[2] Since the process of maturation involves converting sugar to starch, sweet corn stores poorly and must be eaten fresh, canned, or frozen, before the kernels become tough and starchy.

Open pollinated cultivars of white sweet corn started to become widely available in the United States in the 19th century.

Two of the most enduring cultivars, still available today, are 'Country Gentleman' (a Shoepeg corn with small kernels in irregular rows) and 'Stowell's Evergreen'.

[12] In Brazil, sweet corn cut off from the cobs is generally eaten with peas (where this combination, given the practicality of steamed canned grains in an urban diet, is a frequent addition to diverse meals such as salads, stews, seasoned white rice, risottos, soups, pasta, and whole sausage hot dogs).

The kernels are glossy white, resembling pearls, and can be eaten raw off the cob, although they are often boiled in water and salt.

[13] In the Philippines, boiled sweet corn kernels are served hot with margarine and cheese powder as an inexpensive snack sold by street vendors.

Cheese and condensed milk are added to sweet corn in the snack jasuke, short for jagung susu keju.

Corn soup can be made adding water, butter and flour, with salt and pepper for seasoning.

In the United States, sweet corn is eaten as a steamed vegetable or on the cob, and is usually served with butter and salt.

[15] Open pollinated (non-hybrid) corn has largely been replaced in the commercial market by sweeter, earlier hybrids, which also have the advantage of maintaining their sweet flavor longer.

[citation needed] Early cultivars, including those used by Native Americans, were the result of the mutant su ("sugary") or su1 (O22637) allele of an isoamylase.

[citation needed] Breeding has resolved the germination rate issue, but it is still generally true that sh2 corn is less juicy than their su counterparts.

[16] The third gene mutation to be discovered is the se (or se1) for "sugary enhanced" allele, responsible for so-called "Everlasting Heritage" cultivars, such as 'Kandy Korn'.