Processing Corn!

Each summer, our family processes locally grown corn. (This is one crop we don’t grow in abundance ourselves.)

We buy up 300+ ears from a local grower. (We love “Super Sweet”!)

When I say “family” I mean… it’s a “family affair — with in-laws and extended members galore! A great time for all!!!

We’ve cooked the corn two ways. A few years ago, we soaked the ears in water for a few minutes and then grilled them for 8-10 minutes with husks on. After cooling, we shucked the corn and continued with the steps I’ll soon describe.

Most recently, we cooked the corn after shucking — by blanching the ears for approx. 6 minutes. (The above photo depicts the fun-filled shucking process! Did I mention we did over 300 ears?)

Doesn’t that corn look good! (Around here, laundry baskets aren’t just for laundry!!!)

My mom Mary shucks with the best of ’em!

Allie took a shucked ear and disappeared in her play area.

We finally found her and her half-eaten, uncooked ear of corn! Mmmmm!

After the corn is all shucked, the husks are taken by tractor-loads to the chickens and goats!

Allie helps her Uncle Khris!!!

Nephew Eli was a great help, too… but here, he takes a short break with Jack, our faithful Blue Heeler!

Once the corn has been blanched and has cooled enough to handle, we begin the “indoor” processing steps.

There is a cutting station. We use electric knives to cut the kernels from the ears in long, yellow strips. (Above are my dad Joseph and brother-in-law Khris!)

Someone else (pictured here, Bill’s sister Becky) uses a spoon to scrape the remaining kernels and the “milk” from the ears.

There is a lot that remains on the ears, even after the electric knives! (Here Maureen’s mom, Mary, scrapes an ear clean!)

All the cut / scraped corn is then put into 1-quart vacuum-sealing bags. (We do about 2 C. per bag.) Eli and “Nana” work together to make sure not one kernel is lost! (Eli DID wash his hands after playing with our dog Jack!)

After the corn is placed in the bags, someone (Becky pictured here!), vacuum-seals the bags. Now they’re ready to be frozen for fresh corn ALL year long!

As I said, “It’s a family affair!”

Mmmmm!