Fresh corn recipes should be able to be made at any time. Here are some of our favorite ways to freeze corn, whether you want to save the whole cob or just a few kernels. Check out this corn storage guide if you want to store corn for a short time.
Find out three ways to freeze corn, the pros, and cons of each, and which may work best for you: unblanched (or uncooked) on the cob, unblanched (or uncooked) kernels on the cob, and blanched (or cooked) kernels on the cob, and get ideas for how to cook them best.
How do you Get Fresh Corn Ready to be Frozen?
Make sure you prepare your corn before you start freezing. No matter which way you choose, you’ll need to remove the kernels from the corn before you start. You can also get your freezer bags and a permanent marker (to write the date on the bag), so you can dive right in.
Three Ways to Freeze Corn
How to Freeze a Corn Cob that hasn’t been Bleached
Calling all fans of corn on the cob! This way of freezing corn is the easiest one so far. This is how.
Steps
- Remove the corn silk and shuck the corn.
- Put corn cobs in freezer bags and squeeze out the air.
- Use a permanent marker to put the date on an airtight freezer bag.
- Bag should be put in the freezer.
How to Freeze Corn Kernels that have been Boiled
Blanching is an old way of cooking that has been used for a long time to keep fresh food fresh for longer. It also helps get rid of dirt and brightens your corn.
Steps
- Remove the corn silk and shuck the corn.
- Bring a big pot of water to a boil.
- Blanch corn cobs by putting them in boiling water (7 minutes for small cobs, 9 minutes for medium cobs, and 11 minutes for large cobs)
- Put corn cobs in ice water for the same amount of time.
- Take the corn out of the pot and dry it with a paper towel.
- Cut the corn kernels off the cob and put them in freezer bags.
- Remove air from bags and write the date with a permanent marker.
- Bag should be put in the freezer.
How to Freeze Corn Kernels that have Not been Bleached
If you were wondering if you could freeze corn without boiling it first, the answer is yes.
Tip: When you freeze corn kernels, ensure they have enough room to breathe. We suggest putting corn kernels in a single layer when you freeze them.
Steps
- Remove the corn silk and shuck the corn.
- Cut the corn kernels off the cob and put them in a bowl or other container.
- Fill freezer bags with corn kernels and squeeze out the air.
- Use a permanent marker to put the date on an airtight freezer bag.
- Bag should be put in the freezer.
What is the Best Way to Freeze Corn?
Because our family likes to eat corn in many ways (you can see more in the recipe index), I store the fresh corn from each season. One way isn’t enough for corn!
It is nice to have options, though, especially if you don’t have much time or a lot to freeze all at once, which is common if you grow your food or find a good deal at a farmer’s market.
How can I Pick the Best Corn to Freeze?
When it comes to freezing corn, it’s crucial to do so at the height of its freshness.
Ask when the corn was picked if you’re at a vegetable stand or a farmer’s market. The best results will come from corn collected that day, which should be frozen immediately.
When selecting corn on the cob, keep the following in mind as well:
- It is an old ear of corn if it is black or dried out. The corn silk, the threads that protrude from the top of the husk, should be sticky and brown.
- Additionally, the corn silk ought to have a pleasing aroma.
- Through the husk, feel the maize kernels. Check to see if they feel full and if there aren’t many things missing.
- The husk should be vivid green in color and tightly encircle the corn. Don’t buy it if the husk is becoming yellow or dry.
How to Cook Corn on the Cob?
- Bring water to a rolling boil, then add ears of corn without crowding the pot.
- Blanch the corn for about 5 to 6 minutes, depending on its size. The blanching process starts immediately when you put the corn in the pot. You don’t have to wait for the water to boil again.
- With tongs, pull the cobs off and put them right away in a bowl or sink filled with ice water.
- After the corn has cooled, please put it on paper towels, a cutting board, or a cooling rack to dry.
How Long can you Keep Corn in the Freezer?
