Can You Freeze Potatoes?
In every household, potatoes are like a staple food. With potatoes, you can make a wide range of recipes. In addition, potatoes can be cooked, mashed, roasted, and many more. Perhaps your most recent grocery store or farm stand visit was spontaneous. You can also try your best to reduce food waste or make the most of your grocery budget.
Whatever the cause, learning how to freeze potatoes is a terrific way to fill your cupboard with enough food for several months. But can you freeze potatoes? The answer is yes. You can freeze potatoes effectively. Read on to know more.
It can be so much simpler to freeze potatoes, and in certain situations, the outcomes are even better. You have a variety of ready-to-use versions at your disposal that do not require any preparation. So, can you freeze raw potatoes? The answer is no! Raw potatoes do not freeze well. They become mushy, watery, or even gritty due to their high water content.
Potatoes can be stored at room temperature for up to a month with proper ventilation. After that, it will start degrading. You will not want your potatoes to rot, isn’t it? So, how can you freeze potatoes?
How To Freeze Potatoes?
Potatoes should be delicately cooked and chopped before freezing as they contain about 80% water. Parboiling potatoes helps them retain their flavor and texture when frozen. It is not always necessary to properly cook the potatoes before freezing; partial cooking will also work.
Although cooking food before freezing may seem like a chore, imagine how much time it will save. Partially cooked potatoes demand less oven time, so frozen potatoes are already half-ready for meals.
No matter if you plan to serve the potatoes mashed, fried, roasted, or in some other form, follow the step-by-step recommendations to effectively freeze potatoes.
Steps To Freeze Potatoes Effectively
- Potatoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes; you can start with any of these. But make sure to choose potatoes that have a strong texture and no surface soft patches. Use fresh potatoes.
- Wash the potatoes properly, peel them, and cut them evenly for later use. If you wish to make French fries, you can cut them in the designated shape before freezing. If you are unsure of how you will use your frozen potatoes, cut them into large cubes so that you can rearrange them as necessary later on.
- Parboil the potatoes in a large saucepan of unsalted water. Simmer them until they are beginning to get soft. If the potato cubes are large, simmer them for a little more time.
- Dry the potatoes after cooling. To halt the cooking of the potatoes right away place them in an ice bath. Make sure there is no water left as the moisture and ruin your potatoes.
- Spread out all of the potatoes on a big baking sheet without letting them overlap. And place it in the freezer for 6 to 12 hours, or until each one is completely frozen.
- Carefully take out the solidified potatoes and transfer the pieces to an airtight plastic bag or other sealed containers. Remove excess air. This way you can store your frozen potato chunks for up to three months.
- Always date and mark the bag so you can keep track of the time potatoes are frozen in your freezer and they do not go bad.
How Can You Freeze Boiled Potato?
Peel and cut the potatoes into the size and shape you prefer. Depending on the size of your potatoes, place them in boiling water and parboil until soft and firm. To suspend further cooking of the potatoes, place them in a bowl of ice water, then drain them using a strainer. Let them cool.
Arrange the potatoes carefully on a tray without letting them contact. Place the tray in the freezer, and once it has hardened, transfer it to an airtight freezer bag. Your boiled potatoes are ready to freeze.
How To Freeze French Fries?
Blanching is necessary for freezing french fries because it will result in crispy fries that are fluffy on the inside. Peel the potatoes if needed, then cut them into thick or thin slices according to your liking. Blanch the fries in a big saucepan of boiling water.
Fries should be rinsed, thoroughly dried, then tossed in a little amount of vegetable oil before freezing. Then spread out in an even layer on a baking sheet coated with parchment and freeze until they solidify. Put them in airtight freezer bags. using this method, fries can be frozen for about 6 months.
How To Freeze Mashed Potatoes?
Rich ingredients like cream, sour cream, or cream cheese are commonly used to make mashed potatoes; this preserves the texture of the dish throughout freezing and thawing. So, make your favorite mashed potato recipe, then pour it into an airtight frozen bag or divide it into serving-sized parts, let cool fully, and store it for up to six months.
How To Cook Freezing Potatoes?
Now that you know how to freeze potatoes, here are some quick suggestions to cook and prepare frozen potatoes. In some recipes, freezing the potatoes can enhance their flavor and texture. You will love them!
Frozen potatoes can be prepared in a variety of ways, including rich roasted dishes and crispy fries. Your recipe will determine the ideal method for cooking or reheating them.
Making Fried Potatoes From Frozen Potatoes
If you wish to fry potatoes, there is no need to defrost them. You can simply put the frozen potatoes in the pan or an air fryer, and your potatoes are ready. You can sprinkle some spices and herbs, or whatever dressing you like and have it your way. Likewise, you can prepare French fries and chips.
Making Mashed Potatoes From Frozen Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are simple to make. You can prepare mashed potatoes straight from frozen on the stovetop, in a covered dish, in the oven or microwave. Or you can thaw them for two days in the refrigerator before reheating. And add olive oil and herbs to enhance flavor.
Cooking Roasted Potatoes
You can directly cook your potatoes from frozen. This will ensure the best results while roasting. Roasties and larger potato cuts require an additional 10-15 minutes of cooking time, so place roasties or chips right away in a preheated oven at the original temperature.
Cooking Potato Salad
It is indeed simple and quick to make potato salad. No summer cookout would be complete, without a serving of rich, creamy potato salad. You must first thaw the frozen potatoes before preparing the potato salad. Once everything is finished, top it with your choice of dressings and toppings for a savory feast.
Recipes For Making Potato Wedges
Potato wedges require frying the potatoes, so they can be directly made from frozen potatoes. You do not necessarily need to defrost them. However, one thing to keep in mind is that you can predominantly cut the potato into wedges before freezing. A classic potato wedge is the perfect sharing snack with your favorite dip. You can also follow your favorite recipe for making potato wedges.
Besides these, the list of possible recipes for frozen potatoes is endless. That was all!