Find three ways to freeze corn, the pros and cons of each, and which may work best for you: unblanched on the cob, unblanched cut kernels and blanched cut kernels – plus get ideas on the best ways to cook with them.
Since publishing how to freeze green beans without blanching and then freezing snap peas without blanching, many readers have asked about freezing corn without blanching as well. So I’ve been experimenting for the last year to see how we liked our corn when frozen, trying a couple of different ways to freeze corn. The results?
You can freeze corn without blanching first, but it’s not as clear-cut as green beans – I actually found I like to have corn in the freezer that’s been preserved three different ways:
- cut off the cob
- both raw and cooked
- as well as a few whole ears of unbalanched corn.
Any way you decide to do it, having corn in the freezer that’s been frozen at the height of flavor is a wonderful thing! (affiliate links are included in this post where appropriate)
Three Ways to Freeze Corn
1. Unblanched Whole Cobs.
This is the easiest and quickest method:
- Shuck, add to freezer bags, extract air, and toss in the freezer.
Pro: It takes literally minutes, which is why there’s always a few corn cobs in our freezer.
Cons: The cobs aren’t as easy to use as cut kernels in recipes or to sauté. And the cooked corn on the cob, while picture-perfect (right photo above) and fun to have in the depths of winter, is a little chewy and watery.
Best way to cook frozen whole cobs*:
- Bring a large pot of water to boil.
- Drop frozen ears of corn into boiling water.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes or until done to your liking.
*A reader suggested this cooking method as a way to keep the cobs from getting soggy, and though we still found they were a bit watery, it is the best way to cook them I think.
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For the next two ways to freeze corn, you’ll need to cut the corn off the ears and then add them to freezer containers:
But first, some tips I’ve learned when freezing kernels:
- I use quart-size freezer baggies rather than jars or containers, since I can get a lot of air out of them with a straw and they stack with little waste of space in the freezer.
- I’ve tried a lot of ways to minimize the mess when cutting the kernels off the cobs – regular cutting board, tube cake pan method, special corn cob cutters, etc. – but in the end I always return to my trusty over-the-sink cutting board with a drain/hole in one side. I can place a large bowl under the hole and simply slide the kernels into the bowl as I cut and since it’s over the sink, most of the mess is contained. Here are a few examples from Amazon that are similar to mine:
- Best reviewed plastic over-the-sink cutting board.
- A less expensive, but still good reviewed plastic over-the-sink cutting board.
- For those who’d like a wood option (there aren’t many), this pretty over-the-sink cutting board has the best reviews (you need to keep this maintained with oil).
2. Unblanched Corn Kernels.
This is the second easiest method, since you don’t need to cook the corn first:
- Shuck and cut the kernels off the cob into a large bowl.
- Spoon kernels into freezer baggies (or containers), remove as much air as possible (I use my handy straw), seal and freeze.
Pros: No need to cook first, just cut and package. Ready for any recipe calling for uncooked corn with no danger of overcooking.
Cons: Corn that has been frozen this way definitely has a different texture than blanched corn and we found it needs to be cooked to use – this isn’t the way to freeze corn that you’d like to use in salads or fresh bean & corn salsas. (Oh, and notice the date on the pictured package of corn above? That is a year old baggie of frozen corn and you can see that it looks great still and the straw sealer worked well!)
Best ways to use unblanched cut corn:
- Sauté in a bit of butter with additions of chopped onions or peppers if desired.
- Bacon and Corn Saute: cook 3-4 strips of bacon until crisp, remove to a towel-lined plate to drain and cook 2-3 cups of corn kernels in the hot bacon grease until done, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve with reserved bacon crumbled on top.
- Add to soups and stews like this black bean soup or any recipe where the corn will cook with other ingredients, like this sausage-corn tart or this bacon-corn tart or these delicious stuffed zucchinis.
- Roast it! Just add it to a lined sheet pan -frozen – and roast at 400 degrees until browned. Season how you like, or make a delicious corn salsa.
