Freezing Fresh Corn
There are several different ways to put up corn, but one of the most popular ways is to freeze it. Although this project can be messy and slightly time-consuming, it is well worth it when you are eating it!
Freezing Cut Corn
Since sweet corn should be eaten soon after you harvest it, you can freeze cut corn anytime you have a surplus. To cut and freeze your corn, follow these steps:
- Husk and remove the silk from the ears of corn.
- Immerse the cobs in boiling water (blanch) for three minutes.
- Plunge the ears into an ice bath until cool
- Cut the corn off the cob using a sharp knife.
- Fill freezer bags and remove as much air as possible.
Tip: Use the size of freezer bag that is most convenient for your family. Freezing the bags flat takes up less room in the freezer.
While it might sound simple, cutting corn for freezing does take some time. However, you can also freeze whole ears of corn.
Freezing Corn on The Cob
To freeze your corn while it is still on the cob, follow the same directions as for freezing cut corn. Once the ears have cooled, however, you can skip the cutting part and place the ears in a freezer bag.
If you know that you will be eating your corn within a month or so, you do not even need to blanch the corn first.
Tip: Many people use a food sealer to remove all the air possible from the bags. Corn can be stored longer if you use one.
Canning Corn
If you do not have freezer space but do have room in a pantry to store corn, you can also use a pressure canner to preserve your corn harvest. Follow the steps for freezing corn, but instead of using freezer bags, fill your jars with the corn. You need to process according to the recipe you are following, and you will be able to store your corn for several years.
Drying Corn
Drying corn is a lesser-known way to preserve corn, but it can be handy to have dried corn to throw into soups or grind into cornmeal. You can leave the corn in the field to dry, or you can bring the corn in and use a dehydrator.
Tip: You can also use dried corn as feed for your chickens or other animals.
Whichever method of putting up corn you use, you can be assured that you will enjoy the fresh corn flavor all winter long.
