sweetcorn

[Karen Atkinson]

is it time to pick or a bit early?

[Karen Atkinson]

[Stevens706]

It really depends when you sowed them, if the tassels have turned brown pull back the husk a little, then pierce one of the corns with your nail, if there is a milky discharge then they are ready. Mine were sown 26th April and I harvested them last week.

[Karen Atkinson]

Thanks - will check. Can I put them straight into the freezer if they're all ripe? Do I need to do anything special to prepare them for this?

[cleo]

I do blanch mine before freezing but only for a few seconds in boiling water and then immediately plunge them into ice cold water.

Whether that is necessary I cannot be sure it`s just what I do

[beanie3]

I do exactly the same as cleo.

Blanch for a few mins, plunge into freezing cold water, thoroughly dry and straight into the freezer.

[realfood]

It is best to blanch as it kills any bacteria and stops the enzyme action.

[plainleaf]

the proper blanching time for corn is 3 minutes. then  2 minutes in ice water.
the corn need to reach a certain temperature for blanching to have the desired effect.  A few seconds in the boiling water is not enough.

[Karen Atkinson]

so I'm assuming everyone takes off all the outer coverings before blanching?

[Morris]

It depends how much you have.  I freeze mine successfully by stripping kernels off cobs and putting straight into freezer unblanched.  Cook from frozen like peas, very good taste.

But I don't have enough to last much beyond Christmas :(