How To Freeze Fresh Sweet Corn To Enjoy All Year

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Sweet corn is a type of corn that is eaten for its sweet flavor. It is almost sweet corn season and  I am going to show you how to freeze fresh sweet corn to enjoy all year – even in the winter months. Sweet corn is a delicious and versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed fresh, frozen, or canned. It is a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as fiber.

To freeze sweet corn, blanch the fresh corn cobs in boiling water, cool them in an ice bath, cut off the corn kernels, and place them in freezer bags or containers. Sweet corn can be frozen for up to 12 months and easily prepared to give you a taste of summer year-round.

What You Will Need To Freeze Fresh Sweet Corn To Enjoy All Year

• Fresh sweet corn on the cob
• Large stock pot (I used my water bath canner)
• A large sink or large bowl filled with ice cubes and cold water
• Cutting board and sharp knife
• Quart-size freezer bags 
• Kitchen scale (optional)

What Is Sweet Corn?

Sweet corn is a grass family member and native to North America. It is a hybrid of two types of corn: flint corn and dent corn. Flint corn is used to make cornmeal and hominy (grits), while dent corn is used to make cornbread and tortillas.

Sweet corn is a good source of antioxidants and can be cooked in a variety of ways, including boiled, grilled, roasted, and steamed. It is a popular vegetable in many parts of the world and is a staple food in many countries, including Mexico, China, and India. Sweet corn is also a popular vegetable in the United States. It is often eaten on the cob, as a side dish, or in salads.

Instructions On How To Freeze Fresh Sweet Corn To Enjoy All Year

Selecting Fresh Sweet Corn

Select whole and fresh ears of corn in the husk from your local farmer’s market in the middle of summer for the freshest corn.  The grocery store should have some good sweet corn as well. You can open the top of the husks to see if the tip of the corn cob looks good. Check for firmness of texture and good color. Select as many as you would like to preserve. For my batch, 20 ears of corn yielded seven (7) one-pound bags. 

Next, you need to peel off the husks and the silk hairs leaving the corn cob bare. While you are peeling the corn, set a very large pot of water on the stove to bring to a boil over medium-high heat. The size of your pot will vary depending on how much corn you are going to prepare. I use my water bath canner so I can do a lot of corn at once. 

Blanching Fresh Sweet Corn

The first step to getting the best results and the best flavor is to blanch the entire cob (not cook it). During the blanching process, the natural enzymes in the corn will become inactivated. This prevents the corn from breaking down over time, which results in a loss of color and nutrients as well as flavor. Blanching also keeps the texture of the corn intact as opposed to cooking. 

There are different methods of blanching but for this purpose, we will take each ear of corn and place the (peeled) whole cob in the boiling hot water for 3-5 minutes. After this time, use tongs and remove each corn cob and place it directly into a sink full of cold ice water. An ice bath stops the cooking process and it is an easy way to cool the corn down quickly.

To blanch sweet corn, follow these steps:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Add the corn to the boiling water and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the kernels are bright yellow and tender.
3. Remove the corn from the boiling water with tongs and immediately plunge it into a bowl of ice water.
4. Let the corn cool in the ice water for 2-3 minutes, then drain and serve.

Cutting The Kernels Off The Cob

There are many different ways to cut the kernels off cooled corn cobs – some people even use a bundt pan to catch the falling kernels. Me? – I like a simple approach. Place a cutting board onto a baking sheet to gather up the kernels in the easiest way. Stand up an ear of corn vertically and cut the kernels off with a sharp knife. You could also use an electric knife just watch your fingers. 

How To Store Freeze Fresh Sweet Corn To Enjoy All Year

After blanching and cutting, the corn is ready to be packaged up. My favorite way to store corn is to use freezer quart-sized Ziploc bags. Utilizing my trusty kitchen scale, I place a bag on the scale and hit the tare button to zero it out.

Then fill the bag with corn kernels until it weighs one pound. I have a family of five and this is more than enough. You can freeze smaller amounts or just take a smaller portion out of the bag when you go to prepare it. Vacuum seal bags would work great!

After filling the bag to the desired amount, lay it flat and press as much air out as you can. This is the best way to prevent freezer burn. Be sure to label the bags with the contents, weight, and date. 

Place the bags in the freezer and use them for up to 12 months. 

Cooking Sweet Corn From The Freezer

Cooking sweet corn straight from the freezer couldn’t be easier. It can be prepared just like packed freezer corn from the grocery store. 

1. Heat a cast iron skillet with a tablespoon or two of butter and saute on low to medium-low heat until cooked through. Around 6-8 minutes. (my favorite way)
2. Place corn in a microwave-safe dish with about half of a cup of water and cover. Cook on high for 4-5 minutes.
3. Use frozen corn directly into a casserole and prepare as you like. 
4. Thaw it to room temperature on the counter and use it in salads and salsas. 

Delicious Recipes Made From Fresh Sweet Corn

There are so many delicious recipes that can be made with fresh sweet corn. 

1. Corn on the cob
2. Cornbread
3. Corn chowder
4. Corn salad
5. Corn fritters
6. Corn muffins
7. Corn pudding
8. Creamed corn
9. Grilled corn
10. Mexican street corn
11. Succotash
12. Tamale pie
13. Sweet corn soup
14. Sweet corn salsa
15. Sweet corn ice cream

Wrapping Up How To Freeze Fresh Sweet Corn To Enjoy All Year

Going to the farmers market is one of the best things to do during the summer months. The aisleways packed with fresh produce, gorgeous flowers, and excited vendors make the whole experience deliciously magical. There are so many vegetables that are wonderful for home food preservation especially sweet corn.

Preparing your own sweet corn is a huge cost-saving measure. Here in Michigan, we can get 12 ears for around $5. Last year I made enough to last the entire year. Buying in season keeps meal planning fresh and simple. Let me know how you like to eat corn! We love sweet corn salsa on tacos.

Cheers,

Sarah

How To Freeze Fresh Sweet Corn To Enjoy All Year Recipe 

Yield: 7 pounds

How To Freeze Fresh Sweet Corn To Enjoy All Year

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Enjoy fresh sweet corn all year with this easy food prep recipe.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 20 ears of fresh sweet corn in the husk

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Add the corn to the boiling water and blanch for 3-5 minutes, or until the kernels are bright yellow and tender.
3. Remove the corn from the boiling water and immediately plunge it into a bowl of ice water.
4. Let the corn cool in the ice water for 2-3 minutes.
5. Cut the kernels off the cob and weigh one pound of them into quart-sized freezer bags.
6. Flatten and press out any air.
7. Put in the freezer for up to 12 months.

Notes

A water bath canner can blanch a lot of corn cobs at once.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

35

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 44Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 2g

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