I just got finished cutting some corn off the cob and thought I'd share my thoughts on that. I have gotten to the point where, when it is on sale, I buy a few more ears of corn than we can eat at one time and cut it off the cob to freeze for later. I do this several times a summer.
After it is boiled, when it has cooled, I get a sharp knife and a paper or foam plate that I can use to pour or scoop the corn into a zip freezer bag. Quart bags are the best size for our family. I have found that cutting the corn from the point down is a better way than the other end up. When the corn is off the cob, I take the knife and scrape the cob to the plate so I can get all the good off the cob. If adding salt, pepper, or butter, wait till ready to eat.
Next there are several things you can do. You can squeeze out the air and freeze or save for another meal. Or you can add some of the water that the corn was boiled in to avoid freezer burn, then squeeze out the air. You could also put the cobs back into the corn water and boil for more flavor, then use the corn water to water pack the corn for the freezer. That more flavorful corn water can also be used in soups or stews and can be frozen separately for added flavor to other dishes.
The water packing and squeezing the air out will help keep the corn good for a very long time. I've found corn in the back of the freezer that had been there more than a year and it was in great shape. It didn't have any holes in the bag and tasted great. When ready to eat the corn, you can pour off the water packed broth, heat it with corn, or dump the whole bag into a pot of home made soup. Tastes great in the winter. .
By Squeeky from Western PA
This page contains the following solutions.
Do not hesitate to stock up on corn when there is a sale. Corn can be frozen, in the husks, in a pillowcase. Load up the pillowcase, fold the top over so it is closed, and place in the freezer.
This may be a little early in the season, but as I used the last of my corn from the freezer for dinner tonight, it reminded me to share this with everyone. Over the years, I have tried many times to freeze corn on the cob. Most instructions say to blanch and cool.
A Guide to Freezing Corn. Corn should be harvested for freezing in the "milk stage" (as soon as the kernels are full of sweet, milky-colored juice). If the fluid in the kernels is clear, the corn is not ready yet.
Cut corn from cob and place in roaster pan. Melt butter and drizzle over corn. Add half and half and mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Place in freezer bags.
It's going to be time to be freezing corn in our area before we know it! There is nothing better than Iowa sweet corn, especially in the cold winter time. It's a great reminder of summer!
To get 20 cups corn: Insert ears into boiling water. Boil 6 minutes. Take out and put in ice water. Cut kernels off ear. Then measure for above recipe.
Remove corn from the cob and blanch them. Cool and store in airtight container and freeze.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Today I cooked some corn on the cob on the stove. I had a lot of leftover cobs. Is it safe to freeze them and then heat then up again in a week or so?
By Mel S.
Yes, be sure to keep refrigerated until just before reheating. I place mine in wax paper and place into microwave.
I wouldn't freeze it, I would refrigerate it. When you reheat it from freezing (if it's been cooked all the way), it will be mushy. :(
Can I put corn in the husk, from my garden, directly in the freezer?
By JE
With all the gardens here, I get lots of summer corn. What is the best way to freeze it, with the husk on or off? Must I blanch it first or just husk, seal, and store? Thanks for all replies!
By Edith Crump
When I freeze corn, I blanch it first, cool it and cut it off the cob and put in zip lock freezer bags. I have eaten some that has been in the freezer for 4 years and it was just as good as when it was first frozen.
I have frozen corn for over 30 years and this I have found:
1. If you are going to leave it on the cob then you blanch it for 7 minutes Ice water it for 14 minutes and dry with a towel, wrap each ear in tin foil and bag. This keeps it fresh for a year at least.
2. If you are going to use within 3 months leave in shuck and put in brown paper bag.
3. If you don't have the space blanch as Litter Gitter said and put in small bags. Tastes just as good without the hassle or extra work. (done this way you can also cut it off the cob and put in lge bowl and microwave till heated through and through.
When I freeze corn, I just trim the bottom off close to the bottom of the ear, leave the husk and silk in tact. Wrap each ear in plastic wrap, and store in a wire basket in the freezer. When you are ready to use them, just remove the amount you need, unwrap them, run a little cold water over them, shake off the excess and pop them into the microwave, a couple at a time for about 5 minutes, then remove the husks and the silks. They are pretty warm, so I use a couple folded paper towels when removing the silks. Just rub the towel against the ear of corn from the tip down to the base, and the silks come off pretty easily. No blanching, no fussing, and they taste almost like fresh from the garden. They really are better than what you find in frozen foods at the supermarket.
Harlean from Arkansas
There are many different ways that others swear by. What I do, cause I am elderly and disabled and live alone, is 'clean' the ear-take of the husk, put the ears in gallon size freezer bags, and simply freeze as it. When I want an ear, I take one, wrap it in a paper towel, and microwave it for 4 minutes. Add butter or whatever your choice is, and eat. Satisfies me.
