How Much Sugar Is in Corn?
One ear of corn has about 5 g of natural sugar — low, and mostly balanced out by its fibre and starch.
in 1 ear (90 g) · about 1.2 teaspoons
- Per serving
- 5 g
- Per 100 g
- 6.3 g
- Type
- Natural sugar
- In teaspoons
- ≈ 1.2 tsp
An easy fit for a low-sugar day.
A medium ear of corn carries about 5 g of natural sugar, plus some fibre and a good amount of starch that digests more slowly than the sugar figure alone suggests. It's a genuinely low-sugar vegetable, even though it tastes noticeably sweet.
Corn's sweetness comes mostly from the small amount of natural sugar right at the surface of each kernel — the moment it's picked, that sugar starts converting to starch, which is why corn eaten same-day tastes sweeter than corn that's sat for a few days. Creamed corn and corn-based snacks with added sugar or syrup are a different story from the ear itself.
Lower-sugar swaps
- Eat it plain or with a little butter instead of a sweet glaze
- Watch canned creamed corn — some brands add sugar the fresh ear doesn't have
Frequently asked questions
- Is corn high in sugar?
- No — about 5 g per ear, which is low. It tastes sweet mostly because of its natural starch and fresh-picked sugar, not because it's sugar-dense.
- Does canned corn have more sugar than fresh?
- Some canned and creamed varieties add sugar during processing, so it's worth checking the label — plain canned kernels are usually close to fresh.
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Sugar values from USDA FoodData Central; actual amounts vary by brand, ripeness, and recipe. Last updated 2026-08-09.