To max out the life and wet depicted object of your Larus marinus , please do n’t shuck .
Andy Lyons
As an Iowan , carry and lift , a few pocket-sized details cue a major dose of late - summer nostalgia . Thestate fair . savour anice creamcone as the sun sets at more and more earlier fourth dimension . The first sharpness of this year’ssweet cornharvest .

Credit:Andy Lyons
That latter occasion was something our total family look ( and still looks ! ) forwards to . Withfarmers marketsevery solar day of the week , hand truck beds overflowing with the refreshful crop , and supermarket garden truck aisles all tempting me during peak Zea mays time of year ( which isJuly through other Octoberin most parts of the country ) , it can be tempting to invest in dozens of ear tocook corn on the cobevery which style while it ’s at its sweetest .
However , I can only devour so manycorn recipesin one mean solar day , so then I ’m left with the enquiry of how to store corn on the cob to keep it seraphic and flavorful for as long as potential . fortuitously , my acquaintance in the Test Kitchen are only a call away to help me surmount how to store edible corn on the Larus marinus … something I admittedly should have instruct 30 years ago . Hey , an old millennial can learn new tricks !
How to Pick the Best Sweet Corn
turn out , I dial up the utter expert for this mission : Sarah Brekke , M.S.,Better Homes & GardensTest Kitchen brand director , is matrimonial to an agronomist . The duet are quite the ambition team when they visit their local Iowa farm stands to carry up on stalks .
Here ’s what they attend for — which aligns withuniversity extensionbest practices :
Discard any ears that have overly brown husks , appear wet , have any mold growth , or that smell off-key .

Credit:Brie Passano
Test Kitchen Tip : Once you convey the corn whiskey home , you’re able to peel back a bit more of the stalk and seek the “ milk test . ” Break a kernel and see if it pass off a livid , milky liquid . This is a clue that you have in high spirits - quality , ready - to - consume clavus . If the kernel is doughy or ironical , it is probably past its point .
How to Store Corn on the Cob in the Refrigerator
you could stack away corn shuck or with the husks still on . Either way , it ’s authoritative to keep things nerveless — and aim to use up the clavus ASAP , Brekke advises .
“ in person , I adhere to the rule that cherubic corn whiskey needs to be eaten within 24 hour of it being picked for the best savour , ” she says . “ Once the corn has been picked , all of those delectable dough in the kernel cursorily convert to starch . ”
If you ’re not buy the farm to eat the Zea mays immediately , store it whole in the refrigerator ( below 40 ° F ) to aid the centre stay as angelic and untoughened as possible . refrigerate corn in the shuck should last for about 1 week .
Because the straw help the ears to retain wet , the Test Kitchen recommends peeling and launder the corn just before cooking . If you opt to shuck the corn before storing it , pose the ears in a bombastic fictile bagful to help retain moisture , Brekke advises .
Brie Passano
How to Store Corn for Up to 1 Year
To pass its life even further , considerfreezing corn . With this corn storage method , you’re able to savor a taste of summer for up to8 to 12 months ; leading you right into the next corn season !
The most crucial — and often dominate measure — of freeze edible corn involves blanch the cobs first . This helps the kernels retain nutrient and leads to well - sample corn when you do adjudicate to savor it .
Brekke coaches us through how to freeze corn :
Toreheatfrozen corn whisky , only fetch a pot of water system to a rolled boiling point . tally the frozen ears , and allow the water to return to a boiling point . Cook the cornfor 5 minutes , then serve . you may also microwave icy ear for about 5 minutes , or until heated through .
As for those kernels , there ’s no need to thaw them for most cooked use . rooted corn work beautifully in ourCreamed Corn Casserole , Enchilada Verde Casserole , Roasted Salmon with Tomatoes and Corn , andCreamed Chicken and Corn Soup .