Freeze boiled or raw corn for the winter. Freezing corn beans

I really love corn and various dishes with it: salads, soups, pies, etc. But bad luck, where I live, for some reason it’s very difficult to find frozen corn, regardless of the time of year, it’s just not on sale and that’s it! Therefore, for my favorite dishes I often have to buy canned corn, and this is not always right. For this reason, I decided to do the harvesting myself and freeze the corn for the winter.

The method is very simple: the corn is first blanched, quickly cooled, the grains are cut off and frozen. And now at any time you can diversify your diet with these cereals. At the same time, you can safely stick the “Non-GMO” label on a bag of your own frozen corn :), because this is corn grown in your own or your grandmother’s garden, and not brought from distant continents.

Total cooking time – 15 minutes

Active cooking time – 15 minutes

How to Freeze Corn

Ingredients:

Corn– as desired (on the cob – as much as needed)

Preparation:

For freezing, it is better to select young cobs that do not require long-term cooking. Boil water in a large bowl. Place a few cobs in it. You shouldn’t put a lot at once, because... you want the boil to resume as quickly as possible. So, bring the water with the corn cobs to a boil and cook for 5-7 minutes.

Prepare another large container in advance, which you will fill ice water. Remove corn from boiling water and immediately plunge into ice water.

But the period of consumption of this product is fresh quite short - unfortunately, store young heads of cabbage for a long time fails. But you can extend the period of corn consumption until the next one if you know how to properly freeze corn for the winter in grains and on the cob. You can then use it in salads, side dishes, or simply eat it boiled, just like fresh.

Benefits of freezing

The advantages of this process of harvesting heads of cabbage for the winter are:

maximum preservation of vitamins and useful substances contained in corn;
year-round consumption of fresh;
significant savings, since prices are winter period on fresh cobs very high, and they cannot be found everywhere;
options for types and further use of the product. Due to the fact that it can be prepared both in grains and in cobs, the possibilities of its use for various dishes.

Preliminary preparation

To freeze this product, necessary prepare sugar cobs, while their maturity should be average. If you take corn that is not yet ripe, the taste will be worse. If you choose overripe grains, the grains will not have the juiciness and taste for which we love this product so much.

Freshly picked cobs should be frozen, because long-term storage spoils the taste - due to the fact that the sugar contained in the grains turns into a starchy substance.

You need to select the cobs carefully. There should be no signs of damage or rotten formations on the surface.

Before freezing, remove the leafy and hairy parts of the cob, wash it well and dry it with a paper towel.

Did you know? Corn became known to the world thanks to the Mexicans, who domesticated it and began growing it approximately 10 thousand years BC. e (the exact period is unknown). There are facts indicating that 55 thousand years ago corn was grown in Mexico, as pollen was discovered and its age was established. IN European countries Corn appeared thanks to Christopher Columbus, who brought its grains there.

Freezing on the cob

There are several ways to freeze cabbage heads for the winter. Let's look at them in detail.

No pre-treatment

First, let's look at how to freeze corn on the cob for the winter without pre-cooking. This method is the simplest and fastest. When you have selected the necessary heads of cabbage, you should remove the leaves, cut the stem, and remove all hairs. When the cobs are well washed and dried, they are placed in zip-up bags or ordinary plastic bags, tightly closed and sent to the freezer for freezing and storage.

The method is very popular because it is less time-consuming, but at the same time, the cobs take up a lot of space. This preparation option not suitable for those who have a small freezer.

Blanched

This method of freezing is more time-consuming, but allows you to eat the product immediately after it is defrosted.
The blanching method can be called a kind of “hardening” of the product before going into the freezer, which allows you to preserve the appetizing taste as much as possible. appearance and usefulness.

During this procedure, peeled corn cobs should be Immerse in boiling water and boil for 5 minutes, then quickly transfer them into a saucepan with maximum cold water, to which add ice cubes.

Important! While the corn is in boiling water or cold water It is necessary to ensure that the cobs are completely immersed in water, then the cooking and cooling process occurs evenly.

Let the heads of cabbage cool in cold water for about 3 minutes, after which you need to dry them well with a paper towel.

Place the cobs in the freezer in a spare bag or plastic bag.

Freezing grains

The main advantage of such freezing is the fact that you save maximum space in the freezer and can prepare much more corn than on the cob.

The disadvantage of this method is the longer process of preparatory work before sending it to the freezer.

