Potatoes—together with white potatoes and candy potatoes, will final for weeks at room temperature and as much as a month or so if saved in a cool, darkish place with good air flow. (See Methods to Retailer Potatoes to learn to retailer them correctly.) However do you know they will also be frozen and might final for a number of months if prepped and frozen correctly? It's true, and when you think about that potatoes are sometimes offered in massive 5-pound luggage, freezing begins to sound like a really good choice. Add within the affordability, versatility and ease of cooking potatoes and also you'll be stocking your freezer with spuds on a regular basis. Plus, for some dishes freezing the potatoes can really enhance their texture and taste. For every little thing you should learn about freezing potatoes and candy potatoes, together with how you can freeze french fries and mashed potatoes, learn on.
complete and sliced potatoes on reducing board Credit score: Getty
Methods to Freeze Potatoes
The important thing to freezing potatoes and candy potatoes—whether or not for fries, hash browns and even easy roasted wedges—is to partially prepare dinner them first. As a result of they include a lot water, uncooked potatoes don't freeze properly and might flip mushy, watery and even grainy. Cooking earlier than freezing may look like a trouble however as a substitute consider it as a time saver. Partially cooked potatoes require much less oven time, which is particularly useful for holidays and particular events when there are a whole lot of dishes competing for time and area within the oven.
Associated: Methods to Peel and Slice Potatoes Forward of Time
Whether or not you peel potatoes for freezing is as much as you, however as with all substances, it's essential to solely freeze potatoes which can be nonetheless on the peak of freshness and never people who ought to actually go within the compost bin. Freeze potatoes in hermetic freezer luggage, ideally in a single layer for faster freezing and defrosting, and all the time date and label the bag, so you’ll be able to hold monitor of what's in your freezer and meals doesn't go to waste.
Frozen potatoes can usually be used straight from the freezer, but when do need to thaw them first, all the time defrost them within the fridge. Chances are you’ll discover the style or texture to be a bit completely different than should you used recent potatoes, so test doneness to make sure you don't overcook your potatoes. You possibly can freeze candy potatoes utilizing the identical strategies as for normal potatoes however the timing might differ barely.
Methods to Freeze Potatoes for Roasting
Freezing potatoes that you just plan to roast not solely saves time however can really make for additional crunchy spuds. Peel potatoes, if desired, then reduce into wedges, cubes or chunks and blanch in boiling water till they’re tender however nonetheless have some chunk. Cooking instances will range relying on the potato selection and the way massive or small the items you narrow them into are, however what's essential is that the potatoes shouldn’t be totally cooked. Drain the potatoes then plunge them right into a bowl of ice water to cease the cooking course of, drain once more and let cool fully. Unfold the potatoes in a good layer on a baking sheet, ensuring they don’t seem to be touching, then freeze for six to 12 hours, or till strong. Subsequent, switch the potatoes to hermetic freezer luggage and freeze for as much as 3 months. When able to roast, toss the frozen potatoes with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and roast till golden and crisp.
Methods to Freeze French Fries
As with roasted potatoes, french fries require blanching, however the additional step has the additional advantage of creating fries which can be crisp on the surface but irresistibly fluffy on the within. If desired, peel the potatoes, then reduce into thick or skinny slices, relying in your desire. In a big pot of boiling water, blanch the fries for about 2 minutes, adjusting the time as wanted for the variability and dimension of the potatoes. Subsequent, plunge the potatoes into an ice tub to cease the cooking course of. Drain the fries and allow them to dry fully then toss in a bit vegetable oil—about 1 tablespoon for each 2 kilos of potatoes—unfold in a good layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze till strong, about 6 hours or in a single day. Switch frozen fries to an hermetic freezer bag and freeze for as much as 6 months. Selfmade french fries may be baked or fried straight from the freezer.
Methods to Freeze Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes usually include wealthy substances, akin to cream, bitter cream or cream cheese, which helps protect their texture all through the freezing and thawing course of. Put together mashed potatoes in accordance with your recipe, then spoon into an hermetic freezer bag—or divide your mash into particular person parts—let cool fully and freeze for up 6 months. Thaw frozen mashed potatoes within the fridge and reheat within the oven or microwave, being certain to stir them earlier than serving.
Methods to Freeze Twice-Baked Potatoes (Stuffed Potatoes)
Twice-baked potatoes, often known as stuffed potatoes, are excellent for prepping forward and freezing for fast weeknight meals—as with mashed potatoes, the cheese or bitter cream they often include helps make them extra freezer pleasant. Make the potatoes in accordance with your recipe, then let cool fully, wrap individually in foil or plastic wrap, place in an hermetic freezer bag and freeze for as much as 3 months. You possibly can thaw twice-baked potatoes within the fridge or reheat them from frozen within the oven or microwave. Baked potatoes may be frozen the identical approach, however don't freeze fairly as properly as a result of they lack the richness of cheese or bitter cream.
Methods to Freeze Hash Browns
Shredded potatoes for making hash browns, in addition to hash brown waffles, hash brown cups and hash brown casseroles, may be frozen for as much as a yr and can be utilized straight from the freezer with out defrosting (except the recipe says to thaw them first). Shred the potatoes, holding them in a bowl of chilly water whilst you end shredding, then drain and blanch in boiling water for about 3 minutes. Drain once more and plunge right into a bowl of ice water to cease the cooking course of, then unfold in a good layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pat dry. Retailer the potatoes in hermetic freezer luggage, so they’re prepared for use in any dish calling for frozen hash browns.
Methods to Freeze Scalloped Potatoes and Potato Gratins
Scalloped potatoes and potato gratins are perfect for freezing, providing you with a leap begin on dinner. It's greatest to prepare dinner the dish till the potatoes are getting tender and beginning to brown however should not totally cooked. Cool fully, wrap properly and freeze for as much as 2 weeks. Let thaw within the fridge, then bake till the potatoes are totally cooked and the dish is heated by. If you happen to're sprinkling your potatoes with cheese, it's greatest so as to add that after freezing, as soon as the dish is again within the oven and virtually prepared.
