It’s one of nature’s sweetest gifts and is packed full of goodness, but what happens if you’ve shucked a few too many cobs and have an abundance of sweetcorn that you don’t know what to do with.
Can You Freeze Sweetcorn?
Yes, you can freeze sweetcorn for up to 12 months. For the best results when freezing sweetcorn, blanch it for a minute in boiling water before bagging it up and freezing it.
Do Does Sweetcorn freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Sweetcorn? No
How To Freeze Sweetcorn
In this section, we’re going to take a look at two methods for freezing corn. For both methods, you’ll need your corn kernels to be removed from the cob so that’s the first step you need to take.
You then need to decide which of the following two methods to use for freezing:
How to Freeze Sweetcorn without Blanching
If you’re pushed for time then this is the method to follow. It is not, however, a method we would advise if you do have the time to blanch it beforehand:
- Portion Into Bags: Grab some freezer bags and spoon your sweetcorn into the bags. You’ll want to freeze them in portions so consider how much corn you will use at a time. There is a chance that the kernels will all stick together here.
- Seal Tightly: Seal the bags up, removing as much air as possible. You can do this using a straw to suck out the excess air.
- Freeze: Place the bags into the freezer.
As you can tell, this is a very easy method.
The problem is that the texture will change almost instantly when frozen. That’s why it can be better to consider blanching your sweetcorn before freezing – a method we have outlined below:
How to Freeze Sweetcorn with Blanching
- Blanch Sweetcorn; Bring a large pot of water to the boil and then blanch your sweetcorn for just 1 minute. Drain immediately and then tip into a bowl of ice-cold water to stop any further cooking.
- Cool Then Bag: Allow your sweetcorn to cool before portioning into freezer bags.
- Seal and Freeze: Seal the bags up, removing as much air as possible, as always. Then place these bags into the freezer.
Of course, blanching sweetcorn before you freeze it does take a little extra effort and time. But the benefits of doing so make it worthwhile.
You’ll find blanching will look in the texture and flavour of your sweetcorn far better. You’ll also find it less watery than the other options for freezing it.
3 Tips for Freezing Sweetcorn
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing sweetcorn to have the best results:
Blanch It Beforehand
Blanching has a number of benefits which is why we would advise doing so if time allows. It will help the sweetcorn to retain its texture, colour and flavour.
Shake the Bag
Once the bag has been in the freezer for 30 minutes or so, give it a vigorous shake to ensure none of the sweetcorn kernels clumps together. It won’t prevent all sticking but it can help.
Mix with Other Veggies
If you want to create ready-to-go bags of veggies then try freezing sweetcorn with other vegetables such as peas, chopped carrots or broccoli florets.
How Long Can You Freeze Sweetcorn?
Sweetcorn will remain of high quality in the freezer for a surprisingly long time. In fact, you can keep your sweetcorn frozen for up to a year.
As always, do your best to label the bags with the contents and either the date it was frozen or the date it needs to be consumed by.
Once peeled and prepared, sweetcorn will only keep for around 24 hours in the fridge. If you can leave it intact, however, this will be extended to around 4 days.
How Do You Defrost Sweetcorn?
It’s further surprising news! Because you don’t actually need to defrost your sweetcorn – even if you have frozen it on the cob.
If you have frozen corn on the cob, submerge the ears into boiling water and cook for around 4 minutes until it is done to your liking. You can then strip the corn off the cob or you can grill the cobs to give them some colour and enjoy (smothered in butter, of course).
If you have frozen blanched or unblanched sweetcorn then you can use it straight in a pan to warm through. It’ll take just a matter of minutes to thaw and then warm up.
Can You Refreeze Sweetcorn?
This is not something we would recommend. Refreezing your sweetcorn can cause the texture to break down at a rapid rate. You may find yourself left with unenjoyable, watery sweetcorn that you don’t want to eat.
Instead, try to only remove the amount you know you’ll eat from the freezer.
Does Sweetcorn Freeze Well?
Sweetcorn, like a lot of vegetables, freezes remarkably well. If you don’t blanch your sweetcorn, there is a chance you will notice a texture change and the flavour may become a little milder.
But if you can spend a little time blanching it, you’ll be hard pushed to spot the difference between frozen and fresh sweetcorn.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing sweetcorn or corn in general, then these may help:
It’s possible to freeze sweetcorn fritters and it is perfectly safe to do so. But don’t expect them to have the same texture. When you eat them fresh, they’ll have a delicious crunch but once frozen, this will be lost and they can become a little squidgy.
First of all, if you haven’t opened your tin of sweetcorn then it will last in the cupboard for months and months. If you find yourself often using half a standard-sized tin then try to buy the small, half-sized tins. That way you will definitely avoid any unwanted waste. Having said that, you can freeze tinned sweetcorn using the method we have outlined above.
Baby corn can be frozen. Blanch it for a few minutes, drain and dry then spread out onto a baking tray. Freeze this tray of baby corn. Once frozen, tip into a bag and then store in the freezer until you need it.