Let's consider step by step process raw grain preparations for freezing:

The first thing to do is to free the cobs from leaves and hair.
Wash all the heads well and dry them with a paper towel.
On a cutting board, using a sharp knife, you should cut the grains from the head of cabbage - as carefully as possible, making smooth movements, starting from the top of the cob and going down.
The grains are transferred to a spare bag or plastic container and placed in freezer for freezing and further storage.

Did you know? Corn is not only yellow or white, which we are used to seeing. There are varieties in the world with red, purple, black grains, and the most original can rightfully be called a multi-colored variety called “Glass Gem”.

You can also freeze the grains after blanching them.
Advantage this method is the fact that the grains can be immediately used for cooking, without preliminary heat treatment. But at the same time, this freezing option is considered the longest.

Let's consider the step-by-step process of preparing grains for freezing in this way:

The first thing to do is to clean the corn cobs from leaves and hair, wash them well and dry them with paper towels.
Next, you need to place the heads of cabbage in boiling water - so that the water completely covers them - and boil for 5 minutes.
While the grains are cooking, you should take care in advance to prepare a container of cold water and ice cubes.
After 5 minutes, you should quickly transfer the heads of cabbage to a container with cold water and ice.
After the workpiece has cooled completely, which will last about 2 minutes, remove it from the water and dry it well with a paper towel.
On a cutting board, using the sharpest knife possible, cut the grains from the cob, starting at the top and gradually moving down.
Pour the grains into spare bags or plastic containers, put in the freezer for freezing and further storage.

How long can you store

Those who have at least once frozen vegetables or fruits know how to store them in order to extend their shelf life, but let’s take a closer look at how to store corn in the freezer for the winter.

Frozen vegetables usually have a shelf life of one year, but this product is an exception and can only be stored in the freezer for no more than 8 months, regardless of whether it was blanched or not, whether it was on the cob or in grains.

Important! It must be taken into account that it is strictly not recommended to re-freeze a bag of grains that has already been thawed once, so it is necessary to pack it in such a way that the entire bag is used at a time.

How to defrost correctly

Defrost corn that has previously been blanched (whether it is on the cob or in kernels). Microwave recommended, turning on the defrost mode.
Also, defrosting methods depend on how you plan to use the frozen product in the future. If you add grains to a soup, side dish, or other dish that will undergo a heat treatment process, then the preparation you don't have to defrost, and add it frozen.

When the mass harvest of corn begins, there is a specific aroma of boiled corn in the market or in many apartments. And it seems like it will always be like this. But winter is coming, and corn can only be bought in canned or frozen, a bag of which is not cheap.

But you can freeze corn at home. Of course, if you have a spacious freezer. And then you can enjoy boiled corn all winter, and also prepare delicious and healthy dishes from it.

Corn lends itself well to freezing, and it is almost impossible to spoil it with this method of harvesting for future use.

Preparing corn for freezing

Cobs of sugar corn varieties of milky-waxy ripeness are suitable for freezing until the grain has hardened.

If the corn is not ripe enough, the grains will not be as tasty. And if the corn is overripe and the grains have become hard, then no amount of cooking will help fix it.

For freezing, recently harvested corn cobs are used, since the taste of corn deteriorates significantly during long-term storage. This happens because the sugars contained in the grains gradually turn into starch.

If pre-boiled corn is frozen, then cobs of late milk ripeness are also suitable.

The cobs must not be damaged by pests or disease. They should not show signs of rot.

Before freezing, the stem is cut off from the cobs, the leaves and hairs are torn off. Then the cobs are washed well and placed on a towel to drain the water.

Sometimes a few leaves are left on the cob so that the cob is wrapped in them. To do this, the top leaves are torn off, the rest are bent outward, the hairs are torn off, and then the leaves are returned to their place.

How to Freeze Corn on the Cob

Method 1. The stem of the cob is cut off, the leaves are torn off, and the hairs are removed. The cob is washed well and dried on a towel.

Dry corn cobs - several pieces or individually - are packaged in plastic bags, tied or zipped, after removing the air from the bag, and placed in the freezer for freezing.

Method 2. The prepared cobs are dipped into boiling water and blanched for about half a minute.

Then take out the corn and immediately immerse it in ice water for about the same time. Thanks to these actions, the corn cools quickly, and the grains do not wrinkle or become deformed.

The cobs are then dried on a towel and then packed into zip-lock plastic bags or tied and placed in the freezer.

