Corn juice (also called sweet corn juice or corn milk) is a creamy, naturally sweet drink made by cooking fresh sweet corn kernels, blending them with water and straining out the skins. It is popular across Southeast and East Asia as a street drink, and it is easy to make at home in about 20 minutes with a blender.
Quick answer: Simmer 2 cups of sweet corn kernels (with the bare cobs) in 3 cups of water for 8–10 minutes. Blend the kernels with the cooking water for 60 seconds, strain, then sweeten lightly and add a pinch of salt. Makes about 3 cups. Serve warm or chilled.
Sweet Corn Juice Recipe
| Prep time | 10 minutes |
| Cook time | 10 minutes |
| Equipment | Pot, blender, fine-mesh strainer or nut-milk bag |
| Yield | About 3 cups (720 ml), 3 servings |
Ingredients
- 2 large ears fresh sweet corn (about 2 cups / 300 g kernels). Frozen sweet corn also works.
- 3 cups (720 ml) water, or 2 cups water plus 1 cup milk for a richer drink
- 1–2 tablespoons sugar or honey (optional: very fresh corn often needs none)
- 1 small pinch of salt to bring out the sweetness
Instructions
- Cut the kernels. Stand each ear on a cutting board and slice the kernels off with a sharp knife. Keep the bare cobs: they add a lot of corn flavor.
- Simmer. Put the kernels, cobs and water in a pot. Simmer for 8–10 minutes until the kernels are tender. Remove the cobs.
- Blend. Let it cool for a few minutes, then blend the kernels with the cooking water on high for about 60 seconds until very smooth.
- Strain. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer or nut-milk bag and press the pulp to get all the liquid out. This removes the tough kernel skins.
- Season and serve. Stir in sugar and salt to taste, add milk if using, and drink warm, or chill it for 2 hours and serve over ice.
Tips for the Best Corn Juice
- Use sweet corn, not field corn. Field (dent) corn and popcorn are starchy and will not give a sweet drink.
- Fresher is sweeter. The natural sugar in sweet corn starts turning into starch soon after picking, so use corn within a day or two of buying it.
- Do not skip the cobs. Simmering the cobs gives a deeper corn flavor without adding sugar.
- Thickness: for a thicker, “corn milk” style drink, use less water or blend in a little of the strained pulp.
- No blender? You can grate the kernels and squeeze them through cloth, but the yield is lower. See how to juice without a juicer for more methods.
Corn Juice Nutrition
Most of the nutrition in corn juice comes from the corn itself. Straining removes the skins, which is where much of the insoluble fiber is, so corn juice has less fiber than whole corn. For reference, here is raw yellow sweet corn per 100 g:
| Nutrient (per 100 g raw sweet corn) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | About 86 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | About 19 g |
| Sugars | About 6 g |
| Fiber | About 2 g |
| Protein | About 3.3 g |
| Fat | About 1.4 g |
One cup of homemade corn juice made with this recipe contains roughly the nutrients of 100 g of corn, plus any sugar or milk you add. Adding a tablespoon of sugar adds about 50 kcal.
Is Corn Juice Healthy?
Corn juice can be a filling, naturally sweet drink, especially if you keep added sugar low. Here is a balanced look:
- Lutein and zeaxanthin: yellow corn contains these carotenoids, which collect in the eye. They are linked with eye health in research on diets rich in them. Corn juice keeps some of these pigments.
- Energy: corn is a starchy vegetable, so corn juice provides more carbohydrate and calories than most vegetable juices. That makes it more of a snack drink than a low-calorie juice.
- Fiber: straining lowers the fiber. Drink it unstrained, or eat whole corn as well, if fiber is your goal.
- Gluten-free: corn is naturally gluten-free, so plain homemade corn juice suits a gluten-free diet.
Who Should Be Careful
- Blood sugar: corn juice is high in carbohydrate. People with diabetes should keep servings small, skip added sugar and count it as a starch.
- Corn allergy: rare, but it exists. Avoid corn juice if you react to corn products.
- Digestive comfort: some people find corn hard to digest. Straining well usually helps.
How to Store Corn Juice
Keep corn juice in a sealed jar in the fridge and drink it within 2 days. It thickens as it chills, so shake or stir before serving. You can freeze it for up to 2 months; thaw in the fridge and blend briefly to make it smooth again. For general rules, see how long fresh juice lasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is corn juice made from raw or cooked corn?
Usually cooked. Simmering softens the kernels so they blend smoothly and makes the juice taste sweeter and creamier. Very fresh, tender sweet corn can be blended raw, but the texture is grassier.
Can I use frozen or canned corn?
Yes. Frozen sweet corn works well; simmer it for 5 minutes. Canned corn works too, but rinse it first to reduce the salt.
Can I make corn juice in a juicer?
A slow (masticating) juicer can juice cooked or very fresh corn, but a blender plus a strainer gives a creamier result and a higher yield.
Does corn juice contain gluten?
No. Corn is naturally gluten-free. Check any added ingredients, such as flavored milk, if you need to avoid gluten strictly.
