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Preserve the Harvest: How to Freeze Sweet Corn

September 23, 2014 by Shari Eckstrom 14 Comments

PRESERVE THE HARVEST SERIES: HOW TO FREEZE SWEET CORN


How To Freeze Sweet Corn Preserve the Harvest Series presents a new fruit or vegetable every Tuesday with the goal of helping you get the most out of fresh fruits and vegetables harvested during peak season. Whether you grow your own fruits and vegetables, buy them at the Farmer’s Market or your local grocery store, it is good to remember the best time to preserve your bounty is when it is plentiful. Preserving the harvest stocks your pantry shelves and freezer with whole foods that you can feel good about, foods that taste great, and this approach saves you money.  A sane approach to sustainability!

Next up…How to Freeze Sweet Corn.

LET’S TALK SWEET CORN

How To Freeze Sweet Corn WHEN TO BUY SWEET CORN

Sweet corn is available beginning about July 1 and runs through late September or early October depending on your climate. Peak season being between mid-July to mid-September 15. 

WHERE TO BUY SWEET CORN

When buying sweet corn, just like any other fruit or vegetable it is always best to buy local when you can to get the freshest product available. Buying from your local farmer may not mean you always get the prettiest, but if taste is what you’re after, you can be sure they will have the best flavor. If you live in urban areas check out the Farmers Market, natural produce store or the organic section in your local grocery store. Most local grocers are now carrying organic produce. When the price is within reason, this is a great choice.

HOW TO CHOOSE SWEET CORN

The best way to buy a great ear of corn is to pick it up and inspect each ear. Does it have a good weight to it, feel full and plump in your hand and have plenty of golden silk tassels at the end? Do the husks look bright green, with minimal browning and curling? If so, chances are you have a good one. A good tip to remember is to buy fresh and eat or preserve quickly. Sugars begin converting to starch in sweet corn the moment it is picked. The sooner it is eaten the sweeter it will be.

How To Freeze Sweet Corn STORING SWEET CORN FOR THE FRESHEST FLAVOR

It is possible to store your sweet corn for several days, but not recommended. Each day sweet corn is stored deteriorates the sugar content in the corn. Flavor and texture will be greatly diminished. If you must store sweet corn, keep it in the husk, place in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator. The colder temperature will help to retard the breakdown of sugars a little, but don’t wait too long. The best practice is to buy it when you know you are ready to eat it or preserve it.

HOW TO FREEZE SWEET CORN

Sweet Corn requires blanching, a high heat process that kills enzymes that cause the breakdown of sugar to starch. The breakdown is generally what causes the loss of flavor and texture in vegetables and fruits. Sweet Corn can be frozen as whole kernel or on the cob. I prefer whole kernel corn for the simple reason it tastes better and does not tend to get mushy or tough like frozen corn on the cob is known for.  If you would prefer to freeze corn on its cob, simply stop after corn has been blanched and cooled in ice water, allow to drain well and freeze in heavy duty freezer bags or with a vacuum sealer. Making sure the corn is dry will help to prevent excessive icing of corn which can cause further breakdown of the corn when thawing.

Equipment

OXO Good Grips Corn Stripper is invaluable when removing corn from the cob. For the past several years I used the somewhat tedious method of removing corn with a knife. It worked fine, but tended to make a mess. I also freeze a large quantity of corn every year, two to three burlap bags full and after so many ears, cutting that corn gets old. This year I tried something new and I am a believer. Never was something so simple and I am kicking myself that it took me so long. Once you get the hang of the angle that corn is whisked clean in moments and the mess is kept to a bare minimum. I love it!

How to cut sweet corn from the cob with a knife.

How to cut corn from the cob with the OXO Good Grips Corn Stripper


5.0 from 3 reviews
How to Freeze Sweet Corn
 
Print
Ingredients
  • Corn, shucked with silk removed
  • Stripper or sharp knife
  • ice
Instructions
  1. Prepare ice bath for sweet corn by filling sink with ice and add cold water. It is important to plunge sweet corn into ice bath after allotted blanching time to halt the cooking process.
  2. Bring large pan of water to a boil over high heat.
  3. Once boiling, add 4 to 5 ears of shucked corn and return the water to a boil. Set timer for 4 minutes.
  4. Once timer goes off, immediately remove sweet corn from the pan and plunge into ice bath.
  5. Allow sweet corn to cool for several minutes, remove from ice water bath, drain and shake to remove excess water.
  6. At this time corn can be frozen on the cob, or remove whole kernels with knife or corn stripper.
  7. Place whole kernels into heavy duty freezer bag, or vacuum seal as desired.
  8. Date and label sweet corn. Will keep for up to 1 year.
3.2.2802