3. Blanched Corn Kernels.
The third way is the most traditional way to freeze fresh corn:
- Bring a large pot of water to boil.
- Drop shucked ears into boiling water and cook 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from water to a large bowl and let cool a few minutes until you can handle them.
- Cut kernels off of cobs, spoon into freezer baggies, remove as much air as possible (again using a straw), seal and freeze.
Pros: It’s nice to have baggies of cooked corn in the freezer for eating fresh in salads and salsas without having to cook first. It doesn’t taste as ‘raw’ to me as the unblanched. Plus, I often cook a pot of corn cobs for dinner during the corn season and have leftovers which are easy to just bag up after dinner.
Con: Takes the most time, needing more steps.
Best ways to use blanched cut corn:
- In any fresh salads like this quick chopped salad.
- Make black bean and corn salsa by adding a can of homemade rotel to the corn and beans along with garlic, lime juice and seasonings.
- You can also use this frozen corn in any recipe that calls for corn, just like the unblanched method, so it’s pretty versatile.
- The roasting method mentioned also works well with cooked corn.
Because there are lots of different ways our family likes to eat corn (which you can see more of in AOC’s recipe index), you will usually find corn in our freezer preserved each of these ways – one way just isn’t enough for corn! It is nice to have the options, though, especially if time is short or you’ve got an abundance to freeze all at once, which often happens when you grow your own or find a deal at a farmer’s market.
So, tell me – how do you freeze corn? How do you like to use the frozen corn?
Looking for more corn recipes?
- Find more about corn in The Ultimate Corn Guide that includes how to grow and harvest plus a TON of recipe ideas.
- Zucchini, Corn, and Tomato Sauté with Feta
- 5-Minute Foolproof Fermented Corn Relish Recipe
- Quick & Easy Roasted Corn Salsa
- Quick Corn and Sausage Chowder
- Creamy Fresh Baked Corn
- Simple Sausage and Corn Tart
- Simple Corn, Pepper and Onion Saute
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links and by clicking on them you help support AOC at no extra cost to you – thanks so much! (Read our entire disclosure page here.)
HI- I just found your website and since I am a city girl all my life I never learned much in the way of food preparation growing up. My mother worked and I ate out all the time. I am trying hard to learn all the ins and outs of putting up foods. My grandmother did it but I was only 4-5 years old and was too young to know how she did it all- she was a country girl and so was my mother but I never had the chance to learn this stuff and your site is a gem!
I can’t thank you enough for it. Signed up for the newsletter.
Last time I froze corn it tasted watery and terrible. I like it when it tastes sweet and a bit crisp.
Going to try your blanch method- wish me luck! It’s my first time blanching anything in my life! lol I hope I do not screw this up.
I’m so glad you found the site, too, Diana – I love to be able to help people preserve their own food! It’s such a rewarding thing, as well as healthy and money-saving. 🙂 I’m so glad to have you for a reader!
I know you will do well with blanching. One way I’ve used to cook frozen corn is to roast it – it never turns out watery that way. (you can roast it the way I do in this recipe). But blanching first usually turns out a better product that can be used even in raw salads. 🙂
Why not freeze each cob in a seal-a-meal bag? Then boil it bag and all?
That may work, though I don’t seal-a-meal anything so haven’t tried it (it does sound like a lot of plastic waste, though…).
All these years of blanching and this year I found your site, thanks for doing the experiments for us so we can make life easier and less time consuming. This year I’ve done beans and broccoli without blanching and today will be working on corn. Looking forward to eating the fresh stuff all winter.
Hope you like them, Tracy – let me know how you like the broccoli since I haven’t tried it that way yet.
Not sure if it has been mentioned, but using an electric knife is a quick way to get the kernels off the cob! Perhaps a little messier though 🙂
I haven’t ever thought of that, Giselle, though I do use an electric knife for slicing homemade bread. Great idea.
