the titular Green Giant mascot appearing a few decades afterward, this brand has been putting corn and other vegetables into cans for a long time and has learned a thing or two about keeping things fresh.

And that freshness is definitely there with its Whole Kernel Sweet Corn. One of its flagship products, each can is full of crisp, juicy kernels that retain their shape even when processed. Above all, it's the taste of Green Giant's corn that keeps people coming back. "This stuff not only looks good, it tastes even better. I recommend this product!," says one reviewer via Amazon, one of several that points out its superlative flavor and quality. You can't go wrong here, folks.

How wrong can you go with canned corn? In the case of Sunny Select Whole Kernel Corn, pretty wrong. Sunny Select's corn offering might seem innocuous, but open up the can and you'll find a disappointing product, that's lacking in taste, bulk, and quality.

A large part of the issue with Sunny Select Whole Kernel Corn appears to be the fact that it's just way too overcooked, as a review from Mercury News points out. The problem lies in the fact that corn, like most vegetables, is blanched before its canned, meaning that it can be eaten straight out of its metal container. But if it's being cooked too much before it gets canned, you're left, as in this case, with a product that's far from crisp and fresh-tasting. Save your money, and go for a trusted brand instead.

Libby's Whole Kernel Sweet Corn has a lot going for it. Each 15.25-ounce can is reasonably priced and comes with a helpful recipe suggestion for how to use your corn on the back. Its label is also pretty lovely to look at, with a peaceful country scene of rolling fields — and yes, we know that's not the most important thing, but it's still nice, right?

What matters most, though, is the taste, and Libby's excels here too. This corn has uniformly sweet, tender kernels, that keep their shape and freshness even after canning. Unlike some other brands, its kernels are also on the larger side, which gives each one a satisfying bite. Above all, Libby's Whole Kernel Sweet Corn is consistently reliable. "This corn is always a good buy. [I've] never had issues and [it's] always good flavor," says a happy customer, per Walmart.

Some canned corn brands can be surprisingly high in sodium. And given that it's useful to try and cut excessive sodium intake wherever possible, a good place to start might be with the basics, like canned vegetables.

So we can understand why Walmart's own-brand offering, its Great Value No Salt Added Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn, might seem like a sensible choice — except for the fact that its quality is just not there. One key issue with this corn is that its kernels tend to be super-hard and brittle, as multiple reviews point out via Walmart. "Corn is hard and the kernels are big. [It] looks like they used cattle corn! The label they have shown is not the can you will receive!" one person said. They went on to conclude that even a one-star rating is too generous. Ouch.

Del Monte is a dominant name in the canned goods world, and it has a seemingly endless range of canned corn. But rather than buy a can of its regular corn, we'd recommend going for its No Salt Added Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn.

This corn is a more attractive proposition as far as nutrition goes. While other products can be loaded with salt, Del Monte No Salt Added Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn contains just 10 milligrams of sodium per serving. It doesn't seek to amp up flavor elsewhere, either, with no added sugar. Instead, it relies on the flavor of the corn inside — and that flavor's crisp, sweet, and moreish, as customers state, per Target. "[I] love the absence of salt. You can't taste the difference," says one positive review. ‌Sometimes, there's no need for all that sodium.

How do you make canned corn more interesting? That's a question that we're sure marketing executives at canned goods companies have tussled with for years. And while we're strong believers that the beauty of canned corn is in its simplicity and its ability to be used in many recipes, marketing executives clearly think differently.

This results in products like Green Giant's Mexicorn, a slightly eyebrow-raising concoction of canned corn and tiny cubed peppers. This simple combination may seem fun, but what you get in the can is not a vibrant fiesta of crunchy textures and bright flavors, but a flat mess. "This corn is very mushy, more so ... than any can of corn I ever recall eating. To call it steam 'crisp' is a joke," complained one buyer via Amazon, who also lamented the lack of flavor from the red peppers. Why mess with the classics? ‌

We will never stop flying the flag for canned yellow corn, but look: We all know it can get a bit boring sometimes. So if you're in the market to mix things with white corn, this next product is for you. Del Monte Summer Crisp White Corn takes paler kernels of corn and cans them, giving you a product that tastes just like it's come off the cob.

And other folks are happy, too. "This canned corn was really good. It tasted a lot better than I expected it to. It tasted fresh, crispy, and wasn't mushy and bland like other brands that I have tried," states just one review (via Target). Not only that, but Del Monte Summer Crisp White Corn is also a fairly solid choice nutritionally, lower in sodium than some other corn brands, and with no added sugar.

