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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: dingerbell on July 21, 2005, 21:40:27

Title: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: dingerbell on July 21, 2005, 21:40:27

I know I'm a bit premature but my sweetcorn crop is coming on superbly and in anticipation of a glut (if the badgers don't get there first) I would like to know about your experiences in freezing fresh sweetcorn. Can I freeze straight from the lottie or should I blanch first? Can I freeze whole cobs still wrapped in their husks? Do they keep their sweetness after defrosting? Thanks in advance :)

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: Simon05 on July 21, 2005, 22:35:36

I asked one of the old gardeners, he said he freezes them whole, without the husk, not tried it myself so dont know what they will taste like

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: Derekthefox on July 21, 2005, 22:41:22

I strip them, then put many into a carrier bag and lower into chest freezer. Couldnt be simpler !

Cropped 128 last year, froze most by this method.

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: keef on July 22, 2005, 09:03:28

I blanch mine for a couple of minutes, then freeze them.

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: tim on July 22, 2005, 10:16:44

'Correctly' - you should blanch to kill the enzymes that cause deterioration.

For short term storage, it's OK to omit this.

As important is getting the cobs into the freezer ASAP. Like Birds Eye with their peas!

There is a load of advice - here's some. Personally, I prefer bottled corn.

http://www.solutions.uiuc.edu/factsheets/FP02_20.pdf

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: Moggle on July 22, 2005, 10:18:46

I have blanched and frozen before. All I have done to blanch is stack the cobs in a bowl, cut in half, and poured boiling water on from the kettle. I leave them for 5-10 minutes, then rinse, cool and freeze.

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: BAGGY on July 22, 2005, 12:11:02

I peel them and freze them individually in cling film.  Then you can go straight from freezer to microwave in the same wrapper.  That being said, I think ours will get eaten fresh this year.

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: Derekthefox on July 22, 2005, 12:21:53

I like your cling film idea Baggy, may take advantage . . .

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: jennym on July 22, 2005, 15:47:14

I freeze my sweetcorn whole on the cob. No blanching, no other preparation. When I want to cook them, I just put two at a time into the microwave and cook at full power for 7  minutes. Perfect every time.

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: dingerbell on July 23, 2005, 10:43:51

Thanks everyone for your advice...off to the allotment to gather in sun drying Garlic and Shallots for storage before the much awaited rain arrives....I hope ???

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: blackmsmith2 on July 24, 2005, 14:25:44

New to website and new to allotment. C ???an anybody please tell me how many sweetcorn one can expect from each plant, as i have been told to only expect 1 per plant.

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: jennym on July 24, 2005, 18:25:48

I earth up around the base of mine and sometimes get two or three cobs. I don't know if variety matters, but I know the earthing up makes a big difference.

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: tim on July 24, 2005, 18:29:38

If I only got one, I wouldn't grow it!!

I think that the older - more 'common' - the variety, the more cobs??

Title: Re: Freezing Sweetcorn
Post by: wardy on July 24, 2005, 19:17:30

Some of my sweetcorn have multi stems.  Is that normal?