Sunday, July 24, 2011

How to freeze fresh corn from corn-on-the cob!

There are few things better than good freshly picked corn, cooked and taken right off the cob!  Delicious!  
Source
Since I was a little girl, we have taken summertime corn, and frozen some to enjoy during the dismal winter months when fresh vegetables are harder to come by.  I had often been the helper in this task, but it wasn't until just a few years ago that I got step-by-step instructions, and tackled the task at my house, with my kid as helpers!  (I guess I'm a grown-up!)  If you are unsure of the specifics, I hope this post will help you out with all the little details that will lead to some great eats this winter!


Here's what you'll need...
  • freshly picked corn on the cob, and variety.  
  • A large, deep pot for boiling
  • Ziploc freezer bags (regular Ziplocs are not sturdy enough, and your corn will be freezer burnt.  Even better would be a FoodSaver or vacuum sealer.
  • some large bowls or containers
  • a good sharp knife
  • plenty of ice  
1.  Start with good quality corn, of any variety.  There are many different types to choose from.  Our favorite is "Cotton Candy", but we like "Silver Queen" as well.  A perfectly ripe ear is not too bloated, but nice and full.  You should be able to easily puncture the kernels, and the juice should run milky.
2.  Using freshly picked corn is very important to preserving taste for longterm storage.  Room temperatures begin to quickly breakdown the sugars in corn, so if you have a delay between harvest until you are ready to freeze, be sure and refrigerate the corn.  Husk the corn and get off as many of the silks as possible.  I usually use a soft-bristled vegetable brush.  This is a great job for dad and the older kids to handle outside!

3.  When the cleaned corn is ready, you can start by bring a large pot of water to a full rolling boil, so you can blanch the corn.  You also need to have ready a large bowl or container of ice water.  This is to stop the cooking process so that the corn is not overcooked.  A disposable roasting pan is perfect for this job, and makes for easy clean-up too.

4.  Now that the water is boiling add the corn in order to blanch it.  Blanching kills the enzymes that will breakdown the flavor and change the textures over time.  Corn needs to be blanched for about 5 minutes.  As soon as you put the corn in the water begin counting.  If it takes more than 30 seconds or so to return to a boil, you are using too much water, or maybe too large of a pot.  Put the lid on the pot and boil for 4-5 minutes. (note:  you can reuse the same blanching water for several batches)
5.  As soon as the timer sounds, remove the corn with tongs, and place immediately into the icy bath.  This will cool the corn down and stop the cooking process.  You do not want cooked corn, only the enzymes that will damaged your stored corn to be eliminated.  Cool the corn until it is cool to the touch.  This usually takes about the same amount of time as the blanching does.
6.  Remove the corn from the cob.  Now, I'm sure books have been written on the correct procedure and tools necessary for this process.  I will just share with you my way, with my tools... I hold my ear from the cob end, and remove about half of the kernel with the blade of a sharp knife.  I then use the back of the blade to scrape down the ear and remove the juice and remaining kernel.  .  I just do this on a cutting board, and then scrape the corn into my large bowl after every 2-3 ears I scrape.  You can also put the small end of the ear of corn into a bundt pan.  The cutout holds the ear in place, and the pan serves as a catch for the kernels.  If you prefer a corn scraper, you can get one at your local kitchen store, or Amazon.com, has several great corn scrapers to chose from.

7.    Decide what size increments you want your corn stored in.  I always use quart size freezer bags, since that is a perfect portion for my family a meal, but I always do a few gallon sized bags to have on hand for family gatherings such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, when I know I will be feeding a crowd.  If you don't have a vacuum sealer (and I don't, although I would love one!), then be sure and use bags intended for the freezer.  It's important to be sure and remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag.   Use a measuring cup to scoop the kernels into the bag, remove the air, and seal.
8.  Be sure and label  the date on your bags with a Sharpie.  Stack them flat, and put into the freezer as soon as possible.  You're all finished!  You've got a freezer filled with fresh vegetables for your family to enjoy for months ahead.  All you need to do is remove the bags, defrost in microwave, and allow to cook until thoroughly heated.
Your hard work will pay off when you have a freezer shelves that look like this...
There it is... easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy!  Let me hear from you!  Questions or comments... hit me up!  Thanks for reading.

Keep Shining!

The Woo-Hoo Gal


I'm linking this up to the linky party at Momma Made It Look Easy. and at Raising Memories.

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.



21 comments:

Anne Payne said...

YUMMY!!! Maybe you could mail me some ;)

dharvey71 said...

I can taste it now....with a slice of tomato and one of my mama's biscuits. Yum!