Buttered corn is a true treat of a side dish. And although it's a breeze to make (butter plus corn equals done), it's nice to have a canned option for when you just can't face any preparation. Margaret Holmes Buttered Corn seems to offer a solution to this — except for the fact that it's far from the best choice.

As disappointed reviewers have noted (per Amazon), this product has a bit of a flat, uninspired taste. This is even though Margaret Holmes Buttered Corn has one of the highest sodium contents we've seen for canned corn products. A single serving of this corn delivers almost a fifth of your recommended daily sodium intake, a surprisingly high amount for what is, after all, a side dish. Additionally, this product also contains two grams of added sugar per serving. All those additives, but no taste? No, thanks.

Del Monte has done it again. The ever-reliable brand has extensive options for folks with various dietary considerations, and its 50% Less Sodium Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn is an excellent choice for individuals who want to reduce sodium intake. Made with natural sea salt, this corn has 160 milligrams of sodium per half-cup serving. While it's naturally not as low as the brand's "no salt added" option, it's still lower than its regular choice.

Luckily, this reduction in sodium doesn't impair its taste. "This sweet corn is just as good as it being fresh off the cob," said a person who bought it (via Target). Other reviews are just as positive, with customers also loving its price point and versatility, as well as its lack of salt. This product is a winner. ‌

While there are seemingly dozens of brands offering canned corn kernels, there are fewer options for canned baby corn. Dynasty has stepped into this gap in the market with its Dynasty Baby Corn, offering cut baby corn spears preserved in salted water.

But you might want to be on your guard if you're buying this option, as what might be inside may leave you reeling. A customer who bought the corn via Amazon noted that they found hair inside their can. "I opened a can and found a long black hair inside. For context I do not have black hair. It really grossed me out and I became concerned about the safety of eating these baby corn raw," the reviewer stated. The customer, and others who bought this brand, also noted that their cans were dented, which doesn't inspire confidence in the product.

Creamed corn is easy enough to make, but if you don't have the ingredients or energy to do so, there are canned options that have your back. And one of the best is Del Monte Sweet Corn Cream Style. Del Monte's creamed corn offering is priced reasonably and has a super-short ingredients list, made from water, corn, and several other components. Despite not having dairy in it, it has a smooth, creamy taste.

It's also a firm favorite with customers, who come back to the corn repeatedly. "Best cream corn on the market," says a reviewer, per Target. Others note that the corn is particularly good for making corn casserole, or enjoyed on its own as a simple snack. Perhaps the most positive assessment of it, though, is one reviewer that notes that it reminds them of their childhood. You can't buy publicity like that.

Going for canned cream corn instead of regular kernels will give you some extra flavor with your corn fix. But where does that flavor come from? In the case of Butter Kernel Cream Style Corn, it's via some additions that you might rather not be eating.

Butter Kernel Cream Style Corn has a surprisingly large amount of added sugars in each serving, with four grams for every half-cup you're eating. This is roughly a sixth of the daily recommended limit for added sugars for women, in what is a relatively small serving. Given that eating too much sugar can contribute to a world of health issues, like tooth decay, inflammation, and organ disease (per the American Heart Association), it's good to try not to eat too much — and avoiding this corn is probably a good place to start.

With all the money and resources in the world, you would hope that any food made by Amazon would be pretty good. And luckily, when it comes to its cream corn, it is. Happy Belly Cream Style Corn, made by Amazon, is a great entry into the canned corn world. It's a great-tasting product, which has just the right amount of sweetness, lifting the flavor rather than overpowering it.

What we also like about this corn is its low price point, which others agree with too. Several reviewers point out this corn's value for money via (of course) Amazon and mention that it stacks up to other well-known brands. "I needed this item for a recipe for Thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately, my usual brand was sold out. However, the Amazon brand tastes just as good ... for less. [I] will purchase again," one buyer says. Not bad!‌

Libby's is a well-known name in the canned corn world, and so it would make sense that, like other brands, it would offer a creamed corn option too. But while its regular corn is a solid choice, its creamed corn is less appealing.

