Where and how to store corn on the cob at home: optimal conditions and shelf life

Corn is an amazing plant that was domesticated in North America several thousand years ago. Today, corn is not only eaten in almost every country, but also alcohol, paste, plastic, plaster, industrial filters and animal feed are made from this plant. Not only grains are used, but also leaves, stems and cobs.

Ripe corn kernels rich in vitamins and minerals. It is good to consume them all year round, but keeping the harvested ears fresh is not easy. Plucked fruits quickly lose their taste and deteriorate. Today we will tell you how to store corn on the cob at home correctly in order to maximize the shelf life of the product.

Which corn is suitable for long-term storage

Harvesting corn for the winter on the cob is the best way to store this vegetable... This approach keeps the beans sweet and tasty. However, it should be noted that storage on the cob requires much more space, especially with an impressive harvest.

Late varieties of corn are laid for long-term storage. The skin of the grains of such fruits is tough and allows you to preserve the properties of the product.

It is interesting! On an industrial scale, corn is stored on the cob. Even if they are sent for processing in the winter or spring of next year, they will retain all their qualities. This is how oil, molasses, starch, flour are obtained from the grains.

If you boil such corn after several months of storage, it will be almost the same as after harvestbut harsh and less sweet.

Features of storage of food and feed corn

Distinguish between food and forage crops. Food varieties have short, rounded, light beige fruits... The grains of such corn are sweeter and tastier, and their consistency is softer and juicier.

Fodder corn is distinguished by its large, long ears with bright yellow or orange grains. These varieties are closer to their wild ancestors. The grains of such corn are harder and fleshy, with a tough shell.

Under industrial conditions, the harvested cobs of edible corn are stored chilled for no more than 20 days (at a temperature of about 0 ° C). When the temperature rises to + 10 ° C, the grains lose more than 1.5% of sugars per day, and at temperatures of + 25 ° C ... + 30 ° C - up to half of the sugars per day. Within two days, such a product becomes unsuitable for human consumption.

Fodder varieties have better keeping quality. The ears, well prepared for storage, sorted, disinfected and cooled, are stored in special warehouses for several months.

How to store fresh corn on the cob

Storing fresh corn on the cob keeps the grain juicier and tastier than storing it in bulk. Depending on the chosen processing method, the shelf life of the product ranges from several days to one and a half years. Freshly harvested raw fruits are stored at home in several ways.

Vegetable preparation

Before storing a product, it is prepared.

Important! Corn intended for storage on the cob should not be washed.

First, the corn cobs are thoroughly cleaned of leaves and fibers.Damaged specimens are discarded. Then the fruits are laid out in plastic bags and put into the refrigerator in the fruit and vegetable section.

Storage space

Store fresh ears in a cool, dark place... This could be a refrigerator, cellar or basement.

Popcorn maize is not kept in the refrigerator. There the grains swell and the skin becomes soft. This negatively affects the popcorn making process.

Terms and conditions of storage

The shelf life of fresh corn at home depends on the quality of the original product.

On average, cobs are stored in the refrigerator for no more than 5-7 days. At the same time, during the first three days, the grains will be as sweet as freshly harvested. The taste of the product deteriorates with longer storage.

Other options for storing corn on the cob for the winter

In addition to fresh storage, corn cobs are canned, dried and exposed to freeze... Let's consider each of these methods in detail.

Canning

Canning corn on the cob for the winter is an unusual and delicious way to preserve golden fruits. Small cobs 10-15 cm long are used for conservation. They can be eaten together with the base. Young cobs are chosen for blanks sugar varieties with well-formed pips.

Here are some simple recipes.

Salted corn

This recipe is notable because it only needs salt, water, and young corn cobs. For 1 liter of water use 1 tbsp. l. salt with a slide.

