Potatoes, which originated in modern-day Peru, have become a global culinary staple. After years of domestication, we may now find them in a variety of textures and culinary applications.
One of the most adaptable vegetables is the potato. They are readily transformed into a variety of major entrees, side dishes, snacks, and even alcoholic drinks like as vodka!
If you recently received a wonderful bargain at the grocery store or gathered an abundance from your garden, you may want to save them for later. You’re probably wondering how to freeze potatoes for French fries. Can roasted potatoes be frozen?
Yes, absolutely. Freezing is a simple and practical technique to store most foods, including potatoes. Depending on how you want to utilize them afterwards, you may freeze them in a variety of ways.
This page includes straightforward instructions for freezing entire potatoes and French fries, among other things. So keep reading!
Contents
- Various Ways To Freeze Potatoes
- How To Defrost and Use Frozen Potatoes
- How Long Do Potatoes Last In The Freezer?
- FAQs
- FAQs
- What is the best way to freeze potatoes?
- Can you freeze whole potatoes with skin on?
- Can you cut up potatoes and freeze them for later?
- Can you freeze raw potatoes without blanching?
- Why don’t potatoes freeze well?
- Can I freeze uncooked potatoes?
- Why did my potatoes turn black in the freezer?
- What can I do with too many potatoes?
- How long do peeled potatoes last in the freezer?
- How do you freeze potatoes without them turning black?
Various Ways To Freeze Potatoes
Because raw potatoes contain a lot of water, they do not freeze well. To retain their exceptional quality, completely or partly boil them before freezing. Otherwise, after thawing, they become dark and sloppy.
The final product’s quality may vary depending on the type and its age before freezing. So, choose the appropriate kind for the foods you want to prepare later.
Always choose potatoes with firm meat, smooth skin, and no sprouts or poor patches, regardless of variety. Avoid those that are underripe (green), wrinkled, with soft patches, and deep incisions.
In this post, we will discuss many methods for freezing potatoes:
Freezing potatoes for French fries
Freezing whole, smaller potatoes
Cooked potatoes (mashed, fried, baked, etc.) may be frozen.
How To Freeze Potatoes For French Fries
Because they have a dry, mealy feel, the best potatoes for French fries are New Irish, Russet, or Idaho.
Here’s how to make fast and simple frozen French fries at home.
1. Choose completely developed potatoes that have been kept for at least a month.
2. Thoroughly wash them under running water and clean them with a vegetable brush to remove any dirt.
3. Peel or leave the peels on.
4. Cut into 3/8 to inch (1to 1.25 cm) strips.
5. Rinse in cold water to remove surface starch and pat dry with a paper towel completely.
6. They may then be prepared by blanching, baking, or frying.
Blanching of water. Cook potato strips for 2 minutes in boiling water. Then, immediately immerse them in an ice water bath for 2 minutes to chill. Drain and properly dry them.
Baking. Spread the potato strips in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush with melted butter or oil. Preheat the oven to 450°F and bake until the potatoes are soft.
Frying. Deep fried potato strips until fork-tender but not brown in heated oil at 360 F. Cook in tiny batches to prevent overloading the pan.
7. Once cool enough to handle, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
8. Freeze the strips for several hours or overnight to enable them to freeze individually rather than in a large clump.
9. Remove from the freezer once frozen and divide into serving portions for packing.
10. Place in a freezer-safe zip-top bag or container.
11. Suck out any extra air, then carefully seal the container and label with the content, amount, and freezing date.
12. Finally, place it in the freezer.
How To Freeze Whole Smaller Potatoes
Having frozen whole potatoes on hand is a ticket to quick and easy dinners. They may be transformed into a range of delectable recipes, including substantial soups and stews, simple frittatas, casseroles, and many more.
Choose tiny, waxy varieties like Red or Yukon Gold. Freeze them as soon as possible after harvesting for the best effects.
1. Clean them with running water. Gently scrub away any dirt.
2. Peel them or leave the skins on.
3. Sort them out according to sizes.
4. Bring a big pot of water to a boil and prepare a large basin of ice water.
5. Blanch them for the following times.
o 4 to 6 minutes for tiny chunks (diameter 1 to 1.5 inch)
o 8 to 10 minutes for larger ones
Make sure they’re all immersed in boiling water. Blanch them in batches if dealing with a big lot to prevent overflowing the pot. They should be cooked completely through the core. Inadequate blanching will not inhibit enzyme reactions and render them black.
