Baby corn is a delicious vegetable that’s very versatile. This vegetable can be eaten raw as a snack, sliced into salads, or cooked in soups and stir-fries. Baby corns are seasonal vegetables that are available during the fall. What if you harvest them and want to enjoy them throughout the year?
Can you freeze baby corn? Yes, you can freeze baby corn. To keep them fresh in the freezer for a long time, you will need to prepare them first. You can either blanch the baby corn or freeze them raw.
How To Freeze Baby Corn
When it comes to baby corn, there is some debate as to whether you need to blanch them first.
Blanching will require some time to prep baby corns for the freezer. However, it will last much longer in the freezer and retain its taste and texture.
On the other hand, you don’t need to blanch baby corns before freezing them. Doing so will cause them to have a shorter shelf life in the freezer.
As you can see, it all depends on how long you’re planning to store baby corns in the freezer.
Below are the two methods for freezing baby corns:
How To Freeze Blanched Baby Corn
- Start by cleaning your baby corn and remove the husk.
- Cut, slice, or leave the corn whole, whichever you prefer.
- In a pot, pour water halfway and heat it on the stove.
- Bring the water to a boil and toss the baby corns into the pot. Leave it for about 3 minutes.
- While the baby corns are cooking, prepare a bowl of ice water.
- After 3 minutes, scoop the baby corns and immediately place them into the ice water. This will stop the cooking process.
- Let it in the ice bath for about 5 minutes.
- Once it’s cooled down, remove them from the bowl and place them into a colander to let them drip dry.
- After a few minutes, using a clean paper towel, gently press on the corns to remove excess water from it.
- In a freezer bag, place the baby corns in there.
- Press on the bag to remove any excess air that’s in the bag.
- Seal the bag tight and label it with the freezing date.
- Place them into the freezer.
If you don’t want them to stick together, you can use the method of flash freezing them first.
Blanching baby corns will keep them fresh for up to 1 year in the freezer.
How To Freeze Raw Baby Corn
- Prepare the baby corns by removing the husk off them and thoroughly cleaning it.
- Place the corns into a colander and let them sit for about 10 minutes to drain excess water.
- Using a dry paper towel, gently press on the corns to remove any excess moisture on them.
- On a clean tray, lay a sheet of baking or wax paper on it.
- Spread the baby corns onto the tray, keeping them spaced out between each other.
- Place the tray of corns into the freezer. Flash freeze them for about 2-3 hours.
- Once it’s completely frozen, remove them from the freezer.
- Immediately transfer the baby corns into a freezer bag or an airtight container.
- If using a freezer bag, remove any excess air from the bag by pressing on it.
- Seal the bag or container tight.
- Label the bag or container with the freezing date and place them back into the freezer
Freezing raw baby corns will keep them fresh for up to 4 months. Make sure to use it within this time for the best quality.
How Long Can You Freeze Baby Corn?
Depending on if you blanched them first or not. By blanching baby corns first, they will remain fresh for a year in the freezer.
On the other hand, if you freeze raw baby corns, they will last for about 6-8 months.
Both blanched and fresh raw baby corn shelf life can be extended if the freezer temperature is kept at a constant 0 °F. For most people, that will be a bit difficult since the freezer will be constantly opened and closed.
Therefore, it’s recommended to use the baby corns within 1 year after freezing them.
How Do You Defrost Baby Corn?
The great thing about baby corns is that you really don’t need to defrost them for recipes like stir-fry and soup. You can simply remove the number of baby corns that you need from the freezer and throw them directly into the recipes while it’s cooking.
Another option to thaw baby corns if you are short on time is to boil them from frozen. Heat the water until it boils and place the baby corns in there for a couple of minutes.
If you are not in a rush, you can simply defrost the baby corn in the fridge. Place them into a bowl and leave it overnight. In the morning, the corns will be thawed and ready to use.
Can You Refreeze Baby Corn?
Refreezing baby corn isn’t recommended. By doing so, it could result in the vegetable becoming soft and mushy when it thaws.
Once you thaw the baby corn, you can leave them in the fridge for a couple of days before it starts to go bad. Make sure after it completely thaws, empties any excess water from the bowl to prevent the baby corns from soaking up the water and becoming soft.
Does Baby Corn Go Bad In The Freezer?
Baby corn can go bad in the freezer if it’s not properly stored, or it’s stored in the freezer for longer than a year.
These vegetables will need to be either stored in an airtight container or plastic bag. Make sure the container or bag is approved for freezer usage. The materials are made to withstand the freezing temperature of the freezer.
Also, it’s important that it is sealed tight. Air that leaks in could potentially cause damage to the corns. The longer the vegetable is stored in the freezer, the higher the chances of it getting freezer burn.
The shelf life of baby corns in the freezer is 6 to 12 months. After that time, the quality will slowly start to diminish. Baby corns will still be safe to eat, but you may not enjoy the taste of it.
Other Questions about Baby Corn
Can you freeze baby corn without blanching?
Blanching isn’t required, but it’s recommended for baby corn. By blanching the corns first, it will help retain the texture, taste, and nutrition while it’s stored in the freezer.
Almost all vegetables like carrots, celery, leeks, and lettuce should be blanched first before it’s stored in the freezer. However, for baby corns, you can freeze them without blanching, but they won’t stay fresh in the freezer for too long. Make sure to use them within 8 months for the best quality.