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how many carbs are in corn on the cob

An average ear of corn on the cob has about 19–22 grams of carbs , depending on size and how it’s prepared.

Quick Scoop

  • A medium ear of corn on the cob (about 6.5–7.5 inches, cooked) typically contains:
    • Total carbs: ~19–22 g
* **Fiber:** ~2–3 g (so net carbs are a bit lower)
  • A smaller ear or a “yields” serving (just the kernels from one ear) can be closer to 14 g of carbs.
  • Different databases show slightly different numbers, but they all fall in roughly the same range.

Why Numbers Vary

Size and type matter:

  • Size of the ear: Bigger ears = more kernels = more carbs (some listings show ~22 g carbs for a medium ear).
  • Yellow vs. mixed yellow/white corn: Very small differences, but still in the same carb range.
  • Cooking style: Plain boiled or steamed corn has the same carb base; added butter doesn’t add carbs, but sugary glazes or sauces do.

A simple way to think of it:

One plain medium ear of corn on the cob is roughly a 20-gram-carb food.

Corn on the Cob and Low-Carb Diets

  • For strict keto (around 20–30 g carbs per day), a whole ear of corn can easily use up most of your daily allowance.
  • Some low-carb guides still allow small portions of corn (like half an ear) if you track your total carbs carefully.

Mini FAQ

  1. How many carbs in half an ear of corn on the cob?
    Roughly 9–11 g of carbs , assuming a full ear is 19–22 g.
  1. Is corn on the cob high carb?
    It’s moderate to high in carbs compared with leafy or non-starchy vegetables, but lower than many processed carb foods.
  1. Does fresh vs frozen change carbs?
    Not much. One source for cooked yellow sweet corn (frozen, boiled) lists about 14 g carbs per ear of kernels , which is similar once you adjust for ear size.

Meta description (SEO):
Wondering how many carbs are in corn on the cob? A medium ear usually has about 19–22 grams of carbohydrates, with smaller “yields” servings closer to 14 grams.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.