How Do You Freeze Fresh Corn: 12 Step-By-Step Guide With Tips

Have you ever wondered is there a right way how to freeze fresh corn?

Check this detailed guide!

Here, you can track the right way of freezing step by step with every tip explained. Choose which is the easier way for you with some useful tips.

Why Freeze Fresh Corn?

The more popular movement in the world is to eat organic and seasonal food. Even the sweet corn has its season, and if you want to eat checked and organic food, you may consider freezing it. Nothing can compare to fresh corn, picked from the garden, but with a few tips, you can save the taste.

Step-By-Step Guide

1.  Remove All Impurities

The first thing you should do is to remove all impurities, including the silk and all bad seeds. Also, husk corn carefully and try not to remove the cob, but the side leaves. Wash it under cold water to help yourself with removing the hair or the silk.

2. Choose The Right Pot And Boil The Water

You can’t boil the corn in a too-small pot, so choose the right before starting to cook. The pot should be wide enough to place corns horizontally without touching the pot. Then pour the water, but leave at least 10 inches from the top because it will rise when you add corns.

3. Blanch The Corn

First, boil the water and add only 3 to 5 corns at a time, depending on the size of your pot. Avoid adding salt because it can mush it. Leave the corn for 5 to 6 minutes in the boiling water, depending on the size of it. Larger corns should be left longer. There are more details about how to blanch corn but these are the main steps.

4. Stop The Cooking With Cooling

The time of cooking starts when you add the corn to the boiling water. Remove it using tongs and place it in the pot with the ice-cold water to stop the cooking process. Allow it to sit in the water for at least 2 minutes. Drain it and prepare it for freezing.

5. Freezing The Corn On The Cob

After you drained the corn, wrap individually with plastic wrap. Save it in the freezer bag and chill it at room temperature. Seal the bag properly and label it, then freeze and consume within 8 to 12 months. For easier removal, place the cob in the freezer in a single layer.

Packing With Vacuum Sealer

Instead of using regular freezing bags, consider vacuum sealing your food. This is the process of removing oxygen from the bag completely using a special machine. The food is stored in plastic bags, but uses less space and preserves food from bacteria. That helps to keep fresh or frozen food for a longer time. Vacuum sealed frozen corn can last up to 2 years if it’s sealed properly. For that reason, it’s important which freezer vacuum sealer you use.

Freezing The Corn Without The Cob

You can even freeze kernels to save space and time on cleaning them. Use a sharp knife and slice it down the cob. It can be messy, so use a sheet pan to catch all of them and preserve juices. Then, use the big spoon to place them in freezing containers. Choose how much you want to freeze it in one bag. Remove all air and label it, then consume it within 8 to 12 months.

What To Do With Remaining Cob?

Don’t throw the remaining cob, after kernels removed, in the trash. It still has many flavors and remaining corn on it. Use it for vegetable stock and add more vegetables. Also, you can cook it for a corn soup to add more flavor.

Freezing Fresh Corn

The described way of freezing corn is the most frequent, but you can freeze the fresh corn immediately. That means you can freeze corn on the cob without blanching. You don’t even have to remove silk and hair, but you will have more work to do later. Yet, it can lose texture and taste because blanching keeps texture and taste, so have that in mind before freezing it.

Using Frozen Corn

You can use frozen corn immediately, take it out to the freezing bag and add it to the soup or cook it more, so for that is the better solution kernels that are blanched and need quick cooking. If you want to eat them raw, blanch them in boiling water for another 5 minutes, drain them, and add salt. If you have left the whole cob, let it melt overnight or in the microwave before using it.

Advantages And Disadvantages

Freezing fresh corn, with and without cob, has some advantages and disadvantages. It is an ideal way to preserve fresh and organic corn that you have grown or bought. Also, you can use it when you want it. But, if you miss some step, you may lose a good taste or texture, so it won’t remind you of fresh corn anymore when you prepare it on a hot plate stovetop.