When we had a garden, I froze corn on the cob and off the cob. I preferred it off the cob as sometimes one could taste the cob if frozen on the cob, and it took up much more room in the freezer. When I froze it on the cob I always shucked it, cleaned off the silks, blanched it, cooled it and put them in zip lock bags.
When I froze it off the cob, I shucked it, cleaned off the silks, blanched it, and as soon as it was cool enough to handle, cut it off the cob. I filled a zip lock bag half full, flattened it out and put into freezer. By flattening out the bags, they freeze faster, take up less room, and defrost quicker.
How do you blanch corn on the cob and then cut it of the cob to freeze it? How long do I boil it and how long do I submerge it in an ice water bath?
By Elaine
I don't remember how long the corn is supposed to be blanced for freezing, but everybody that I know has always cut it off the cob before blanching it.
Bring a 1/2 filled pot of water to a boil. Fill the pot with ears several inches from the top. Cover and bring to 2nd boil. Boil uncovered 3 minutes. Immediately take out and place in icy cold water to stop cooking. Freeze whole. When preparing for meal: thaw and place in boiling water, Bring back to back to boil for another 3 minutes. I personally think corn tastes mushy if boiled more than 6-7 minutes, any less is under done,but that's just me. If you don't want to freeze the cobs whole, than cut kernals off before boiling.
I forgot to add to keep it submerged in the cold water til it's cool enough to handle. The cooking needs to stop inside the kernal. Also it is ok to cook the corn and then cut the kernals off, I just have never done this either.
Husk and silk the ears. Corn must be scalded, on the cob, otherwise there is too much loss of corn milk. Sort ears according to size. Scald only a few at a time. Blanch in boiling water for 4 1/2 minutes. Ice bath until cool enough to handle easy to stop the cooking. Either freeze whole or cut off cob, then freeze. I have done it this way for years. Over a long period of time the one cut off the cob keeps better. These direction are from my freezer book.
What is the best and easiest way to freeze corn-on-the-cob?
By Linda K.
You can google the topic, or in the morning call your Home Extension Agent for your area. I think you will find them in the phone book under your county or a neighboring county.
It's easy. Peal away the leaves and the silk. Cut off the stalk end and the narrow end, just where the mature kernels start. I'm not a big fan of blanching veggies in general, but for this you can. Just about 2 minutes or so. Cool the cobs in an ice bath and store in freezer bags and freeze.
I was told by an old farmers wife to just cut off the stalk and leave in the husk and freeze. Was very good and so easy.
Don't know if it is bad, but I just shuck them. I put in freezer bags and freeze. They seem to be fine when I use them later.
I tried freezing corn on the cob this year. I followed the instructions in a preserving book. After a few days in the freezer several kernels turned brown. Is this still safe to eat? What happened?
By Geraldine from Havre, MT
If too high a temperature is used when cooking, caramelization of the sugar occurs in the corn, causing the kernels to turn brown.
When I freeze corn on the cob, I shuck the ear and put it in the freezer as is, I put several in a ziplock freezer bag. I live alone so when I want one for a meal, I take out one, wrap it in paper towel and nuke it for 4 minutes. I could boil it, I just don't want to.
You didn't say how you stored your corn in the freezer.
I cut both ends of the ear of corn, remove loose husks, put ears with husks on into a brown paper grocery bag, close the top and freeze. I can remove any amount of corn, finish husking and cook. The best way to cook corn on the cob (learned from grandmother 50 years ago) is to bring water to a boil, drop corn in, when water begins to boil again, corn is done.
Approximately what is the yield from 100 ears of sweet corn after being cut from the cob?
By Nancy
According to what I have heard, it takes about three ears of corn to make one cup.
According to what I have heard, it takes about three ears of corn to make one cup.
We grew, shucked, cleaned, and blanched our corn on the cob, then wrapped it in foil, placed in plastic bags, and froze. Now that we are ready to eat the frozen corn on the cob. Which is the best way to heat or reheat the corn cobs?
By Jan F.
What is the best way to freeze corn on the cob?
By Joyce Pikey
What is the shelf life for fresh frozen corn on the cob?
By dfp
Do I need to do anything to the corn; cover in double foil and freeze?
By KAB
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
What do I do to corn to ready it for freezing, on the cob?
Is it possible to freeze sweet corn on the cob? If so, how is it done? If not, please tell me how to freeze it off the cob. Thank you.
Fresh corn on the cob, we usually cut some off both ends and put in microwave for 2 minutes for each, then easily shuck it.
Is it OK to freeze corn on the cob without blanching the cobs?
I know that corn on the cob can be frozen, but I don't know if any special prep is needed to do this. Could someone please tell me what I need to do to freeze it on the cob? My dd's grandmother gives us some of their extra.
