Canning Corn: How to Can Whole Kernel Corn

Canning Corn: How to Can Whole Kernel Corn

There is nothing like the flavor of freshly harvested corn. Take advantage of the abundance of crisp sweet corn and preserve it for winter meals. Learn how to can corn into shelf stable jars for your pantry food storage.

Prep Time1

Cook Time1 30

Total Time2 30

Course: Pantry

Cuisine: American

Keyword: canning corn

Servings: servings

Calories: 66kcal

Author: Grow a Good Life

Ingredients

20 pounds sweet corn in the husk (for pints,see note below for quarts)
canning salt or pickling salt, optional

Instructions

Prepare the Corn:

Husk the corn, remove silk, and rinse well under clean running water. Air dry on kitchen towels.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, and fill a large bowl with ice water.
Once the water boils, drop a few cobs at a time into the pot and blanch for 3 minutes. Remove the corn and plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process.
Remove the cob from the ice water and place on clean kitchen towels. Repeat until all the corn is blanched.
Cut the corn off the cob about three-fourths the depth of the kernels without scraping the cob.

Prepare the Canning Equipment:

Wash the jars, lids, and rings in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Set the lids and rings aside until you are ready to use them.
Place the jar rack into the pressure canner, and fill with water per your pressure canner manufacturer's instructions: Presto is 3 quarts, Mirro is 2 quarts, and All American is 2 to 3 inches.
Fill the jars halfway with hot water, and then place them on the rack in the canner. Bring the canner to a simmer for 10 minutes (180˚F). Don't boil, but keep warm until you are ready to fill them.
Fill a large pot with clean water and bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer (180˚F), and keep hot until you are ready to use it. This will be the water you will be using to fill your jars.

Can the Corn:

Lay a kitchen towel on the counter. Use your jar lifter to remove a jar from the canner. Pour out the water (save it for washing dishes), and place the jar on the towel. Keep the remaining jars in the canner, so they stay hot.
Fill the hot jar loosely with raw kernels, leaving about 1 1/4-inch headspace. Don't shake, press down, or compress the corn. You want the individual kernels to be free to move around when processed in the canner.
If you are using salt, add up to 1/2 teaspoon per pint jar, and up to 1 teaspoon of canning salt per quart jar.
Ladle hot water into the jar over the corn while maintaining 1-inch headspace. Run the bubble popper through the jar to release air, and wipe the rim with a damp towel.
Center a lid on the jar, and screw on band until it is fingertip tight. Use the jar lifter to place the jar back on the rack in the canner, and repeat with the rest of the jars until the canner is filled, or you run out of corn.
Close the pressure canner and secure the lid. Leave the vent open, adjust the heat to medium-high, and bring the canner to a boil. Allow the pressure canner to vent for 10 minutes, then place weight on the vent.
Once the canner has reached the correct pressure (10 pounds for weighted gauge, and 11 pounds for dial gauge canners.), set a timer, and process pints for 55 minutes, and quarts for 85 minutes at altitudes of less than 1,000 ft. Adjust for your altitude if necessary (see note below). Regulate the heat as needed to maintain a steady pressure.
When processing time is complete, turn off the heat and let the pressure canner cool and depressurize. The time will depend on your brand and should be between 30 to 60 minutes. Follow the instructions for your pressure canner.
When the pressure canner is depressurized, spread a kitchen towel on the counter, remove the weight from the vent pipe or open the petcock, and wait 10 minutes for the jars to adjust to the change in pressure.
While wearing pot holders, unlock the cover and remove the lid while tilting it away from you so that steam does not burn your face. Allow another 10 minutes for the jars to adjust to the change in pressure.
Use a jar lifter to remove the jars from canner and place on the towel. Keep the jars upright, and don't tighten bands or check the seals yet. The jars will be hot and bubbling. Let the jars sit undisturbed for 12 to 24-hours to cool.
Wait until the jars have cooled for at least 12-hours, and then check to be sure jar lids have sealed. Test the seal by pushing on the center of the lid. The lid should not pop up. If the lid flexes up and down, it did not seal. Refrigerate the jar and use up within a few days.
Remove the screw on bands and wash the jars. Label, date, store the jars in a cool, dark place (50 to 70 degrees F). Use within a year for the best quality. Yields 9 pints or 7 quarts.

Notes

You will need about 20 pounds of corn on the cob for a full canner load of 9 pints, and 32 pounds for a canner load of 7-quarts.

This is a tested safe canning recipe from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning and the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving. Changing the recipe may make the product unsafe for canning.

All times are at altitudes of less than 1,000 ft. Adjustments must be made for altitudes greater than 1,000 ft.

I am happy to answer any questions, but if you need immediate canning help or answers, please contact your local extension office.

Nutrition