Sweet corn ripens at this time of year. We enjoy it on the cob and off the cob. Our freezer makes a home for the corn till we use it later in the year.
If you have not had the joy of preserving sweet corn in your freezer, let me show you how it is done at our farm.
1. Choose ears that have filled out ears. Don’t wait too long or they can get mature and starchy and lose their sweetness and tenderness.
2. Shuck the ears.
3. Brush off any excess silk remaining on the ears.
4. Drop the ears into boiling water.
5. Time them for 5 minutes.
6. Plunge the boiled ears into very cold water for quick cooling.
7. Repeat plunging into fresh cold water if the heat is still in the corn.
8. Drain corn.
9. Cut the tops off of the kernels. A household knife will do, but there are special corn knives, like the one shown in the photo, that make the cut in one stroke.
10. With the flat blade of a knife, pull up on the cut kernels to scrape out the creamy milk of the corn.
11. Discard the cob.
12. Package the corn in freezer bags.
13. Fill the bags only 1/2 full.
14. Squeeze out excess air before sealing. Seal bags.
15. Press the bags of corn to measure about one-inch in thickness. (If food in the bag measures over one-inch thick it will add to the time when the food will remain warm in the freezer, thereby allowing the any germs present to reproduce increasing the chances of spoilage.)
16. Label the bags with the year that you are doing the preserving.
17. Place the corn packages near the wall of the freezer for fastest freezing.
Now your sweet corn is ready and waiting for your use this winter. Enjoy!
photo credit: Wenda Grabau
photo credit: Wenda Grabau
photo credit: Wenda Grabau
photo credit: Wenda Grabau
photo credit: Wenda Grabau
photo credit: Wenda Grabau
Wendy, I had to look twice at the picture of your hand by the corn….I was sure it was my Mom’s! It made me cry, but such a “mom is in everything we do” moment! Thank you!
I learned a lot from her. She taught me about corn preservation among other things. Thanks for the comment.
Oh my goodness, you’re right, Julie! Not only that but Dad’s hands look just like Grandpa’s!
Yes, I see what you mean.
I haven’t had sweet corn yet this year, but I still have some in my freezer. They look so delicious!
I am so glad you have the freezer. It sure helps spread out the produce taste in the winter.
Hi! I’ve been following your site for a long
time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a
shout out from Austin Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the good job!