This isn't because of the quality of the corn inside, though, but of the cans themselves. A massive amount of customers who bought the corn online via Walmart have pointed out that when their cans arrived, they were seriously dented. And a dented can isn't just a cosmetic issue. When a can has large dents, it can become more susceptible to bacteria entering the food and making it hazardous, according to the University of Wyoming. This denting, of course, may not necessarily be Libby's fault, and more of a production line issue. But do you want to take the risk?

While you might be used to buying regular canned corn, don't forget about hominy. This maize product can be used in a load of different ways, and in some recipes can replace corn entirely, adding a brand-new flavor to your regular meals.

So, if you want to give it a try, make sure you get a good choice, like Juanita's Foods Mexican Style Hominy. This hominy is made using zero preservatives with a relatively small amount of sodium and no sugar in each serving. Most important, though, is how it tastes — and it tastes good. "I truly love this brand. It's always yummy," claims a buyer, per Target. "This is the only hominy that didn't have any added ingredients or preservatives that I could find. I enjoy the taste in soups and it's a pretty good price. Definitely recommend!" another claims.

Walmart's Great Value range is, well, pretty great value, offering hundreds of low-price products which mostly hit the mark in terms of quality. Sometimes, though, there's one that doesn't quite cut the mustard. Great Value Canned Golden Hominy is proof of this.

This hominy, by all accounts, is one of the worst that you can choose to buy, with multiple scathing reviews of it, per Walmart. Several buyers point to the presence of a strange, almost mucus-like texture on the hominy, which makes it unappetizing. Others state that the hominy kernels are almost rock-solid and a nightmare to try and chew through. Honestly, it's pretty hard to ignore the passion in these reviews, folks. "I will never buy this again. No one in the family would eat this. The dogs wouldn't touch it either," one person states. Kinda sums it up, huh?

Over the last 85 years, Goya has made a name for itself by offering good-quality food at a tempting price. And its Whole Kernel Golden Corn, a staple in its product line, is as reliable as corn comes. With corn that's as bright as sunshine, Goya's maize just tastes good. It has a gently sweet, buttery, ever-so-slightly nutty taste, and a crunchy, moist texture, with the corn equally as good sprinkled over salads as it is as part of a chili or stew.

Goya's corn also looks great from a nutritional standpoint. While some corn brands can be crammed with sodium to boost flavor, Goya has a relatively low amount, with 160 milligrams in each half-cup. There's also a fairly small amount of sugar in every serving, despite the corn still tasting sweet and bright. Can you tell that we're fans of this corn?

Okay, so we know that this one might be controversial. After all, Del Monte is one of the main players in the canned corn game, and its Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn is available pretty much everywhere. People seem to love it. It tastes good. So what, we hear you cry, is the problem?

Unfortunately, part of the reason why Del Monte Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn tastes so good is that it's full of sodium. Del Monte puts a massive 640 milligrams of the stuff into each cup of corn. For context, that's well over a quarter of the average adult's recommended daily intake. While customers clearly love this corn, we'd recommend going for one of Del Monte's low-sodium options instead, which taste just as good but bring the sodium amount down considerably, for an altogether safer choice. ‌

Look, we all love corn. But here's the thing: It can be a bit bland. And while throwing a load of ingredients in your corn dish in pursuit of taste is one way to amp things up, we're a big fan of when brands do the hard work for you.

Del Monte Fire Roasted Whole Kernel Corn is a great product for folks who want maximum flavor in the quickest time. Imbued with a charred flavor and a few different flavorings, Del Monte's corn is a great way to make soups, cornbreads, burritos, and salads just that bit more interesting. One pleased Walmart customer says this has a "very good flavor" and that it's "good to be eaten heated or to add to Mexican-style dishes." Other folks note that the fire-roasted kind is so good that they've stopped buying regular corn entirely and only purchase this item instead.

We're going to say something controversial here: We want food to have flavor. We know, it's shocking! But incredibly, so many store-bought items have a curious ability to be bland and tasteless.

Such is the case with Libby's Naturals Whole Kernel Sweet Corn, no salt or sugar added. We applaud Libby's endeavor to reduce sodium and sugar and to offer a more healthy and nutritious alternative to additive-heavy brands. Unfortunately, though, this comes at the expense of taste, as reviewers via Walmart state.

Interestingly, the main criticism when it comes to this corn is with the corn itself. "I don't know if it's the variety of corn they're using, if they're picking it too soon, both, or something else. Regardless, it is the most bland corn I've ever tasted and everyone else in the family thought likewise," a review says.