National Corn Fritters Day

Joan Agie
Dec 22, 2023 By Joan Agie
Originally Published on Feb 14, 2022
Fact-checked by Amanpreet Kaur
Celebrate National Corn Fritters Day on July 16.

Where is National Corn Fritters Day celebrated?

 Corn fritters are most popular in the southern USA, however, National Corn Fritters Day is celebrated throughout the country.

Who is National Corn Fritters Day celebrated by?

 This day is celebrated by all those who love corn dishes and deep-fried foods.

When did National Corn Fritters Day first start?

 The origins of National Corn Fritters Day are unknown but given how popular these crispy bites are it is just another excuse to eat corn fritters.

Who started National Corn Fritters Day?

 No one knows who started this day, however, if you haven't tried corn fritters before, this is the perfect day to start.

History And Timeline

Fritter is derived from 'frigere', the Latin word that means to fry. The Romans were the first to eat fritters and theirs were made with chickpeas.

Corn fritters can be so much more than just a side dish, you can serve them with a pan-fried fish filet for a complete meal. Let us take a look at how these flavorful bites came to be.

Corn Gained Wide Popularity

Maize seeds or ground corn was a staple food of the Native American diet. It was used to make corn flatbread, although they did not use cooking oil or cook at very high temperatures.

Pre-Columbian times

European Settlers Discovered Corn

European settlers incorporated corn into the meals they consumed. It was probably at this time that the corn fritter evolved in the south of the country, where the method of cooking mainly involved deep frying.

1492

Asian Version Of Corn Fritters

Spanish and Portuguese traders introduced the method of using the batter to make fried foods such as fritters. Corn introduced by the Europeans thrived in central and south-eastern parts of Indonesia that do not get a lot of rain.

It, therefore, became one of the staple foods in these parts as wet rice requires a lot of water to grow.

16th century

First Written Record Of Corn Fritters

The notation in the diary of Samuel Pepys, an English Member of Parliament during the Restoration, is the first historical record of the fritter.

1665

Corn Fritters World Record

David Rush, of the United States, set a world record for eating the most corn kernels using a cocktail stick. He achieved this feat in three minutes and consumed a total of 241 kernels.

2018

Traditions And Customs

 Although there are no specific customs and traditions to observe this day, eating these delicious treats is a good way to celebrate. You can also celebrate this day by sharing this snack with your friends and family!

Ways To Celebrate National Corn Fritters Day

What better way to celebrate this day than eating delicious corn fritters, so grab your frying pan and make a batch of homemade fritters. You can use fresh, frozen, or canned sweet corn. Instead of the deep fry version, you can make healthier shallow-fried fritters instead.

You can find a farm near you and pick your own corn or buy fresh corn on the cob and shuck it yourself. Use the fresh corn kernels to make your delicious snack.

Facts And Stats

  • Although at present this day is celebrated mostly in America it can be celebrated in other countries, too. Corn fritters are also a part of Indonesian and Indian cooking, although the recipes differ a bit. In Indonesia, they are known as perkedel jagung and are fried in palm oil or coconut oil. In Indian cuisine, the pakora can also be made using corn and is similar to corn fritters. Hence, creating awareness about National Corn Fritters Day through social media could be a great way to make the celebration of this day a global event.
  • Corn is the largest crop grown in America and is widely used in cooking. Hence, it's no wonder that there is a day such as National Corn Fritters Day to celebrate one of the many dishes you can make with it.
  • National Corn Fritters Day is celebrated in July and it makes the perfect addition to any barbeque.

Where did corn fritters originate?

Corn fritters originated in the United States.

What products are made out of corn?

In addition to being used as a food item, corn is also used as a raw material in the manufacture of various products, such as hand soaps and adhesives.

What can corn be made into?

You can also make a salad with corn or even cornbread.

Who coined National Corn Fritters Day?

The origin of this day remains a mystery.

How do families celebrate National Corn Fritters Day?

Families can celebrate this day by making and eating corn fritters.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Wednesday, July 15, 2020
  • Thursday, July 15, 2021
  • Friday, July 15, 2022
  • Saturday, July 15, 2023
  • Monday, July 15, 2024

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Joan Agie

Bachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

Joan Agie picture

Joan AgieBachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

With 3+ years of research and content writing experience across several niches, especially on education, technology, and business topics. Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and has worked as a researcher and writer for organizations across Nigeria, the US, the UK, and Germany. Joan enjoys meditation, watching movies, and learning new languages in her free time.

Read full bio >
Fact-checked by Amanpreet Kaur

Bachelor of Business Administration, Masters of Business Administration specializing in Accounting and Finance

Amanpreet Kaur picture

Amanpreet KaurBachelor of Business Administration, Masters of Business Administration specializing in Accounting and Finance

Amanpreet has a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Birla Institute of Technology and Xavier Institute of Social Service respectively, coupled with her internships at Decimal Point Analytics and the Royal Bank of Scotland, has equipped her with the necessary skills to analyze complex data and present insights in an easy-to-understand format. Her paper on the impact of COVID-19 on CSR programs has received high commendation.

Read full bio >