How to Freeze Corn on the Cob

Learn how to freeze corn on the cob so you can save your abundance of fresh corn! This method is easy and quick and much easier than canning.

Whether you have your own garden producing delicious fresh ears of corn or are looking to take advantage of some amazing store sales and get a bunch of corn for cheap, knowing how to preserve it for longer storage is vital for getting every nutritional and saved penny’s full value.

Freezing fresh corn on the cob is a little time-consuming in the process, but it is so worth the results! Just like store-bought frozen corn, when you’re ready to use this stuff, you can take it right out of the freezer and into the meal, without any additional steps.

So, in summary, spend a few minutes now to prepare and freeze the corn, save time and money later when you go to use the corn. Sounds fair.

How to freeze corn on the cob

1. Husk your corn and trim off each end if needed to remove any rot or stalk. (Or that spot at the top of the ear of corn where it didn’t fully develop).
2. Place your corn into a large pot of boiling water and blanch for 5 minutes, until the corn is bright yellow.
3. Remove them from the boiling water and place directly into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. 
4. Once it’s cooled enough that you can touch it, cut the corn off of the sobs. I recommend using a sharp knife and a cutting board with a lip, as this makes the process much easier.
5. Once the corn is all cut, divide it evenly into freezer bags. I like to do 1 or 2 cups worth in each bag because that’s generally how much I use in any recipe. (For reference, 1 cup is about the same amount that comes in a can).

How long can you freeze corn on the cob?

You can expect your corn to be good for up to 1 year in the freezer if you followed the above steps, but regularly cycling through your freezer inventory and properly dating packages can help to prevent food waste and freezer burn.

Do you have to blanch corn before freezing?

Giving your corn a quick boil before freezing is incredibly important. It helps to get off small bits of dirt and deactivates enzymes that could cause it to spoil. Every bag of frozen corn in the grocery store was blanched for consumer safety, so it’s good to continue this process at home as well.

Did you find this info helpful? If so, please share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!