How to Freeze Corn: On the Cob & Kernels!

Here’s how to freeze fresh corn on the cob! This quick trick is the perfect way to extend its life outside of corn season.

Got a few fresh corn cobs and not sure how to use them? Here’s a quick trick: pop them in the freezer! Frozen corn on the cob lasts for months, and when you boil it up the flavor is just like the golden taste of summer corn season. You can freeze either on the cob or cut off in kernels, making it endlessly versatile for use. Here’s how to freeze corn on the cob: and it takes just minutes to prep.

How to freeze fresh corn on the cob

Corn on the cob requires just one step before freezing: blanching. Blanching is a cooking method where you boil vegetables until crisp tender, then plunge them into ice water to stop the cooking process. The ice water helps to keep vegetables colorful over time by locking in a beautifully bright color. It also stops enzyme activity that results in deteriorating the texture, color, and flavor of vegetables: making them last longer.

Here’s how to freeze corn on the cob:

1. Prepare a large pot of boiling water. Add the corn cobs and boil for 2 minutes.
2. Transfer the corn to a large bowl of ice water to cool for about 1 minute. Remove the cobs and dry them.
3. Place the cobs in a sealable freezer-safe bag and store for 6 to 8 months.
4. To reheat frozen corn on the cob, place it in a large pot of boiling water. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes until bright yellow and tender.

How to freeze corn (in kernels)

Want to freeze fresh corn cut off the cob? The method is similar, but there are two additional steps. First, cut the corn off the cob (here’s an easy trick for cutting corn!). Then, you’ll have to place the corn on a baking sheet in a single layer to pre-freeze it. This ensures that all the kernels freeze separately, instead of freezing into one large block as they would in a bag.

Here’s how to freeze corn in kernels:

• Prepare a large pot of boiling water. Add the corn cobs and boil for 2 minutes.
• Transfer the corn to a large bowl of ice water to cool for about 1 minute. Remove the cobs and dry them.
• Slice the kernels off of the cobs. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour, then transfer to a sealable freezer-safe bag. Store for 6 to 8 months.

To reheat frozen corn kernels, you can use them as you would frozen corn in any recipe. Or, just heat it in a skillet for a few minutes with a bit of butter or olive oil, salt and pepper!

Recipes with frozen corn

What to cook with frozen corn? There are lots of ways to use it, either with corn on the cob or fresh corn kernels! Here are some of our favorite recipes with corn:

• Corn on the cob: Go for Microwave Corn on the Cob, Boiled Corn on the Cob, Elote (Mexican Grilled Corn)
• Salad: Go for Classic Corn Salad, Elote Salad, Quick Black Bean and Corn Salad, or Easy Avocado Corn Salad
• Dip: Try Mexican Inspired Corn Dip
• Succotash: Make Easy Succotash
• Soup: Go for Fresh Corn Soup, Creamy Corn Chowder, Vegan Corn Chowder or Potato Corn Chowder

01

Classic Corn Salad

02

Mexican Inspired Corn Dip

03

Easy Succotash

04

Fresh Corn Soup

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