We suggest putting frozen corn that has been cleaned in the freezer for about three months. That’s much better than putting fresh corn in the fridge, which will only last about 1-2 days. (Try cooking corn one of these ways when you’re ready to use it!) If you put frozen corn that hasn’t been blanched in a freezer bag that keeps air out, it should last about six months.
Can I Freeze Raw Corn, or do I have to Boil it First?
From a safety point of view, you don’t have to boil corn you plan to cook later before putting it in the freezer. But from the point of view of quality, it’s highly recommended. This is because the blanching process kills enzymes that can change the taste, texture, and even color of corn and other vegetables while in the freezer.
When you freeze corn, it’s important to blanch it first to help keep the taste and texture. If corn wasn’t blanched before frozen, it could get chewy and sometimes even mushy when it thaws. This might be fine if you blend it into a soup made with cream. Still, it’s better to have more than one way to use your frozen corn.
Can I Freeze Corn that is Still on the Cob?
Corn still on the cob can be frozen, but you should consider what you will do with it when you take it out of the freezer.
You should freeze it that way if you plan to eat it on the cob later. If not, it would be worth your time to take it off the cob now and freeze only the kernels. This makes it much easier to add the corn straight from the bag to soups, chowders, and sautés or to steam it and eat it by itself, just like you would with frozen corn from the store. You’ll have already spent time getting it off the cob, so the extra work won’t slow you down when making dinner.
Can Roasted or Grilled Corn be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze roasted or flame-grilled corn, provided you let it cool to room temperature beforehand.
The best results are obtained when you chop the corn from the cob before freezing it. Then, you may freeze it the same way you would blanched corn. The full corn cob may potentially be frozen as well, but once frozen and warmed, the texture might change.
How to Defrost Frozen Corn?
The procedure of defrosting frozen corn is simple. The corn can be kept in the refrigerator overnight or prepared quickly using one of the following techniques:
- Hold the corn cobs under a cold, running water faucet. It ought to thaw in a few minutes. Alternatively, you can cook as desired after thawing the food in a dish of cold tap water.
- Put the corn kernels in a colander and run them under cold water from the faucet. If necessary, thoroughly drain and pat dry.
How to Reheat Frozen Corn on the Cob?
The fact that frozen corn doesn’t need to thaw before cooking is one of its best features. Alternatively, it can be placed directly in a pot of boiling water or the microwave for five minutes. When reheating corn, be careful not to overcook it since this can result in mushy corn.
How should Frozen Corn be Used?
Seasoned it. To give a twist to the classic BBQ dish, go beyond the standard butter and try using several flavored marinades on your grilled corn.
Cook it. Frozen corn can make baked goods, including muffins, cornbread, and even corn cakes.
Be imaginative. Use frozen corn to give casseroles, salads, and soups additional texture and taste. Check out these 12 Recipes That Start With a Bag of Frozen Corn for some fresh inspiration.
How can I Tell if Corn is Bad?
There are a few indicators that corn has spoiled:
- Visual inspection: Check the kernels for any mold growth or fading. The maize is no longer safe to eat if you see any.
- Smell test: Take a whiff of the corn. It’s advisable to discard something if it smells musty or nasty.
- Test the texture by rubbing a maize kernel between your fingers. If something is solid and challenging to dent, it is still new. It should be thrown away if it is soft or mushy since it is past its prime.
- Cooking Test: If the corn is still edible, but you aren’t sure if it is, you can cook it and then taste and smell it. Don’t eat it if it doesn’t taste or smell right or if the texture is off.
It’s also important to remember that fresh corn is best consumed as soon as it’s picked since the sugar in the crop begins to transform into starch as soon as it’s harvested. It’s wise to err on caution and presume that fresh corn you don’t know when it was collected is no longer fresh.
Eating damaged corn might result in food poisoning; it is better to throw away any corn that you feel may have gone bad if you are unsure.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a quick way to preserve a few corn kernels or a full cob of corn, freezing unblanched corn is an easy way to keep your food fresh. Although frozen corn will not have the same flavor and texture as fresh corn, it will still have most of its original nutrients. We hope our guide will help you with various tips and tricks for freezing corn.
