Do you need to blanch corn on the cob before you freeze it. if so, why?!
Do you need to blanch corn on the cob before you freeze it. if so, why?
Answers:
Feature Article
Blanch Vegetables Before Freezing
Karma Metzgar, C.F.C.S. Former Northwest Regional Nutrition Specialist
Nodaway County Extension Center, University Outreach and Extension
Every fresh sweet corn season I hear people telling others how to freeze their corn by just putting in the freezer-and it tastes fresh. Well…here’s the rest of the story!
Unless you are freezing onions or green peppers, blanching is a must before freezing vegetables.
What is blanching and why is it a must?
Blanching is the scalding of vegetables in boiling water or steam. Blanching slows or stops the action of enzymes. Up until harvest time, enzymes cause vegetables to grow and mature. If vegetables are not blanched, or blanching is not long enough, the enzymes continue to be active during frozen storage causing off-colors, off-flavors and toughening.
If you spend the time growing the vegetables, pulling weeds, picking and preparing for the freezer, the blanching time may be regarded as a pain-but it’s necessary if you want fresh garden flavor later.
Blanching time is crucial and varies with the vegetable and size of the pieces to be frozen. Under blanching speeds up the activity of enzymes and is worse than no blanching. Over blanching causes loss of flavor, color, vitamins and minerals.
The most convenient way to blanch vegetables is in a large kettle of boiling water. Allow one gallon of water per pound of vegetables. Bring the water to boil and lower vegetables into the water, allowing the water to continue boiling. Cover and start counting the blanching time. I like to use the side burner on my outdoor gas grill for this task. It keeps the heat and steam outside and my kitchen cool.
As soon as blanching is complete, cool the vegetables quickly and thoroughly to stop the cooking process. To cool, drain the vegetables in a strainer, then plunge the vegetables into a container of ice water. Cool vegetables for the same amount of time as they are blanched.
Drain thoroughly and freeze.
Source(s):
www.missourifamilies.com