Like most vegetables, corn tastes best when you shuck it and cook it just before eating.
It’s because shucked corn dries out and loses its natural sweetness the longer it’s left out.
But can you shuck corn ahead of time?
Shucking Corn in Advance
The ideal way to consume corn is to eat it the same day you buy it.
If this isn’t possible, the alternative is to store unhusked loose ears in the refrigerator and use them within two days. However…
You can shuck corn ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it. Though the flavor will not be the same, you can shuck the ears, remove the silk, and either blanch the kernels or freeze the cut kernels until you need them.
8 Different Ways to Store Corn for Later Use
Freshly picked and cooked corn has a unique flavor.
The best way to retain the flavors of corn is to buy it unpeeled and store it whole.
Once you peel the husk, even if it’s to check the kernels, the corn starts drying out.
When you expose the corn to air, the natural sugar will also start turning into starch, reducing the sweetness of the corn.
Let’s now look at the different ways to store corn.
1. Avoid buying shucked corn.
Many corn buyers pull back the husk to peek at the kernels before buying corn.
However, peeling the husk exposes the kernels to air, and they start to dry.
So we don’t recommend buying corn with its kernels exposed.
You can gently squeeze the ears to feel the texture. Look for sticky brown silk to identify fresh corn.
The color of the husk will also help you identify top-quality corn. It will be dark green and tightly wrapped.
2. Store it whole on the counter for a day.
Corn tastes best when you cook it on the day of harvest. If you can’t do that, store it on the counter for a day.
However, make sure that the corn is un-shucked and whole. The husk will protect the kernels from drying.
It will also prevent the natural sugars from changing into starch and losing their sweetness.
We don’t recommend storing whole corn on the counter for longer than 24 hours since it will eventually start drying out.
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3. Leave the husks on and refrigerate.
If you can’t use the corn within a day of bringing it home, refrigerate it.
The cold environment of the refrigerator will slow down the conversion of sugar to starch and keep the corn fresh for longer.
The best way to put the corn in the refrigerator is with the husks on.
This will slow down the loss of moisture and prevent it from becoming dry.
However, whole corn can be very bulky and difficult to place in the refrigerator.
If you don’t have enough space, remove a few of the outer leaves. However, retain the inner layers of the husk.
Use the corn in the next two to three days before it loses all of its natural flavors.
4. Wrap the corn in a bag.
The main problem with refrigerating corn is that it loses moisture.
Even when you store it with the husk, it will lose some moisture.
Once it dries, the flavor changes, and it will no longer taste fresh.
You can prevent this issue by wrapping the corn in a bag.
Keep the internal layers of the husk intact and wrap the corn in an airtight bag.
The bag will form an extra layer of protection and slow down the drying process.
5. Store the corn in an airtight box.
An alternative to storing unhusked corn in an airtight bag is using an airtight box.
Find a box that is just bigger than the unhusked corn.
You can peel a few outer layers if you can’t find a box that perfectly fits. Leave the innermost layers of husk on.
Then place the whole corn inside the box.
Place the lid in position and ensure that there are no gaps for air or moisture to enter.
The corn will hold up in the refrigerator for two to three days.
However, the flavor deteriorates the longer you wait. So use it as early as possible.
6. Shuck and freeze.
If you want the corn to last much longer, the only way is to store it in the freezer.
However, it’s not a good idea to freeze whole corn. You must shuck it before freezing.
Always freeze corn as soon as you bring them home to keep the flavors from deteriorating.
The easiest way to shuck the corn is to remove the silk and the husk first.
You will be left with the ears and the corn kernels.
Run it under water to get rid of the sticky silk. Then, bag it in an airtight bag.
Press the bag on all sides to eliminate any trapped air. Then, secure it and place it in the freezer.
Frozen corn ears hold up for several weeks. Take them out and thaw them completely before use.
7. Blanch and freeze.
Another alternative to freezing shucked corn is to blanch the corn before freezing.
There is an advantage to this approach.
Blanching slows down the enzymatic reactions in the corn.
This helps it retain its original flavor, color, and texture.
You can blanch it whole or after shucking for freezing.
However, it’s essential to blanch the corn for just the right amount of time to ensure it holds up.
To blanch corn, prepare a large pot with boiling water. Drop the corn into the water so that it’s fully submerged.
The ears should remain in the pot for six minutes for proper blanching.
After this time elapses, transfer the corn into a tub with ice.
Then, dry them completely before placing in an airtight bag and freezing them.
You can blanch corn in the microwave too. In this case, each ear will need two to three minutes to cook.
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8. Freeze the cut corn kernels.
If you don’t have enough space to store whole corn ears in the freezer, you can freeze the cut corn kernels instead.
However, the flavor of the corn will go down once it’s taken off the cob.
So we advise this method only if you don’t have another option.
To freeze the cut corn, cut the kernels off the cob by holding it upright.
Promptly transfer it to an airtight or freezer-safe bag.
Squeeze out the excess air and place it in the freezer immediately.
Freeze them flat to prevent the kernels from clumping together.
The other alternative is to blanch the corn kernels after removing them from the cob.
Transfer the kernels to a pot of boiling water and let it boil for two to three minutes.
Then dunk them in ice-cold water for a minute to stop further cooking.
Dry the kernels completely before putting them in an airtight bag.
Squeeze out the excess air, seal the corn, and place it in the freezer compartment.
You can thaw the frozen corn overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours on the countertop when you wish to use it.