Before use, unblanched frozen ears of corn can be immersed in boiling water without defrosting and cooked until the grains are soft. Cooking time (25-40 minutes) depends on the degree of maturity and type of corn.

If the cobs were blanched before freezing, then before eating it is enough to put them in boiling salted water and simply bring to a boil. Or boil for a few more minutes until the grains are soft.

How to freeze corn kernels

To do this, corn on the cob is dipped in boiling water and blanched for five to seven minutes. Then the cobs are immediately transferred to a bowl of ice water, kept for about five minutes, removed and dried on a towel.

Thanks to this method, the corn kernels are easily separated from the cob.

The grains are separated from the cob in two ways.

Method 1. Using a sharp knife, cut the grains along the cob, being careful not to touch it.

Method 2. The grains are husked by hand. Although this procedure is long, the grains turn out intact. This method is good if you freeze one or two cobs. But when freezing corn in large quantities, it is better (and easier) to use the first method.

The prepared grains are laid out in one layer on a tray and placed in the freezer for 1-2 hours.

When the grains are frozen, they are poured into portioned bags, tied well or sealed. For quick freezing, the bags are given a flat shape. Then they are placed in the freezer for further storage.

Corn kernels can be frozen in one go. To do this, pour enough grains into the bag so that they lie in one layer. The bag is well closed and put in the freezer. This method will prevent the grains from freezing to each other.

When frozen corn kernels are needed for cooking, they will not need to be cooked for long, since they have already been pre-cooked. heat treatment. Without defrosting, they are placed in boiling water and brought to readiness.

Corn kernels can be cooked in microwave oven or in a slow cooker, using any recipe you like.

Shelf life of frozen corn is 6-8 months.

Corn, like all other vegetables, cannot be re-frozen. Therefore, it is immediately packaged in such a way that it can be used in one go.

Frozen corn is cooked in the same way as fresh corn. The only difference is that frozen corn cooks faster.

To freeze corn for the winter, you can choose any of the methods proposed above, since they all retain the beneficial properties of the corn and do not affect its taste.

With the advent of large freezers, many housewives began to freeze fruits and vegetables for the winter, preserving maximum freshness and vitamins in them.

Here we will look at several options for freezing corn for the winter so that you can use it in a variety of homemade dishes until almost next summer. Cereal crops not only have excellent sweetish taste, but also contains more than 26 elements necessary for our health.

Preparing corn for freezing

For long-term storage in the freezer, it is best to choose medium-ripe cobs. Unripe corn does not have the proper flavor and is too soft. Overripe ones become tough and lose their juiciness. It is advisable to take fresh, recently harvested cobs. Corn can be stored for quite a long time, but every day the sugar it contains gradually turns into starch.

It is necessary to remove the leaves from the cob and clean them of hairs. Each corn should be carefully inspected for rotten or damaged kernels.

Regardless of which freezing option is used, the cobs are washed under water and dried by placing them on a towel.

How to preserve corn for the winter, freezing methods

There are no difficulties in freezing corn methods. Following simple rules, any housewife can do useful preparations for the winter. In addition to the cereal itself, you will need special or regular plastic bags. Some options use food-grade plastic containers.

Freezing whole cobs without processing

This is the simplest and easiest way to freeze corn. The only negative is that whole cobs take up a lot of space. The method is suitable for those who have a fairly spacious freezer.

After all the cobs are cleaned, washed and dried, they are put into bags, tightly closed and put in the freezer. Depending on the intended use, you can put 3-4 cobs in a bag or one at a time.

In winter, corn is simply removed from the bag, thawed and used in recipes. Many people simply boil the cobs and eat them as is.

Freezing boiled cobs

This method is suitable for those who are interested in the question of how to store boiled corn. The prepared cobs are placed in a pan of boiling salted water and cooked until tender. It is very important here not to overcook the corn, otherwise its grains will turn into “porridge”.

Prepare ice cubes and a pan of cold water in advance. As soon as the corn is cooked, it is removed from the boiling water and immersed in ice. This allows you to maintain the hardness and juiciness of the grains. It is important that all the cobs are immersed evenly in cold water.

After 5 minutes, the heads of cabbage are removed from the water and allowed to drain well. Then they are wiped with paper towels, packaged in bags and put in the freezer. Once removed from the freezer and thawed, the cooked cobs are ready to eat.

Freezing grains

Is it possible to freeze corn for long-term storage without cobs? Of course, it is possible and this is also done easily and quickly. This option significantly saves space in the refrigerator.

