How to Freeze Corn?

Published on August 26, 2024 by Raveaboutfood

Freezing sweet corn and other vegetables when they are abundant makes them more affordable and readily available for meals throughout fall and winter. Learn How to Freeze Corn and get tips on blanching and bagging your corn. Add frozen sweet corn to soups, salads and breads or serve as a favorite side dish with almost any meal. Your family can enjoy the sweet taste of this delicious summer vegetable all year round.

I have always thought that fresh-from-the-garden (or farmer’s market) vegetables taste SO much better. So, why not freeze them at the peak of freshness and capture all of those sweet summer flavors? Freezing green peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn, peas and more has been a way to stretch my food budget and provide the best tasting soups and meals for my family.

What do I need to freeze corn?

For years, I simply used a Dutch Oven (large soup pot), tongs and a sharp knife to do the job. And that is truly all you need. But there are certainly ways to make the process easier. Here are some essentials, most of which you’ll already have in your kitchen, to make freezing sweet corn easier.

Fresh Sweet Corn– 12 ears of sweet corn makes 6 10-ounce bags
Dutch Oven– for blanching the ears of corn
Tongs– for removing the corn from the pot
SHARP Knife– for easily cutting the corn from the cob
Large Bowl– for ice water
Medium Bowl– for catching/holding the corn that is cut off the cob
6 plastic quart-size Freezer Bags– for freezing the corn
One Cup Measuring Cup– for measuring and scooping the corn into freezer bags
Freezer Bag Stand– for holding the freezer bags OPEN while you fill them with corn

Finding this Freezer Bag Stand from Passionate Penny Pincher has been a real time saver. It holds a plastic bag open and leaves your hands free to scoop the corn. It was economical to purchase ($10 for 2 stands) and it has saved me time when freezing peaches, strawberries and all the vegetables I put in my freezer each year.

How to Freeze Sweet Corn?

Buying Corn– Make sure you buy corn that is freshly-picked and tastes great. I purchase a few ears of corn and cook it so we can taste it with a meal before buying a large amount of corn. Make sure the corn is tender and sweet. I purchased a dozen ears of corn. Remove the outer leaves and the silk from the corn. Rinse it, if desired.
Blanch the Corn– Fill a large pot water and bring to a boil. Add 6 ears of corn to the water and boil for 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining ears.

Shock It– Fill a large bowl or your kitchen sink with cold water and ice cubes. After blanching, place corn in the cold water bath to stop the cooking process. After 3 minutes, remove the corn to a kitchen towel to dry.

Cut it from the Cob– Place an ear of corn vertically in the center of a medium bowl. Holding the top end of the corn cob, use a sharp knife to cut the corn from the cob, rotate the ear and cut until the cob is clean. This allows the kernels to fall into the bowl and makes clean up easier.

Bag the Corn– Label each bag with the name and date. Use a one cup measuring cup to scoop 2 1/2 cups of corn into each bag. Quart size freezer bags with a tight seal work best. Use a freezer bag stand to hold the bags as you fill them makes the process much easier.

Freeze It– Make sure to press the air out of each bag and seal them tight. Place the bags of corn in the freezer for up to 12 months. If you choose not to cook the corn first, it is best to use the corn within 6 months of freezing it. This process takes about 30 minutes and yields six 10-ounce bags of corn.

Fun Facts about Sweet Corn:

Did you know…

There are more than 800 kernels on each ear of corn? That’s right! There are roughly 20 rows of corn (from end to end) on each cob and about 40 kernels in each row.
Washington and Minnesota farmers produce more than 50% of the country’s sweet corn production each year.
Sweet corn is one of the most popular vegetables in the US, coming in second place only to the potato, which continues to hold the top spot annually.
Sweet corn is considered both a vegetable and a grain. When eaten fresh from the cob, it is a vegetable. When dried, it is considered a grain and used to make cornmeal, polenta, bread and so much more.

What can I make with Sweet Corn?

Sweet corn can be used in so many tasty ways all year round. It is, of course, delicious when eaten fresh off the cob with butter and a pinch of salt. But stirring fresh or frozen corn into soups, stews, salads, salsa and side dishes will brighten the flavor and add texture and sweetness. Look for these great recipes with sweet corn: