How to Freeze Sweet Corn 3 Different Ways (Cobs and Kernels)

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Learn how easy it is to freeze sweet corn 3 different ways using common kitchen equipment, making it easily accessible for anyone. This is the perfect preservation method whether you need to preserve a few ears of sweet corn or dozens at a time.

Sweet corn make the perfect side with roast chicken or smoked brisket. But regardless of what you eat it with, enjoying a bit of summer flavors in the middle of winter is a welcome treat.

Summer in the Midwest is filled with plenty of county fairs, roasting smores around backyard bonfires, and enjoying plenty of summer corn on the cob dripping with melted butter. You can’t drive too far without running into pop-up farm stands or farmers selling corn from the back of pick-up trucks. And in the off chance you don’t come across one of those, a farmer’s market or grocery store will have plenty of fresh corn from local farmers. 

Now you may be asking, is it worth the effort to preserve corn on your own when you can simply buy frozen corn? In short, yes! While you can easily buy frozen corn for a few dollars at the grocery store, you can’t buy frozen sweet corn that tastes this delicious.

Freezing Sweet Corn Equipment

• Large stock pot
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Tongs
• Freezer bags or Plastic storage containers
• Marker

How to Freeze Sweet Corn 3 Different Ways

You can freeze fresh corn in 3 different ways with slightly different results. It’s a good, better, best scenario with the results. Keep in mind how you plan to eat the corn as one method may be a better fit than another. 

Freezing Whole Corn On The Cob

Pros

• You can eat the corn from the cob or have the option of cutting the kernels it after it thaws, giving you the most versatile option to eat the corn later on. Once the corn kernels are cut from the cob, that will be your only option. 

Cons

• Because you’re freezing the entire cob, this method takes up the largest amount of freezer space. 
• You may be disappointed with the mushy, rubbery texture, and the cobby flavor. 
• The pot of boiling water heats up the house.

Instructions

Place a large pot of water on the stove over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. 

Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with plenty of ice and cold water.

Remove the husks and silk from the corn cobs and discard. Break the cobs in half if you prefer smaller portion sizes.  Place a few cobs into the hot water at a time. Let the water return to a boil and cook until the color of the kernels becomes brighter, going from a pale yellow to a darker yellow, 3 to 4 minutes.

Use tongs to remove the cobs from the water and put them into the ice water immediately to stop the cooking process.

Once the cobs are cool, remove them from the cold water and place them onto paper towels or a kitchen towel to dry. You want to remove the majority of the water from the cobs before placing them into the freezer.

When the cobs are dry, put the whole cob into freezer bags in a single layer, squeezing out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. 

Label each bag with the date and place them into the freezer.

Preparing Frozen Sweet Corn Cobs

First, fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Place frozen corn cobs into the water, cover, and bring back to a boil. Once the water is boiling, remove the lid and cook for 5-7 minutes or until the cobs are hot and the kernels are tender. 

Freezing Raw Corn Kernels 

Pros

• This method is the fastest of the three. 
• Keeps the house cool since you aren’t using any heat to prepare the corn. 
• Corn cob is cool and dry, making it easy to handle.
• Takes up much less space in the freezer than freezing whole corn cobs. 

Cons 

• All fruits and vegetables contain natural enzymes that cause them to deteriorate over time. The freezing process slows this process down, but doesn’t stop it completely, so the quality of the fresh corn kernels continue to go down even in their frozen state.

Instructions

Remove the husks and silk from the corn cobs and discard.

Rest the wider end of the ear of corn on its end on a cutting board and cut down with a sharp knife to remove the kernels. 

Collect the kernels and place them into an airtight container, label it with the date, and place it in the freezer. 

Preparing Frozen Raw Corn Kernels

Place defrosted or frozen sweet corn kernels in a pot on the stove over medium high heat until they go from pale yellow to bright yellow, stirring to distribute the heat.

Freezing Blanched Sweet Corn Kernels

​This freezing method is our preferred method of the three. It combines the first two methods of blanching the corn cobs, cooling in an ice bath, and cutting the kernels off of the cobs before packing into airtight containers. It yields the best flavor and texture with just a bit more effort than the other methods, making it completely worthwhile.

Pros

• The blanching process neutralizes the natural enzymes, resulting in corn with the best texture and flavor. 
• ​The corn is already cooked, so all you need to do it heat up and enjoy. It’s quick and easy to prepare after it’s frozen. 
• Just like freezing raw kernels, blanched kernels take up less freezer space.
• Easy to add to recipes that call for frozen corn.

Cons

• This method takes the most effort up front.
• Blanching the corn will heat up the house.

Instructions

Place a large pot of water on the stove over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. 

Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with plenty of ice and cold water.

Remove the husks and silk from the corn cobs and discard. Place a few cobs into the boiling water at a time. Let the water return to a boil and cook until the color of the kernels becomes brighter, going from a pale yellow to a darker yellow, 3 to 4 minutes.  

Use tongs to remove the cobs from the water and put them into the ice water immediately to stop the cooking process. Once the cobs are cool enough to handle, rest the wider end of the ear of corn on its end on a cutting board and cut down with a sharp knife to remove the kernels. 

Place the blanched corn kernels into an airtight container, label it with the date, and place it in the freezer. 

Preparing Frozen Blanched Corn Kernels

The frozen blanched sweet corn is already cooked and just needs to be warmed up. Place defrosted or frozen corn into a pot on the stove over medium high heat and cook until hot.

Freezing Sweet Corn Containers

• Freezer bags – Freezer bags are much more efficient with the freezer space. An inexpensive option if you need to maximize freezer space while keeping the investment costs low.
• Plastic containers – I love that plastic containers are reusable, reducing waste and reoccurring costs. However, they are bulky with a lot of wasted freezer space and require an initial upfront investment.
• Reusable silicone bags – A reusable option that packs tightly to make the most of freezer space. Worth the initial investment if freezing sweet corn is going to be a yearly endeavor.
• Vacuum seal bags – This option requires the biggest initial investment since you need to buy a vacuum sealer, but is a great option since it pulls out all of the additional air. You can wash and reuse the vacuum seal bags, but you need to make sure that there is enough room left in the bag once the old seal is cut away.

Tips For Success

• Elevating the corn cob using a bundt pan or an angel food cake pan while cutting the kernels off can help reduce the mess.
• Use the freshest corn you can find for the best flavor. The natural sugars in the corn turn to starch as more time passes. The texture will also change, becoming less crisp and plump as more time goes on. This is why buying local corn will give you the best finished product. Choose corn with a bright green husk and silk that looks the freshest and hasn’t dried out yet.  
• To figure how many cobs of corn you’ll need to freeze, a good rule of thumb is that one large corn cob will yield roughly 1 cup of cut corn. 
• When cutting corn off the cob, cut as close to the cob as possible without cutting into the cob itself. Cutting too close to the cob can leave the tough bits on the ends of the kernels.
• Think ahead to how you plan to use the corn and package the amounts accordingly. Be sure to consider your favorite corn recipes too. I pack 3 cups into quart-size bags and that’s the perfect amount for a side dish for our family of 6. 

I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment and rate the recipe. Tag photos #Lockremhomestead over on Instagram when you share pictures of your Frozen Sweet Corn!