Learn how to can corn for long term storage! Enjoy having jars of home canned corn in your pantry to enjoy a taste of summer’s bounty all year round. 
Do you enjoy corn on the cob like we do? YUM! I get so excited when all the fresh picked corn on the cob hits our grocery stores and farmers markets each summer. It’s so delicious, and I’m really glad I learned how to can corn many years ago, so it can be preserved for long term storage!
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Yep… I LOVE corn… on the cob, off the cob, and at the local county fair!
So Can I Learn How To Can Corn?
Sure. Anybody can learn how to can corn. You will need to have a pressure canner, however, because corn is a low-acid food. Low-acid foods must be cooked at a really high temperature (under pressure) to preserve it for long term storage. The high temperatures help destroy any bacteria present that could potentially harm you.
Before you begin working on the corn, gather your canning equipment, lids, canning jars, etc. and get them sanitized, heated, and ready to go, according to manufacturer instructions.
Prep The Corn
For each PINT jar, you will need approximately 4 medium long ears of fresh corn on the cob. Each QUART jar will need about 8 ears. So… figure out how many jars you want, and plan accordingly!
Remove the husks and the corn silk from each ear of corn, and rinse corn ears. Slice off the kernels into a large bowl, using a sharp, serrated knife.
Filling The Jars
There are TWO methods that can be used in canning corn… the HOT PACK and the RAW PACK method (I use the raw pack). Here are both methods:
- RAW PACK: Loosely pack the corn kernels into hot, prepared canning jars. being sure to leave a generous 1″ headspace in each jar. Do NOT press the corn down into the jar. Pour boiling water into each jar, and adjust headspace, if necessary to keep a 1″ headspace.
- HOT PACK: Measure the corn out into a large stainless steel saucepan. For every 4 cups of corn kernels, add 1 cup of boiling water. Turn heat under pan to medium-high. Bring liquid to boil. Once boiling, reduce heat, and boil (gently) for 5 minutes, to heat the corn through. Ladle the hot corn AND the cooking liquid into jars, leaving a 1″ headspace in each jar.
Remove the air bubbles from each jar, by inserting a plastic utensil into jars several times. Wipe the jar rims clean with a cloth (to help ensure a good seal). Place prepared flat lid on jars, then screw the ring band on until fingertip tight.
Carefully load the hot jars onto rack in the water in your prepared pressure canner. Lock the lid, and then bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat.
How Long to Process Jars?
Let the steam vent for 10 minutes, and then close (or place cover on) the vent. Continue to heat until the pressure canner reaches 10 pounds pressure, and begin processing. Maintain this pressure throughout the processing time for the canned corn. Start the timing once the canner reaches 10 pounds pressure.
Process PINT jars (500 mL) for 55 minutes. Process QUART jars (1 L) for 85 minutes at 10 pounds pressure.
Once Processing Is Done
When processing time is complete, turn off the heat. Let the pressure drop NATURALLY to 0 on the pressure canner. Do NOT attempt to open the lid until pressure has completely dropped to 0!
Once the pressure gauge reaches 0, wait 2 minutes longer, then open the vent (or remove vent cover). Carefully remove the canner lid. Wait 10 more minutes, then carefully remove and transfer hot jars to a dish towel on counter. Don’t set boiling jars directly on counter, because temperature variances between hot jars and cool counter could cause jars to crack.
Let the jars cool for at least 12 hours (or overnight) without disturbing. Once completely cool, wipe jars clean, label, test the lids to ensure they have all properly sealed, and store them in your pantry. TIP: To test seal, remove the screw band. Use a finger and press down in the center of the flat lid. There should be NO give at all if sealed correctly.
Hope you found it helpful learning how to can corn. I enjoy knowing I have quite a few jars of summer corn stored up in our pantry to use throughout the year! Have a great day.
Looking For More CANNING Recipes?
You can find all of my canning recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few, including:
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Original recipe source: “Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving”, published 2012, The Jarden Corporation, pages 388 and 385.
Learn how to can corn for long term storage! Enjoy having jars of home canned corn in your pantry to enjoy a taste of summer's bounty all year round.
- 12 ears corn on the cob (large ears)
- 1½ teaspoons canning salt, (if using-optional) (only use ½ teaspoon per jar)
Gather canning equipment, lids, canning jars, etc. and get them sanitized, heated, and ready to go, according to manufacturer instructions.
