This Summer, at a farmers market, we scored some great deals on ears of corn, four ears for a dollar. 25 cents each...they might be cheaper elsewhere but it seemed a good deal!
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| Fresh corn |
This is how we preserve our corn.
We put it in the microwave, still inside the husk, for about three minutes on high. This par-cooks it and makes the shucking process really easy.
Next, we slice off one end, grab the husk on the other other end and pull...
...and the husks and silks just pull right off. The steam while it microwaves makes them separate from the cob and thus, much easier to shuck. You might have to peel some by hand but it's so much simpler.
We cut them in half...
...and get the vacuum sealer out.
We put six to a bag (that gives us the equivalent of 1 1/2 ears each for a meal, that's plenty for us) and tuck a bit of butter inside with them. Since these bags can be boiled or microwaved straight from the freezer, this makes it much easier to cook later on. You could even season them at this point.
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| Vacuum sealed fresh corn |
And voila!
Done...par-cooked...cut...buttered...and vacuum sealed. I think we ended up with about ten bags like this. If we had a bigger freezer we'd do more but this will give us a bit of fresh Summer corn in the middle of Winter and that's always a nice thing. We'll just have to spread it out to a couple times per month.
Isn't it nice to eat Summer food in Winter?
Corn in the winter s almost better than in summer! It looks delicious. I like best to have quarts of tomatoes canned for soup in the winter. The next best thing is canned Elberta peaches.
ReplyDeletepparsimony
Didn't know about the microwave. I love my vacuum sealer. One tip: if you grow your own some day, it will take up much less room in the freezer if you cut it off the cob first. Lots of cobs take up lots of space. Nothing better than sweet corn.
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea. Never heard of this method in the past. Looks so good. I would love to have some right now. I enjoy all aspects of your blog. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteCorn frozen on the cob can sometimes develops a cobby flavor or becomes mushy.
ReplyDeleteIf not blanching the corn on the cob first only if you know you’ll eat frozen corn within two or three months. For longer storage, blanch.
The rate you're going you may have to consider on getting yourself a small freezer
I am going to try this. I like the idea of buttered corn straight from the freezer, and you're right. That summer taste in the middle of the winter is divine!
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to be able to source lovely healthy, fresh produce.....so much better than anything you can buy at the supermarket. We are very fortunate here as we are 1 hour drive from 'the food bowl' a huge district where some fruit and most of our vegetables are grown. The local farmers markets are amazing and the number of organic suppliers is increasing all the time.
ReplyDeleteYour method of storing corn is genius, sooo quick and easy when needed for a meal. I personally would steam not microwave .
A good friend is an industrial chemist and he refuses to eat anything that has been microwaved, might be worth a bit of research to make decisions about the fuel for your body being beneficial not compromised.
Corn is pretty easy to grow I am sure you will try it soon, can't wait to see your outstanding crop now that you have your soil improved and watering system in place,sometimes there is even more than one variety that is suitable for your area
I love my Food Saver. I'm on my third one!
ReplyDeleteWhen our 5 kids were young, we would have them shuck the corn at canning/freezing time. They were willing to help because we told them if someone found an ear of corn with an uneven number of rows we would give hIm or her a new $50 dollar bill! Corn on the cob almost always has an even number of rows. We never had to pay!
ReplyDeletethats a great machine,, I like that!! Beautiful corn too!!
ReplyDeleteIs it safe to cook food in plastic?
ReplyDelete1st Man,
ReplyDeleteWe food save items from our garden, and special deals found at the grocery store. Our food saver works good with sealing up linens, and old books as well.