So do you have a favorite summertime veggie?
I do… and it’s fresh corn on the cob.
Here we are, approaching mid-September and locally-grown corn on the cob is still available at my grocery store.
But it won’t be long before the store bins of delicious freshness will disappear right along with the changing season.
With that in mind, I decided to ensure that I’ll be able to enjoy my fresh corn… well into winter.
Just like The Little Red Hen, socking away her food for winter, I did the same with about 30 ears of corn.
When I was a young girl, my grandmother used to sauté freshly-cut corn in a big black, well-seasoned cast iron skillet.
She would always add a bit of butter, a pinch of salt and a few sprinkles of black pepper.
Simple recipe and amazingly delicious.
I want that flavor all year long.
Even though corn can be frozen on the cob, I decided to preserve these ears cut off the cob, just like grandma used to make.
I dropped the ears into boiling water for about 3 minutes and then, immediately drop the cobs into ice water.
Blanching (boiling) and cooling has several benefits:
- Helps to preserve the texture and taste of the corn.
- Helps to remove any surface dirt which may have slipped through the blades.
- Deactivates the natural enzymes which can contribute to spoiling.
- The ice bath helps to halt the heating process.
OK, I gotta admit it may sound a little weird but I think there’s actually something a little therapeutic about cutting corn off the cob.
Got thirty ears and a good knife… no problem.
In case you’re wondering, what thirty ears of corn will yield… I ended up fully filling up 6 quart-size freezer bags.
That’s a whopping 24 cups of deliciousness for upcoming winter dinners.
Now, that’s some big Little Red Hen numbers.
Thanks so much for popping by.
Good luck with your Little Red Hen efforts.
I’ll see you back here next time.♥
I have always cut it off of the cob, baked it in the oven with butter, and half and half, salt and pepper. Then I let it cool and bag it. So my question is, will the end product be the same as yours?
Hi Missy, I have never made my corn like you have but yours sure sounds delicious.
Your process doesn’t sound that far off from mine.
I cook mine on the stove, you do yours in the oven.
Seems similar enough to me.
I like seeing you carry on a family tradition. Of course, your grandmother froze corn picked from her own garden. Her mother, your great-mother Eva canned home-grown corn in dozens of pint-size jars for winter meals. There is something satisfying and comforting about “putting food by” – thanks for the post. Nana
Thanks for taking the time to leave me such an informative comment, Mum.
I have never frozen fresh corn and had no idea as to the process. We purchased a separate chest freezer so we could have our own berries & veggies this winter instead of grocery store produce. Thank you for the suggestion, we are really looking forward to this!
Fresh corn in winter is going to be great, Barbara.
Let me know how yours turns out.
Happy day to you.
I cut mine off cob then blanch it which gives same result. Years ago, I tried freezing on cob hoping it would be like eating a fresh ear in summer but it didn’t. We did 200 ears this summer which seems like a lot but I’ll probably run out before winter’s over. I fix it in cast iron skillet like your grandma and sometimes will add a little milk or cream for cream of corn. Also use it for fixing homemade salsa and gullah caviar.