How Long Does Corn on the Cob Last?

Fresh corn on the cob, husk still on, stored in the fridge typically lasts about 1-2 days at peak sweetness before its sugars noticeably convert to starch, and dry, brown, or shriveled silk poking out from the husk tip is usually the first visible sign it's aging.

Kernels that have gone dry, dented, or shriveled rather than plump and full, along with a husk that's turned slimy or moldy, are the clearer signs it's spoiled rather than simply past its sweetest. Because corn's sweetness fades so quickly even under good storage, buying it as close as possible to when it'll be cooked, rather than stocking up several days ahead, matters more for this vegetable than almost any other on this site.

Corn still in its husk, kept in the fridge rather than left at room temperature even briefly, noticeably slows the sugar-to-starch conversion compared to corn left on a countertop — refrigerating corn the moment it's brought home, rather than leaving it out until it's time to cook, meaningfully preserves more of its sweetness.

Corn purchased pre-shucked and wrapped in plastic at the store has typically already lost a bit more sweetness by the time of purchase than corn still in its husk, since the husk itself was providing some protection during transport and display.

Corn kept in the refrigerator's crisper drawer, rather than a main shelf, benefits from slightly higher humidity that can help offset some of the moisture loss driving its short one-to-two-day window.

See Corn on the Cob's full storage & shelf-life guide (with spoilage signs) →