She'sWrite said...

OMG! One of my favorite things about summer is the corn. What a great idea! And it looks easy peasy! Thanks for sharing. I found you via Share Your Awesomeness at http://www.mommamadeitlookeasy.com

Marda D Ekowati-Maccaferri said...

Thank you for sharing...I'll do what you suggest...:))

(http://www.bellecaketopperandmould.net/)

Shelby said...

Corn is my favorite! Thanks for sharing this.

Shelby

http://totalclasscreativeblog.com/

Heather Bea said...

I just pinned this! I never knew how to correctly freeze corn, but I am definitely going to try this!

Cheers!

Heather @ http://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com/

LadyBird said...

Where are you WooHoo? You were posting everyday and we miss you!
ladybirdhope.blogspot.com
M.

////// said...

You have made me hungry,and made me want to go to my grandmas house too! I am so glad to have you on board @ Through My Lense! Thanks for being my NEWEST follower! :)

Anonymous said...

I do believe all the concepts you've offered for your post. They are very convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are very quick for beginners. May just you please extend them a bit from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.

Feel free to visit my website - low carb pasta recipes

Anonymous said...

I know this site gives quality based posts and extra data, is there any other web page which offers such things in quality?


Stop by my web blog; übungen für excel 2007

Anonymous said...

Awesоme іssueѕ heгe. I am ѵеry glаd to ρeеr youг post.
Тhаnκs sο much and I am having a look аheаd to contact you.
Will yоu kindly dгοp me a maіl?

Here is my ωеbѕite - Some Exclusive Hotels Around the globe

Anonymous said...

I thіnκ the admin of this ѕite is genuinelу
working hаrd in favor of his web ѕіte, because
here every infοrmation iѕ quality bаsed infoгmatiοn.


Ѕtop by my web blog; Ancient rome can be quite a great place to check out. Rome Resorts

Anonymous said...

We аre a group of volunteerѕ and starting a neω schеme in our сommunity.
Υour website provided us with useful info to wогk on.
You have ԁone an impreѕsіvе ϳob anԁ our entire group can be thankful
to yοu.

Hегe is my weblog; Look for Savings Accommodations costs

Anonymous said...

Hі, Neat post. Thеrе іs а prοblem along with your web sіte in ωeb explorеr, might teѕt this?
IΕ nonetheless is the marketplace chief and a
good еlement of other people wіll leave out your magnifіcent
ωriting duе tο this problem.

Check out my site; Cheap Hotels inside Portugal

Anonymous said...

Ехcellent рοst! Wе are lіnking to this ρaгtiсularly
grеat post on ouг ωebѕіte.
Keep up thе great writing.

Feеl free tο ѕurf to my webρage :: Should you be considering to visit Europe

Anonymous said...

Have you evеr considereԁ publishing an e-book or guest authoring on otheг websitеs?
I haѵe a blog basеd on the same subjеcts you dіscuss anԁ wοuld really like to have you ѕhare some stοries/information.

I knoω mу audienсe ωoulԁ ѵalue yоuг
work. If you're even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

Feel free to visit my web blog Dubai Motels : Where You'Ll Get The Top Deals

Anonymous said...

I truly love your blog.. Great colors & theme.
Did you buіld this web site yourself? Ρlease rеply back аs I'm attempting to create my very own website and would love to know where you got this from or just what the theme is called. Appreciate it!

Feel free to surf to my web page ... Cheap Hotels Within Portugal

Anonymous said...

Hey there, You hаve ԁоne a great jοb.
I'll certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I'm sure thеy will be benеfited
from thіѕ web site.

Heгe is mу web-site ... Evaluate motel charges

Anonymous said...

Hі this is sоmewhаt οf off tορiс but I was wantіng
tο know if blogs use WYSIWYG eԁіtoгѕ or if yοu
hаve to manually coԁe ωith HTML. I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding experience so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

my homepage; Street. Mark's
Basilіca Venice Italу

Anonymous said...

It's actually a great and helpful piece of information. I'm hаppy that
you simply shared this useful infοrmatіon with us.
Plеasе keep us informed like thiѕ.
Thank уou for sharing.

Stop by my web blog; Lodge Price Assessment As opposed to Conventional Journey Look for Web sites * Hotels Discounts

Anonymous said...

I got this ωеb sitе fгom my pal who told me аbout this web
рage and at thе moment thiѕ time I am visiting this ωeb sіte and
гeading very іnformаtіve pοsts аt this time.


my weblog: Lodge Low cost (Hotels_Discount) upon Twitter

Post a Comment