How to Dehydrate Frozen Corn

It is easy to make dehydrated corn for your food storage when you start with a bag of frozen corn kernels.

Using frozen store bought corn or mixed vegetables is an easy way to fill your pantry with dehydrated vegetables.

Bagged frozen vegetables are very inexpensive to buy at the grocery store.

And there is almost no work involved because the corn is already prepped and ready to go into the dehydrator.

If you get lucky and find your favorite frozen vegetables on sale or clearance you can save a huge amount of time and money.

You can fill your food storage pantry with dehydrated vegetables that will last for years when stored properly!

A 2 lb. bag of frozen corn kernels can be purchased for $2 to $4.

Ingredients & equipment

• corn: frozen corn or you can use fresh corn kernels that have been cut off the cob.
• food dehydrator: any dehydrator will work.
• tray liners: You might need mesh tray liners depending on the type of dehydrator you have. When I use my Presto round counter top food dehydrator I use mesh liners to keep the corn from falling through the holes in the tray. I also have a Excalibur dehydrator that came with mesh trays.
• colander: used to defrost the frozen corn.
• mason jars: used to store the dehydrated corn.
• vacuum sealing: if you own a vacuum sealer you can use a mason jar vacuum sealer to extend the shelf life by years. (optional for anyone who wants to take their food storage to the next level)

How to dehydrate frozen corn

Directions

Step 1: Open the bag of frozen corn and dump it into a colander. Run cold water over the corn until the kernels have defrosted. Drain very well until all of the water has been removed.

Step 2: Spread the corn over the top of each dehydrator tray. You can pack the corn in tightly because unlike fruits the pieces of corn will not stick together as it dries. Fill all of the trays until you run out of corn.

Step 3: Place the cover on the dehydrator. Set the temperature to 125 F. If your appliance has a timer set the timer for for 10 hours. Turn the dehydrator on.

Step 4: After the corn has been drying for about 8 hours check on the corn. Squeeze a few random pieces. The corn should be very hard if it is done. If you squeeze and you can feel any moisture continue dehydrating. Check the corn every hour after until it is done.

Frozen corn can take anywhere from 8 to 10 hours to dry completely. If you did not thaw the corn it will take a couple more hours.

Step 5: Allow to corn kernels to cool for 30 minutes to an hour until completely cool to the touch.

Once cool transfer to airtight containers.

Step 6: If you have a vacuum sealer use it to remove all the air from the mason jars before storing.

If you don't have a vacuum sealer you can cover the jars with a flat lid and band before storing.

Store the jars in a cool, dark cabinet out of direct light.

Blanching

Most fresh vegetables will need to be blanched before dehydrating.

In the case of frozen corn or other frozen vegetables you do not need to blanch them before drying.

The manufacturer has already flash blanched the frozen vegetables before packaging.

How long does dried sweet corn last?

Properly dehydrated sweet corn will last a very long time. How long will it last?

It depends on how well you dehydrate it and package it for storage.

The National Center for Food Preservation recommended storage times for dried vegetables is 4 months to a year.

Dried food that are properly dehydrated, stored in a completely airtight container and stored in a cool cabinet out of light can last 8 to 20 years.

There are a few extra steps you can take to get the maximum storage shelf life out of your dried vegetables.

1. The most import step! Properly dehydrate the vegetables. All of the moisture must be removed before storing.
2. Store them in an airtight container. Buy the best airtight containers you can afford. Mason jars or vacuum sealed bags are the best storage solution for the longest shelf life.
3. Vacuum seal the mason jar you will be storing the dried corn in. When you remove all of the air from the container you add years to the shelf life.
4. Add an Oxygen Absorber to the container if you do not have a vacuum sealer.

How to use dried sweet corn

Dehydrated or dried sweet corn kernels once rehydrated can be used the same way you would use fresh corn.

• Add it to soups and stews.
• Heat it up and add some butter.
• Or use it to make make corn nuts.
• Feed it to your chickens.

How to rehydrated dried corn

Rehydrating dried corn is very easy to do. If you will be using the corn in a soup or stew recipe you can simple add it to the pot. The corn will absorb the liquid it is cooking in and soften.

If you would like to serve the corn as a side dish or use it in a recipe with a thick sauce like corn chowder you will need to rehydrate it in water before you use it.

To rehydrate corn soak the corn in warm water for ½ to 1 hour before using. Or until the corn has plumped up and softened to your liking. Use double the amount of water to the amount of corn.

Example soak 1 cup of dehydrated corn in 2 cups of water.

Recipe FAQS

Recipe Expert Tips

• thawing frozen corn: thawing the frozen corn before drying will decrease the amount of drying time by hours.
• blanching: frozen corn does not need to be blanched.
• rehydrating: soak 1 cup of dried corn kernels in 2 cups of warm water.
• how much corn?: ½ cup of dried corn kernels is equal to about 1 cup of corn kernels. Dried corn shrinks to about ½ the size as undried corn.

More dehydrated vegetables

Stock the pantry and keep your food storage filled with dehydrated vegetables that will last for a year or longer.

Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Check out more of my dehydrator recipes on my Food Dehydrator page.