Loved your ideas on how to freeze corn. The way I freeze mine is different. I take the whole cobs, husk and all, and soak them for at least 1/2 hour in cold water. Then I put them on the hot grill until the husks are nearly black, (don’t worry, the insides will be perfect.) When cool to touch, I remove the husk and all silk. At this time you can either freeze the whole cob or cut the kernels off and put in freezer bags, removing all air. I microwave cobs for a few seconds each when ready to use, until hot, or you can use the kernels in any frozen corn preparation. Great addition to salsas or soups!
I haven’t heard of that before, Ann – sounds like a wonderful option.
It seems a waste of energy to blach the whole ear of corn. Is there any reason not to cut the corn off the ear before blanching?
Nope – that’s basically the cut off and freeze unblanched method, you’re just wanting to cut off and cook first. It’s totally up to you the order you do it in (I find it easier to cut kernels off of cooked cobs – I just seem to get more of the kernel).
Thank you!
Enjoy your site Jami! I prefer freezing raw, unblanched corn. I shuck and place kernels on a large cookie sheet and then freeze. It works beautifully (you get virtually no liquid and no sucking of the straw!). Also, simmer all the shucked cobs (salt and other herbs/seasoning optional) in water until you get a nice golden stock (45-60 min). Freeze for soups/stews. Great flavor still in the cobs!
What a great idea for the cobs, Misty – I’ve never thought of doing that! Thank you. 🙂
Can you steam them for 3 minutes then chill and freeze? As opposed to boiling?
Sure – you can cook them any way you’d like!
If I may make a suggestion, BUY A FOODSAVER machine and GET ALL THE AIR OUT!
I only had 3 kids and not sure what compelled me too but when they were young I bought one these and I’ve saved THOUSANDS of dollars over the past 30 years.
And on your next try at this Microwave the corn, it is EASY and is the fastest way to go. 1 minute for blanched, 2-3 minutes for cooked depending on your microwave power and size of cob.
Thanks and enjoy!!
Lwood
Thanks for the tips!
I love my food saver! Use it for many different fruits/vegetables. Meats too ????
One note for corn freezers, and other veggies also-be very, very sure that your corn is completely cold before you seal it up to place in the freezer.
One year, I hurried my asparagus, it wasn’t quite cool-and it had a very ‘off’ taste. So after you process and cool, just let your product sit for awhile, either on the counter or in the fridge-it will be fine-then get your air out of the package and seal, and freeze. You will have a very true tasting vegetable.
Thanks for the tip and recipe, Sharon – much appreciated!
Aunt Ethil’s Frozen Corn
In a large kettle, on low heat
4 quarts corn, cut from the cob
1 quart water water
2 tablespoons salt
1/4 cup sugar (less if corn is very sweet)
Bring to a simmer around edges, stirring often. Then let sit until cold. Bag in
quart freezer bags.
This has been a favorite for 40 plus years.
Sharon martin I used your recipe… corn is up.. now to find a way to put up baby spinach, tomato and asparagus
How do I download the preserving record? I have joined twice now and I cant figure it out. Thanks!
Did you receive the welcome email with the library link and password? Click that and go to the library to find the preserving record. You’ll also find a number of other things to print out that you may like!
Very helpful summary of the different ways to freeze sunshine (so to speak).
One method I was told is to cut the kernels off the cobs and add to cold water. Then bring to the boil, turn off as soon as boiling, and allow to cool. Any comment?
One word of caution. I followed your links to Amazon. The Trudeau board is out of stock, and the Chef Buddy Board has largely damning reviews.
I think that method would be similar to cooking on the cob and then cutting and freezing, Paul. I find cutting cooked corn off the cob easier than uncooked, so I’ll cook the cobs first, but both would work I think.
Thanks for the feedback on the links – I’ll check them out and update as needed!
What do you mean when you say you use a straw to get more air out of the bag?
I suck the air out of the bag with a straw. 🙂
Thanks I liked your thought into freezing corn! I am new to this also
I love just cutting the corn off the cob and freezing it. I’ve already used it for chicken corn soup (a staple here in Pennsylvania!) and also have used it for a side dish on Thanksgiving. It’s always been tasty and very easy to prepare and freeze.
