As much as we want it to, summer (and sweet corn season) doesn’t last forever. Most of us have to say a temporary goodbye to our favourite summer treats and traditions - but that doesn’t have to include sweet corn. By freezing our corn, you can enjoy it all year long.
1. Husk the corn and remove the silks
Your first step is to husk the corn cobs and remove the silks. You can give them a gentle scrub under water to help dislodge any extra-stubborn ones. Many hands make light work, so get kids and family members involved in this step. We recommend doing this part outside near the compost bin, because it can get incredibly messy.
2. Blanche the cobs for 3-5 minutes
Bring a pot of water to boil. Add in your cobs of corn and blanche them for 3-5 minutes. Once you have reached those 5 minutes, remove the cobs and put them in a pot of cold water. Let them sit in the water for 2-3 minutes until cool enough to handle.
3. Strip the kernels
Stand the cob of corn on one end and use a sharp knife or a corn stripping tool to remove the kernels. It’s a messy job, and you’ll have to be careful not to cut into the cob. If you’ve never removed kernels from corn cobs before, it definitely takes some practice.
We recommend using a large flat plate or cookie sheet so you can catch all the kernels and reduce cleanup.
4. Package and freeze
You can package corn in pretty much anything, but freezer bags are a good way to maximize space in your freezer and store a lot of corn. Leave a few inches at the top of the bag so it will easily seal. Depending on how much you want to freeze, you’ll need several bags.
It’s helpful to label the bags with the date you froze them, so you can use them in a timely manner.
Freezing corn on the cob
Corn on the cob generally takes up a lot more room in the freezer, so may not be ideal for people with limited freezer space. If you do choose to freeze corn on the cob, follow steps 1 and 2. Then individually wrap the cobs with plastic wrap, and put them in freezer bags.
Check out our how-to video
Even though she's in Ottawa, our daughter Rachel still got her hands on a dozen of our sweet corn. While she made our Elote Mexican street corn one night, she chose to freeze the rest for future enjoyment. Check out the how-to video she made and follow along as you freeze your own corn!
Enjoy Newcombe’s sweet corn all year
Stalk up (see what we did there?) this summer, and you can enjoy Newcombe’s sweet corn through the seasons..
Visit our stand, or for special orders of 5 dozen or more, email us.