fresh corn...to freeze or not to freeze?
Ohio sweet corn should be rearing its splendor very shortly...I am interested in collecting quite a bit and putting it up for the winter. Freeze it on the cob? Cut it off? Anyone out there actually do this?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
11 Comments:
Yes - do take the time to cut it off the cob. (Takes up less freezer space that way, too.) There are gizmos that will do this for you (while you hold it in your hand) or you can just use a sharp knife and shave it off, which is what we do.
You'd have to check the web or a good cookbook for exact times, but after de-cobbing, we briefly (seriously brief) steam-cook it, pour it into an ice bath for a flash, drain and place into quart or pint-size freezer bags.
moibec at 10:44PM on 07/12/08
I forgot to add that if you go the do-it-yourself route, hold the cob vertically, tapered end up, and place it on a thick layer of damp kitchen towels so the cob doesn't slide all over your counter and you slice your fingers off.
moibec at 10:49PM on 07/12/08
A few years ago, I was getting the best corn I had ever tasted and decided to buy a huge quantity to freeze. I got 10 dozen, blanched and cut off the cob (with the help of 2 friends), and froze. I then cooked us a few and WHAT THE **** - it was tough and old and terrible. Next day, I asked the farmer why and he said they had run out of their own corn and were selling some from another farmer. What a HUGE disappointment. Had I frozen the great corn, it would have been well worth the effort. I wouldn't freeze the whole cob - takes up too much space, even with a large freezer.
I haven't bothered since then, but did eventually use up all that corn and it was ok, just not the tender sweet corn I thought I had. You won't be sorry, that's for sure. Enjoy!!!
PerkyMac at 10:52PM on 07/12/08
I freeze 200 pints of fresh garden sweet corn every year. You can simplify the process, save frustration, and avoid slicing your fingers off by: 1) using an electric carving knife and 2) balancing the cob on the funnel-part of an angel food cake pan. Slick as a whistle! I have yet to find a corn cutting gizmo that actually works.
dakotarose at 6:51PM on 07/13/08
I'm in Ohio, we always freeze corn for the winter. Typically we will blanch then cut off the cop and vaccum seal. It is a great treat to have yummy corn in January!
Leo1881 at 10:20AM on 07/14/08
If you freeze corn, you need to blanche it first. It continues to .... mature for lack of a better word, and gets waxy if you do not blanche it first. This gizmo works splendidly UNLESS you want whole kernel corn. link Yes it takes a muscle or two but the results are so delicious.
We boil water, drop the ears in for about 3 minutes, put them in cold! water, and again and then cut it off. You want the kernels cooled pretty well. Not only is it easier to handle during cutting, if you put it in the freezer too warm, it will spoil.
jdshd at 11:09AM on 07/14/08
dakotarose...that angel food pan idea is geeeeeenious! You catch all the kernels too.
I'm blown away by the simplicity and slickness.
mandabear at 1:13PM on 07/14/08
I'll second dakotarose's angel food cake pan suggestion. I can't remember if I learned that from Rachael Ray or Cooking Light magazine. Either way, it's made getting corn off the cob so much easier!
And 200 pints of corn? So jealous!
amanda0730 at 8:27PM on 07/14/08
If you freeze corn in volume, you appreciate any tool/gizmo that contributes to simple, fast and slick. The angel food cake pan trick prevents the kernels from flying around and is far more stable than, say, balancing each cob on a kitchen towel. As for the electric carving knife, it's my saving grace when I'm up to my a** in corn during corn season. Kind of a knife "snob", I wouldn't have one in my kitchen otherwise!
dakotarose at 9:54PM on 07/14/08
A bundt pan also works
aharste at 11:37AM on 07/15/08
I cut corn off the cob before I freeze it, and I always freeze the corn raw. It only takes a few minutes to cook, and no one wants tough corn. To make it easier to cut the corn from the cob, you could try one of these. I've never used one, but they're pretty cool-looking.
butterface at 12:45PM on 07/15/08