I got a recipe from the internet (surprise!) making corn ON the cob in the microwave (my preferred method is boiling in water)…..keep the husk on and microwave 4 minutes for each ear of corn. Using oven mits, take the cobs out of the microwave and cut off about 2 inches of the bottom of the cob. Shake the corn out of the husk and it is virtually silk-free!
I’ve done that microwave technique, too, Sue and I’m with you – I like boiled corn better. It seemed a by chewier to me in the microwave.
I also found that you can take the shucks off and make sure they don’t have any worm holes or worms and don’t even silk or wash, wrap in heavy aluminum or gallon freezer bags, remove the air and seal up the bags and freeze. When you take them out of the freezer to boil, the silk falls off easily.
Oh! I didn’t think about leaving the silks on Kimberly – great tip, thanks for sharing!
Micro-waved corn on the cob. I butter the cleaned ears, wrap each in wax paper and micro-wave 2 mins. per ear with 1 min for the microwave, ie. 4 ears==9 mins. It is always great.
Not sure if anyone said this, I did not read all comments, but I shuck the corn, blanch it for 4 min in boiling water, dry it completely then freeze no more than 4 in a freezer bag.
When I take it out to use, I let it thaw, let it sit in ice water for about 5 or 10 min. seems to add the moister back in. Lots of butter, salt, pepper, little garlic even bacon drippings wrap in foil tightly and into a 325 oven for about 15/20 mins. Turns out great
I haven’t heard the trick to let it sit in ice water before cooking after freezing, Brenda – that may be worth a try!
Hi Jami,
Do you freeze Swiss chard and if so what process do you do? I love doing my green beans the “Jami” way 🙂
Love that, Patricia. 🙂 I have frozen spinach, chard, and kale similarly to how I do peppers (http://anoregoncottage.com/how-to-freeze-peppers-anaheim/): wash, cut, dry and lay out on a cookie sheet to freeze and then put into freezer bags. This way you can add handfuls to soups, stews, egg dishes, or casseroles easily.
I shuck, cut, then cook with a small amount of water and a little bit of butter for about 5 minutes, cool, put about 2 cups in a food saver bag, (I’ve already sealed the bottom), I leave a little extra at the top, fold it over a couple of times and put a clothes pin on it and freeze. When it’s frozen I seal the top, this way you don’t have a lot of liquid seeping out. This is my Aunt’s method and we always loved it when we had dinners and she brought her corn. I just picked 3 large tubs so I’m going to be busy tomorrow.
Nice tip, Connie – thanks!
Corn on Cob in Microwave – throw entire ear into the microwave, husk and all. Cook 3 to 4 minutes. Chop of end without tassle and grasp the top and squeeze and shake corn out – while it is hot out of microwave. Slides out without any silks on it and is cooked perfectly!!! Didn’t believe it until I tried it – will never fuss with silks again!!!!!
Great tip, Kerri – I, too, didn’t believe it when I saw it (I think on You Tube…), but it really works. 🙂
Thank you! I’ve never frozen corn, and your explanation is the best I’ve seen.
I’m so glad you found it useful, Chris!
I just found your site because I was searching to see if you have to blanch whole corn before you freeze it. The easiest, quickest way to cook corn that I have found is to wrap it in Saran wrap and microwave. You can also use gallon bags if you don’t ha e wrap. Microwave a few minutes, turn over, and microwave a few more. I like it so much better than boiling because it keeps the flavor better, and you don’t have to worry with a pot of water. However, I have not tried it with frozen corn.
I’ve been told by a number of people now that they micro their corn – I’ve tried it a couple times, but never in plastic. It doesn’t melt on the corn?
I always do my corn in micro unless we have lots of people over. Leave in husk, no need to wet it. Cut a bit more than 1/4 inch off from large end, where the cob itself starts. This causes a separation of the husk from the cob. Microwave 4 minutes per cob. Use pot holder, oven mitt or towel to remove, as cob will be hot; hold cob by large end and squeeze – it should slide right out of the husk with no silk attached. If it doesn’t it’s because you didn’t cut quite enough off from the end. This really works! And the corn does taste better than when boiled. Enjoy!?