To make it easier to remove the kernels from the cob, it is recommended to use a knife. Place the head of cabbage on a cutting board and scrape off all the grains with a knife. If desired, you can separate them manually.

The grains are placed in bags or containers and placed in the freezer.

You can also pre-boil them and freeze them in finished form. The advantage of heat-treated corn is that after thawing it is completely ready for use.

Shelf life of frozen corn

Raw corn stored for the winter, which was frozen in the summer, can be stored for a year. But taking into account that it is at a stable temperature and is not subject to repeated thawing and subsequent freezing.

For convenience, lay out the cobs or peeled grains in portions. Defrost vegetable preparations best naturally with room temperature. In cases where you need to save time, you can defrost corn in the microwave.

How to cook frozen corn

Cobs or grains frozen raw are cooked in the same way as fresh corn. It is necessary to thaw the cereal a little and throw it into boiling salted water. Cooking time depends on the type of corn, its maturity and can take from 25 to 40 minutes.

The grain is used in a wide variety of dishes: salads, soups, vegetable stew, as independent side dish.

Now you know how to freeze corn for the winter, and you can choose the method you like. Cereal is included in the menu of many dietary dishes and is especially useful for people watching their figure. In addition to the fact that corn is rich in vitamins and minerals, it perfectly cleanses the intestines thanks to high content fiber.

Corn is everyone's favorite cereal crop. Its benefits for the human body are simply invaluable, and its amazing taste enhances any dish. To enjoy it at any time of the year, you need to know how to prepare corn for the winter. This must be done according to certain rules, choosing the method that suits you.

This storage method is the most successful. Of course, it can be preserved, but only frozen grains retain their taste, juiciness and benefits.

All humanity knows about beneficial properties corn. Even in ancient times people appreciated medicinal properties maize, which formed the basis of their daily diet.

Modern people evaluate food solely by its taste, but corn kernels do not give up here either. A striking example is everyone's favorite canned corn, as well as popcorn. Many people associate the taste of these yellow grains with a vacation at the seaside, where, lying on the warm sand, you can enjoy hot, milky corn. Boiled cobs They still remain a summer delicacy, but sometimes you want to nibble on them on a winter evening while watching your favorite movie.

Ways to dry corn for the winter

You can save corn for the winter and prolong the pleasure, eating maize at any time of the year. Experienced cooks We have a few secrets for storing cereal crops in the autumn-winter period. An excellent storage method is freezing. It does not deprive the grain of its taste and beneficial properties.

You can freeze in several ways:

boiled;
in heads of cabbage;
in grains.

Either option will not take much time and does not require special effort. Corn can spend from a year to a year and a half in the freezer, and the cold will not affect its quality in any way.

Preparing the cobs

Whatever storage method is chosen, the preparation will be exactly the same. In addition, the result directly depends on the quality of the raw materials. That is why you should carefully choose the product for storage, and it is better to give preference to sugar, ripe varieties.

Corn should be without visible damage and wormholes.

When cleaning corn cobs, the first step is to remove all leaves and fibers. After this, you need to cut off the top tip, and then rinse the corn thoroughly in cold water. Dry the cobs well with a paper towel.

Now the cereals are completely ready for final processing.

Cob harvesting methods

This method is suitable for those lovers of the delicacy who want to boil fresh heads of cabbage on a winter evening and rub them with salt.

The simplest is the dry method. There is practically nothing to do. Prepared and dry heads of cabbage should be wrapped in cling film or paper. You can simply distribute the heads of cabbage one bag at a time and put this splendor in the freezer. When the desire to taste corn strikes, you just need to defrost it in the microwave and then cook it in the usual way.

The second hardening method involves some difficulties, but maize frozen in this way will be as fresh after defrosting.

The trick is in the blanching. In other words, this is the hardening of the grains. To do this you need:

dip the cobs in boiling water for 10 seconds;
immediately place them in ice water.

After these manipulations, the heads of cabbage should be dried with a paper towel and placed in plastic bags. Packaged corn can be safely stored in the freezer.

Freezing grains

In most cases, housewives prefer the method of freezing corn in bulk at home. Such grains are very convenient to use for preparing various dishes (soups, salads, snacks).

Such preparations do not need to be cooked for a long time., because they go into the freezer after heat treatment. In fact, it will freeze boiled corn. The main thing is to prepare it correctly.