How to Freeze Sweet Corn (2024)

FAQs

What's the best way to freeze fresh sweet corn? ›

Put about 2 cups of corn into individual bags. Squeeze all the air out, seal then push to flatten each bag. Freeze flat on a cookie sheet to keep each bag flat, then stack to store in freezer. Corn will be good for up to a year, to use, defrost in the microwave and serve.

Blanching is a must

The natural enzymes in corn need to be inactivated before freezing to prevent both loss of color and nutrients, and flavor and texture changes. These enzymes are inactivated by a hot blanch treatment. The chilling process prevents the corn from becoming mushy due to overcooking the starch.

Corn is one of the easiest vegetables to freeze. Start with corn that's as freshly picked as possible, then choose the method that works best for you: Freezing whole cobs, or slicing off the kernels and freezing them either raw (the speediest!) or cooked. It takes just a few minutes to bank the sweet taste of summer.

Don't peel any part of the husk, not even to peek at the cob beneath! Either wrap the corn (husk and all) in plastic wrap. Or, seal insider freezer bags or vacuum seal bags. Freeze the corn for up to four months.

By placing your corn directly into the fridge, you can keep it fresher for a bit longer. The best way to store fresh corn on the cob in the fridge is to leave it in the husk (which keeps it moist) and place the whole thing in a loose plastic produce bag to promote air circulation.

Place the cobs onto a clean tea towel. to drain slightly. Dry the outside of each cob slightly with a clean tea towel. Wrap each cob individually in a piece of foil to prevent any freezer burn that might develop over the long freezing time. Place the foil-wrapped cobs in a large bag, then freeze.

Husk the corn and snap off any excess cob at the base of the ear. Wipe down the outside of the ear of corn with a soft cloth to remove any remaining silk. Rinse the ear under cold water and pat dry. Microwave the corn ears on high for 7 to 11 minutes, depending on their size.

For example, “frozen corn can just be run under cold water to defrost, and then it's ready to add to a salad. Heating and then cooling is fine too, but takes longer,” she says. “I love adding frozen cauliflower to smoothies to boost the nutrients, plus it helps make the smoothie perfectly frosty,” she adds.

The process of boiling and blanching the corn first is the absolute best way to prepare your corn for the freezer. That's because this method will preserve the bright color and sweet flavor. It only takes a couple of minutes, but the extra steps will prevent the corn from becoming chewy or mushy when you defrost it.

Unblanched corn kernels: To freeze, simply remove the kernels from the cob and place them in a freezer bag. Corn on the cob: To freeze, shuck the corn, blanch and put them in an ice bath, then put in a freezer bag.

Is it better to store corn with the husk on or off? ›

Keeping the husk on the cobs helps to slow the drying-out that occurs once corn kernels are exposed. If you're planning to eat the corn in the next day or two, immediately put the unhusked, loose ears into your refrigerator to keep them fresh. Coldness slows down the sugar-to-starch conversion process.

Each method has a different cooking time, but cooking on the stove is the easiest preparation, as it takes just 5 minutes. Does frozen corn need to be thawed before cooking? No, it can be cooked straight from the freezer.

- Make sure you dry the kernels completely before adding to the freezer bag. - Always keep the bag sealed in the freezer. Open, use & reseal immediately.

You can freeze canned corn, but you cannot freeze corn in a can. Drain all the water from the corn and freeze it in the freezer bag before storing it in the freezer.