Antioxidant components, including anthocyanins and phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and
their changes during traditional cooking of fresh purple waxy corn were investigated. As compared to
the raw corn, thermal treatment caused significant (p 6 0.05) decreases in each antioxidant compound
and antioxidant activity. Steam cooking preserved more antioxidant compounds than boiling. Boiling
caused a significant loss of anthocyanin and phenolic compounds into the cooking water. This cooking
water is a valuable co-product because it is a good source of purple pigment. By comparing levels of antioxidant
compounds in raw and cooked corn, we determined that degradation results in greater loss than
leaching or diffusion into cooking water. Additionally, separation of kernels from the cob prior to cooking
caused increased loss of antioxidant compounds.