I’ve used this method many times. It is 4 min. Per cob and may take awhile if doing alot. No more than 4 at a time. It is really the best I’ve ever done.
Just found your site, was looking for ways to freeze corn on the cob. Will try your method. You have some items of interest, especially some of the printed recipes. Thanks for being here, looking forward to following your site.
Thank you – I hope you find more recipes that you and your family will enjoy!
To cook corn on the cob in microwave and have it delicious, I put 4 large ears of shucked corn in square Corning dish with about 3 TBSP water. Put on lid. Cook on high for 4 minutes. Turn each ear over and cook another 4 minutes.
A farm girl gave me this method over 30 years ago and It always works well.
Thanks for that tip, Carol!
I cut the corn off the cob then I could get about 10 minutes I could let you put it in bags to freeze it. I add nothing to it
I agree with all your methods. But its blanched, cut off cob and frozen, when I thaw it I spread it on a large rimmed cookie sheet. Then roast it at 400 degrees for about 15-20 min. It dries out the water or ice crystals that accumulates in the freezer after a few months and gives the corn a delicious roasted flavor with char. Try it!!! Great then in salads or in a tomato, red onion and corn salad with some freah herb, olive oil, tiny bit of red wine vinegar, salt and pepper! It’s yummilicious!!!
Wow, I’ll definitely be trying that when we have corn, Angela – thanks so much!
We cut our corn off the cob raw and then cook it in a kettle with some water, butter, a little salt and sugar for about 10 minutes. Then we cool it in pans and put in quart bags to freeze. I think this tastes the freshest of all methods. The corn is easier to cut off the cobs because you are not handling hot/warm cobs.
Love your site! I made a batch of tomato chutney and ate a whole jar with homemade french fries Friday night. I need to make more soon!
I’ll have to try this, Betsy, it sounds good! Had to laugh over the chutney – it’s WAY too easy to eat a whole jar. 🙂
terea tiltonDo you drain the corn before freezing
Yes, you’ll want it to be as dry as possible.
I have made two her tomato chutney recipe twice and I’m like you, its hard to put the spoon down. Love that recipe. Ga
I go the traditional route and blanche the shucked cobs which I will later boil or steam again and serve whole. This year I am experimenting with cobs frozen raw in the husk. I am the only one here who eats it, so it’s a treat on solo evenings. Sometimes I cut it off the cob and dress with butter but generally not that patient.
We’ve done all 3 of these methods! I also shuck, decob and put the corn in a big roasting pan with a couple sticks of butter, a pint of cream and some salt and slow roast it for 3-4 hours, cool and freeze. It’s the best creamed corn in the world. 🙂
Sounds an awful lot like my favorite baked corn recipe, Lauren, and I’ve never thought about freezing it! Thanks for the suggestion, I’m going to try and see how it turns out. 🙂
we cook our corn in the microwave. wrap in wet paper towel . put on microwavable plate and cook 3 minutes per ear. comes out like fresh.
I’ve read this so many times, Brunella, but for some reason the corn always turns out chewy for us in the microwave. 🙁 Must be something I’m doing wrong, but I’ve give that method up. Glad it works for you!
Our microwave is only 700 watts as it is an older one. Maybe your microwave is too high powered. Try a setting lower than high.
I’ll try that, Pattie!
Variation on the microwave theme which works for us: 3 minutes, shucked, covered with a paper towel soaked in milk (not water).
Never heard of using milk, Paul – I’ll have to try that!
I was looking at freezing whole corn on the cob. I think I’m going to try this but I think after thawing I’ll put them on the BBQ as opposed to boiling water, we do this with fresh corn on the cob and it’s so juicy and delicious it doesn’t need butter or anything.
What do you think?
I would definitely try that, Cheryl! Let us know how it works for you.
Would like to know the results of putting them on the BBQ. Thanks.