Sweetcorn

[telboy]

Hi all,
How many minutes do you blanch your cobs prior to cooling & freezing?

[telboy]

[Jeannine]

Husk, de silk, wash and sort for size

Small ears , less than1 1/4 iches in diameter 7 minutes
Medium to 1 1/2 ins 9 mins
Large over  1 1/2 ins   11 mins.

Cool in ice cold water

Above is the  answer to you question but...

This is one  of only two veg that I don't blanch , I treat them as follows.

Pull out some of the silks but leave the husk on, freeze immediately.

There are many folks in the US who do their corn like that.

You can also freeze off the cob, but blanch first then strip the kernel, they come off easier that way. Just blanch for 4 minutes. Then freeze as you would peas.

XX Jeannine

[Deb P]

I have just spent a happy hour stripping the kernels off of what remains of my corn harvest, a messy business but now all in the freezer! ;D

[izzywizz]

I plunged mine in boiling water for 3min. Then when you defrost them you only need cook them for 5min or so.Yummy.

[N8R]

we cooked ours on the hot coals of a fire then striped the leaves of when done absolutely beautiful ...

[telboy]

Thanks all.
Jeannine,
I've heard about freezing with the husks on. I trust that the cobs would need to be in a freezer bag prior to freezing?
11 mins seems to be a long time, in the past I have blanched for 5 mins & then cooked after partial thaw for 5 mins.
Let me know your thoughts?

[Jeannine]

Hi, I quoted you from a US book called Preserving, Freezing and Putting Foods By but have never personally done it.  The reason   for the lengthy time is because the blanching heat has to penetrate the centre of the cob which is why I go with the cob with it's coat on.

I freeze them on a tray then pack them into freezer bags when solid.

It has always worked well for me and I keep them till the next crop.

XX Jeannine