How Long Does Corn Stay Fresh?
You have probably heard that corn should be cooked and eaten within minutes of harvesting the ears. While it is true that the sugar content in fresh corn does start to turn to starch soon after picking, you can still keep corn for several days in the refrigerator without sacrificing much flavor.
The most important thing about keeping the corn fresh is to keep it moist and cold. Leave the husk on the corn on the cob and wrap it in a plastic bag or airtight container. You can add a damp paper towel to ensure the ears stay moist. Then, you can store it in the fridge for a couple of days before eating.
Storing Corn for Longer Periods
If you are not going to be able to eat your corn within a couple of days, you can also store it for more extended periods by freezing it. You can freeze fresh corn on the cob and corn kernels.
Freezing corn is relatively straightforward, plus it is the best way to retain as much of the fresh corn flavor as possible. To successfully freeze corn, you need to take the following steps:
- Husk the corn and remove all of the corn silk.
- Blanch the corn for about two minutes in a pot of boiling water.
- Immediately place the corn in a cold water bath to halt the cooking
- Once the ears are chilled, store them in an airtight freezer bag.
- Store in the freezer for up to one year.
Tip: If you want to cut the kernels off the cob, de-kernel the corn once the cob is cool.
Freezing Corn Versus Canning Corn
You can also can your corn using a pressure canner. Canning your corn allows for longer storage times and does not take up valuable freezer space. However, frozen corn on the cob or kernels will keep that fresh corn flavor, while canned corn tends to be blander.
Although it may seem like a lot of extra work to store your sweet corn, you will be glad you did when you heat up a batch of frozen corn in January!
