You must love sweet and fresh corn, right? While fresh corn isn't available all the time, you can buy it in bulk at once and enjoy fresh corn all year round. Here is a complete guide to selecting, preparing, and freezing corn in large batches.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Corn
Step 1. Find the right size of corn
Everyone has their own definition of how big or old the corn should be to be delicious to eat. However, there is a practical way to determine this, namely by holding the corn that is still husked in your hand. If the corn fits in your hand and the top skin is slightly brown, it means the corn is ready to be picked. If it feels too thin, find an even larger corn to freeze.
Step 2. Peel the corn
Sit down and peel off all the husks once you have enough corn to freeze. Collect the corn in a bowl and remove the husks.
For a classic rustic stripper, sit outside in the late afternoon sun peeling your corn. Even more fun if done in groups
Step 3. Clean the corn
Clean the fine grits or corn silk by hand. It helps to keep a bowl of water on the table while you peel to dip your hands in it. Otherwise, you can end up like Spiderman with everything you touch stuck to your hands. Sticky.
Part 2 of 3: Cook the Corn for a while
Step 1. Boil a pot of water large enough to cook your corn
There are other methods for preparing and cooking corn, but many believe it is this method that gives it the best flavor. Put the corn in the water, cover the pot, and bring to a boil.
Step 2. Remove the corn from the water
You need to do this as quickly as possible in order to maintain the proper texture of the corn. Take the corn when the water boils and then cool it by soaking the corn in ice water.
If you have a lot of corn to cook (and freeze), use one side of the sink to cool the hot corn straight off the stove, then transfer the lukewarm corn to the other side of the sink to complete the cooling process. Run cold water from the faucet to this side of the sink
Step 3. Comb the corn from the cob
Once the corn has been cooked and cooled so that it is cool to handle, use a sharp knife to comb through the kernels by setting the corn up and slicing it vertically. Slice slowly, and try to get enough corn kernels without cutting off too many cobs.
Part 3 of 3: Freezing Corn
Step 1. Cool the corn
Once the kernels are all removed from the cob, place the kernels in the baking dish for a good pre-freezing process. Cake pans work well because they can spread the corn evenly and transfer heat well. Freezing the corn on a flat surface is a great way to freeze each kernel individually or separately, and to ensure that you don't have large, sticky lumps of corn kernels, which are difficult to handle when you want to thaw them after freezing.
- If you're freezing a lot of corn, alternate the hottest (last cooked) corn kernels with the cooler ones in the freezer to maintain freezer temperature. Do not put very hot corn straight into the freezer, or you will warm the freezing temperature and significantly slow down the process.
- You don't have to pre-freeze your corn before storing it frozen in a plastic bag, but it's a good idea to refrigerate it by doing this process for at least some time.
Step 2. Put the corn in the bag
Once the corn in the pan has cooled completely, the only thing left to do is pack the corn kernels for final freezing. Use and 1 quart ziploc bags, and divide the corn into serving sizes. Remove as much air as possible from the bag before closing it.
Don't overfill the corn. Don't fill the plastic bag completely, but just enough so that you can close the bag easily, and flatten it out for easier storage. A one liter bag will suffice for one meal for 4-5 people, and a liter bag will suffice for 2 people
Step 3. Freeze the corn in the bag
Stack the bags of corn as flat as possible in your freezer. It's a good idea to date and label each bag before placing it in the freezer. Frozen, frozen sweetcorn can last for several months to a year.
Tips
- A large container can also be used for cooling the corn. Place the 30 gallon container outside and place your water hose. Let the water run throughout the process so there will always be cold water available to cool the corn.
- To cook frozen corn, take the bag of corn from the freezer and place it in a plate or sealed glass container. After that put it in the microwave; for a 1 liter bag, heat for about 6-8 minutes. Add butter and salt to taste and you'll be able to taste the fresh corn in a few minutes.
- For another South American recipe, fry a few cutlets in a skillet. Add a few sliced onions (optional) and cook until the onions are translucent. Add corn and cook until corn is cooked.
- If you're harvesting your own corn, start picking corn early in the morning. It will be amazing if you walk through a cornfield and see the dew still visible on the grass and on the corn stalks.