Cooking process:

1. The cobs are boiled until tender and cooled.
2. The water is brought to a boil, salt is added and cooled.
3. Corn is placed vertically in prepared jars and poured with brine.
4. Banks are sterilized in boiling water for 1-2 hours (depending on the size of the ears and cans).
5. The workpieces are rolled up and cooled.

Pickled corn

Spicy food lovers will surely enjoy recipe using vinegar and spices. On a liter jar of blanks, five to six small cobs are taken, 1 tbsp each. l. salt and sugar, 3 tbsp. l. vinegar. Citric acid can be used instead of vinegar.

Cooking process:

1. Peeled cobs are placed in banks.
2. Salt, sugar and vinegar are added to each jar.
3. Pour cold water over the corn.
4. Banks are sterilized in boiling water.
5. The workpieces are rolled up and cooled.

Drying

Another way to preserve tasty and healthy fruits for the winter. The specimens to be dried are sorted out. Remove spoiled, wrinkled, with signs of decay. All the leaves are not removed with this storage method, you just need to open the grains.

Prepared heads of cabbage are hung in a dry dark room. The cobs are placed one at a time, in pairs or braiding several pieces with braids.

Dried corn is cooked in the same way as fresh corn.

Freezing

Fresh corn on the cob is easy to freeze. For this, the fruits are cleaned of leaves and fibers and sorted out. Tips with unripe seeds are cut off to save space in the freezer.

Before freezing, the selected ears are prepared. First, they are immersed in boiling water for two minutes, and then cooled for 1-2 minutes in ice water. Then dry it on a towel.

When the ears are dry, they are placed in plastic bags or wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in the freezer. So corn is stored for up to one and a half years without quality loss.

Storing corn on the cob at home (not long term)

Unfortunately, tasty and healthy corn doesn't keep well. How long does a fresh ear of corn last? At room temperature, it remains fresh for no longer than 10 hours. Refrigerated storage extends up to 5 days.

Important! It is impossible to save corn until the next harvest without freezing and canning.

When stored in the refrigerator, the ears retain their mild sweet taste for the first three days. Thereafter, the process of breaking down sugars makes the grains less sweet.

Popcorn maize is not kept in the refrigerator. The peel of the grains softens from excess moisture, and the yield of the finished product is significantly reduced.

Before cooking and after

Freshly harvested cobs are cleaned of leaves and fibers. Damaged and rotten grains are removed. Unwashed peeled corn cobs are packed in plastic bags or containers and sent to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

You can also store boiled fruits. They can be stored at room temperature for 10-12 hours.

In the refrigerator, boiled corn is kept wrapped in plastic wrap. Or put a pot of corn in the refrigerator, leaving the cobs in the water in which they were cooked. Boiled corn on the cob stays fresh for 2-3 days.

In addition, boiled corn is frozen. For this, the cobs are removed from the pan, cooled and dried. Then each is wrapped in plastic wrap and sent to the freezer.

When deep frozen in the freezer, the product is stored for several months. Before use, the ears are placed in a saucepan and boiled for 10 minutes.

Tips & Tricks

There are two main reasons for the reduced shelf life of ripe ears:

• violation of the product preparation technology (insufficient cleaning before storage, use of dirty containers, etc.);
• non-compliance with the recommended temperature and humidity indicators (humidity above 15% and temperature above 4 ° C).

Thus, compliance with the following recommendations will increase the shelf life of fresh and boiled product:

1. Clean cobs thoroughly before storing.
2. Store corn in an airtight container - lack of air access inhibits rotting processes.
3. Use clean, sterilized containers for canning.
4. If you decide to freeze a large batch of corn, be sure to sign the date of the freeze. Next season, last year's blanks will be easy to spot and use first.
5. Canned corn quickly deteriorates after the can is depressurized, therefore, after opening the blank, use its contents immediately.

Conclusion

You can save corn on the cob for a long time only by canning and freezing. In the refrigerator, raw and boiled heads of cabbage remain fresh for several days. And at room temperature, the product is stored for no more than 12 hours.