For each PINT jar, you will need approximately 4 medium long ears of fresh corn on the cob. Each QUART jar will need about 8 ears.
Remove husks and corn silk from corn, then rinse. Slice off kernels into a large bowl, using a sharp, serrated knife. There are TWO methods that can be used in canning corn:
RAW PACK: Loosely pack corn kernels into hot, prepared canning jars. leaving a generous 1" headspace in each jar. Do NOT press the corn down into the jar. Pour boiling water into each jar, and adjust headspace, if necessary to keep a 1" headspace.
HOT PACK: Measure corn into a large stainless steel saucepan. For every 4 cups of corn kernels, add 1 cup of boiling water. Turn heat under pan to medium-high. Bring liquid to boil. Once boiling, reduce heat, and boil (gently) for 5 minutes, to heat corn through. Ladle hot corn AND cooking liquid into jars, leaving a 1" headspace in each jar.
Remove air bubbles from jars, by inserting a plastic utensil into jar several times. Wipe jar rims clean with a cloth (to help ensure a good seal). Place prepared flat lid on jars, then screw the ring band on until fingertip tight.
Load hot jars onto rack in water in prepared pressure canner. Lock lid, and then bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Let the steam vent for 10 minutes, and then close (or place cover on) the vent. Continue to heat until pressure canner reaches 10 pounds pressure, and begin processing. Maintain this pressure throughout processing time. Start the timer once canner reaches 10 pounds pressure. Process PINT jars (500 mL) for 55 minutes. Process QUART jars (1 L) for 85 minutes at 10 pounds pressure.
When processing is complete, turn off heat. Let pressure drop NATURALLY to 0 on the pressure canner. Do NOT attempt to open lid until pressure has completely dropped to 0! Once pressure reaches 0, wait 2 minutes longer, then open vent (or remove vent cover). Carefully remove canner lid. Wait 10 more minutes, then carefully remove and transfer hot jars to a dish towel on counter. Don't set boiling jars directly on counter, because temperature variances between hot jars and cool counter could cause jars to crack. Let jars cool for 12 hours without disturbing. Once completely cool, wipe jars clean, label, test the lids to ensure they have all properly sealed, and store them in your pantry. TIP: To test seal, remove the screw band. Use a finger and press down in the center of the flat lid. There should be NO give at all if sealed correctly. If jar did not seal properly, store in refrigerator and use within a day or two.
Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!
What kind of corn cans best? Sweet corn or Candy Cane corn, or a less sweet corn?
I missed some silk while canning corn and there’s some silk stuck on top section of jar. They are all sealed and fine otherwise. Is this unsafe?
Do you do this with corn too? How long do you keep them in the oven? I am thinking I want to do quart jars.
If you want to cut your corn for cream corn can you raw can that like the kernel corn?
I am so excited to start canning corn tomorrow. I usually freeze it but want to try this.
once I have already canned my corn and processed it as the recipe says. When I go to eat the corn do I need to still cook it again for a certain amount of time? Or, like for salsa, can I just drain corn and add to my salsa or do I need to cook it again first?
Hi there, Jean… the corn will be fully cooked after processing. Drain and add to recipes, just as it is.
How high above the jars does the water have to be once in the pressure canner?
Hi there… in pressure canning the water does not have to be above the jars (like in water bath canning). You will need to follow the directions for your particular model of pressure canner. In a pressure canner the steam and really high heat is what “processes” the jars of food, so the amount of water needed is a lot less than what you would need for water bath canning. Hope that helps some.
How long can these stay on a shelf?
I tried the raw pack option and ended up with the top 1 1/2″ of corn not in water after processing. Is that ok and what could I have done wrong?
Do you have to hot pressure cook the corn if you cook the corn first?
Can you can corn without a canning preasure cooker?
It is considered dangerous, James. Corn is a low-acid veggie, and therefore needs the extremely high heat and pressure used in pressure canning to help eliminate any bacteria in the food, so it can be safely stored long term. A very short explanation, but I hope it helps. Hope you have a great day.
I have gone to placing my jars in a150 degree oven to have them hot it reduces the3 time required to bring product up to canning temperature.