How to Freeze Sweet Corn shared with:

*Recipes for Our Daily Bread: Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop **The Kitchen Chopper: The Weekend Social *The Newlywed Pilgrimage: Moonlight and Mason Jars * The Pin Junkie * Juggling Real Food and Real Life: Let’s Get Real *A Daily Dish: Foodie Friends Friday *Captain America and His English Rose:Pretty Pintastic Party *Snippets of Inspiration: Weekend Wind-Down *2 Crochet Hooks: Snickerdoodle Sunday

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Filed Under: Preserve Tagged With: preserve, Real Food, Storing produce, sweet corn

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Comments

  1. Kristina & Millie says

    October 1, 2014 at 19:08

    What a great tutorial! Thank you. I hate anything to go to waste. Thanks for linking up to Snickerdoodle Sunday!

    Reply
    • Shari Eckstrom says

      October 1, 2014 at 19:13

      Always a pleasure. I try not to miss it!

      Reply
  2. Giovanna @ Love, Thyme and Honey says

    September 26, 2014 at 01:58

    Thanks a great post Shari. I’m happy I found your Preserve the Harvest Series, you have awesome and helpful tips and tricks! 🙂

    Reply
    • Shari Eckstrom says

      September 26, 2014 at 04:57

      Great to connect with you. I am following on FB. Look forward to all the great things to come.
      Blessings,
      Shari

      Reply
  3. Lily Lau says

    September 24, 2014 at 12:19

    I can’t believe it… have I found my cornmate here? 🙂 I absolutely need to try your recipe!

    Reply
    • Shari Eckstrom says

      September 25, 2014 at 14:00

      Hooray. A new corn mate. Be sure to check out my Corn Chowder recipe this week. It turned out great!

      Reply
  4. Carrie Groneman says

    September 23, 2014 at 13:25

    Shari, this is a great tutorial and I want to reach right in and eat a bowl of that delicious sweet corn…yummy. Thanks for another terrific post in your series. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow

    Reply
    • Shari Eckstrom says

      September 25, 2014 at 14:05

      Thank you. We froze a lot of corn this year. It is always nice when it is tucked away in the freezer.

      Reply
  5. Diane Roark says

    September 23, 2014 at 10:53

    Shari,

    Thanks for the tips on how to freeze corn. We love fresh sweet corn and eat it often during the summer months. Nothing better than fried fresh corn with butter, sugar, and a little heavy cream.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Blessings and have a wonderful week,
    Diane Roark

    Reply
    • Shari Eckstrom says

      September 25, 2014 at 14:06

      I agree. Many times I will boil the water and then run down and pick a few ears. The flavor is so sweet and crisp right from the garden. I am sad to see the corn is almost gone here at Pure Grace Farms.

      Reply
  6. Healing Tomato says

    September 23, 2014 at 09:56

    I love this idea of freezing corn. I had so much fresh corn, but, gave it away to others because I thought it would go bad. Next time, I will freeze it using your method.
    Healing Tomato recently posted…Stuffed ShellsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Shari Eckstrom says

      September 25, 2014 at 14:09

      When the corn is cut of the cob and frozen the flavor is so delicious. I think it is my favorite vegetable to freeze because the fresh flavor remains after it’s frozen. A great taste of summer too in the middle of winter. Thanks for stopping by.
      Blessings,
      Shari

      Reply
  7. Janine Huldie says

    September 23, 2014 at 05:28

    We love corn here and never knew exactly how to preserve it to be quite honest. So, thanking you for educating me a bit and may need to try this as corn really is one of Emma’s favorites. Thanks, Shari 😉
    Janine Huldie recently posted…About Me Page – Writing a Killer OneMy Profile

    Reply
    • Shari Eckstrom says

      September 25, 2014 at 14:10

      Always a pleasure Janine. Corn is one of my favorites too.

      Reply

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Welcome to Pure Grace Farms. It's great to have you stop in for a visit. We are a small farm nestled in the foothills outside of Boise, Idaho where food is organically grown, prepared and preserved for optimum benefit to body and soul. Read More…

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It has long been a passion of mine to live off the grid and develop a greater level of sustainability. Life and circumstances have not always cooperated with my passions. Sometimes my desires come face to face with reality. I am learning to live within that happy middle ground, finding …A sane approach to sustainability. Read More…

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