Top 10+ canned corn brands, ranked worst to best
10. Stop & Shop
Based on visuals alone, Stop & Shop's canned corn pales in comparison to its competitors — in more ways than one. The can is filled with a ton of water that takes on the same briny hue as Goya's corn. However, the main difference that set these two close contenders apart was that Stop & Shop's corn had far more broken kernels and shards of corn in it. The whole kernels that I did find were paler than I would have wanted from "golden" corn, and they lacked the distinct "corn-y" flavor I was looking for. After I bit into the kernels, I could feel them turn into a mealy and flavorless mush in my mouth.
Like Goya, the sodium content of this can is a pertinent issue. One can contains about 700 milligrams of sodium, and you can tell that it's very salty from start to finish. Since it is a store brand, its price is cheaper than a premium selection from Del Monte or Libby's, but I still wouldn't pay that much when there are better corn varieties out there. You get what you pay for when it comes to a canned product like this one, and it seems like if you're after a quality flavor and texture, you'd be better off spending a little extra to get something better.
7. Great Value Organic
If you want a can of water with a couple of corn kernels, then this brand is for you. I figured something was amiss when I tried to open this can, only to find that a torrent of its watery contents had spilled over and onto the table. This can was one of the most watery of the bunch, but it did boast very plump kernels.
This can, like several on this list, does not come with any added salt. I think that the lack of salt in this Great Value Organic can allow the flavor of the vegetable to shine, which may be ideal for some recipes where you want the corn's flavor at the forefront. These kernels have some meat to them, in that they're toothsome, crisp, and flavorful.
I didn't inherently score the no-salt-added cans lower than the rest, as I think that there is a time and a place that they can come in handy. However, I did have to mark this one for its poor corn-to-liquid ratio and its slightly higher cost (it is organic, after all). It's not a bad option per se, but I think that there are cans that are more deserving of your time and hard-earned cash than this one.
4. Great Value
Great Value is known for its affordable staple products, and canned corn certainly fits under this umbrella. I sampled its no-salt-added whole sweet corn kernels, although it does carry several other canned corn options on its shelves.
The first thing I noticed about this can is it had very little liquid in it. It was well-filled with kernels — almost to the brim of the can — which makes its low price all the more worth it. Great Value's canned corn was the second cheapest option on my list, save for Aldi, and it's readily available for consumers across the country.
The flavor of the kernels was sweet, surely, though I felt I was missing something — that something being the salt. The saltiness gives balance to the corn, and this can skipped out on it. While I understand why someone would buy no-salt corn for their pantry — and I doubt anyone is eating corn straight from the can for a meal — I think that even just a little salt would have taken away from the plasticky flavor of the corn and made the profile a little more even-keeled.