6. Immediately after blanching, place them in an ice water bath to halt the frying.
7. Allow them to cool fully. The basic guideline is to blanch veggies for the same length of time that they were blanched.
8. Once cold enough to handle, separate them out and place them in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
9. Leave the headspace and seal it securely.
10. Write the content, amount, and freezing date.
11. Transfer the package to the freezer.
How To Freeze Cooked Potatoes (Mashed, Scalloped, Baked, etc.)
Potatoes are excellent for making a variety of delectable freezer dinners. Check out the easy methods for freezing them for a quick weekday supper.
Mashed potatoes may be frozen. Prepare the meal as normal, then quickly cool and form into inch-thick patties. Place them on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for a few hours. Once frozen, place them in a freezer bag, squeeze out any leftover air, and close firmly.
Baked or filled potatoes may be frozen. Make as normal and cool immediately. Wrap with foil and place in a freezer bag. Suck out any extra air and carefully shut the bag.
Scalloped potatoes or potato casseroles may be frozen. Cook until slightly underdone (nearly tender and light brown). Refrigerate it immediately after leaving it in the baking dish. Freeze after covering with moisture-resistant paper and wrapping in aluminum foil.
How To Defrost and Use Frozen Potatoes
Frozen potatoes are quite handy. They may generally be cooked or reheated without being thawed. If they need to be thawed, you may do it safely in the refrigerator, microwave, or a big basin of cold water.
French fries, frozen. Unthawed frozen French fries may be baked in a preheated oven at 425 F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Halfway through baking, flip them over. Make sure not to overheat them. Alternatively, deep fried them for 3 to 4 minutes on each side in heated oil at 350 F.
Mashed potatoes from the freezer. To serve, just cook in butter or vegetable oil or reheat in a microwave oven (no need to thaw beforehand).
Baked or filled frozen potatoes. Unwrap and bake unthawed baked potatoes at 400 to 425 F until fully cooked.
Scalloped potatoes, frozen. Simply bake them unthawed at 400 F until the internal temperature reaches 165 F.
Whole frozen potatoes. If you wish to cook them, just place them in the pan frozen; no need to defrost them.
How Long Do Potatoes Last In The Freezer?
The shelf life of potatoes in the freezer varies based on
Methods of freezing. After freezing, whole potatoes may keep their quality for up to 10 to 12 months. Freezer fries should be used within 6 months, although fully cooked potatoes may be kept fresh for up to 2 to 4 weeks.
| Potatoes | Freezer |
|---|---|
| Whole (Water blanched) | 10 to 12 months |
| French fries (water blanched, baked, fried) | 6 months |
| Cooked (mashed, scalloped, casseroles, baked, stuffed) | 2 to 4 weeks |
FAQs
It all depends. Freezing potato salad is a touchy subject, but it is not impossible. If cooked using mayonnaise, the final outcome will be less appealing since the dressing tends to break down and become watery. Because it is made with vinegar-based dressing rather than creamy mayo, German-style salad freezes better.
Both yes and no. If you mistakenly freeze raw potatoes, they will likely become black and mushy after thawing. However, if blanched, cooked, and properly frozen, they are just as good as fresh ones. Check out our ideas for freezing the starchy tuber above!
Because they were either frozen uncooked or had not been adequately blanched. Inadequate blanching did not prevent enzyme reactions from occurring during freezing. As a result, after thawing, the final product becomes black.
Summary
Frozen potatoes are an all-time favorite for quick dinners. While professionally prepared items are plentiful, they may also be frozen at home. It’s a terrific technique to extend the shelf life of your favorite foods before they sprout, as well as a time-saving trick for preparing your favorite recipes. Check out our suggestions for freezing potatoes in different formats above!
See more:
- Freezing sweet potatoes
- Can you freeze potato salad?
*image by Rawlik/depositphotos
FAQs
What is the best way to freeze potatoes?
Basic potato freezing techniques
Arrange the potatoes on a tray so that they do not touch. Place the tray in the freezer and, after six to twelve hours, transfer to a resealable airtight freezer bag, remove any extra air, label, and place back in the freezer.
Can you freeze whole potatoes with skin on?
You can freeze potatoes with or without the peel.
Can you cut up potatoes and freeze them for later?
You may freeze diced or chopped potatoes for roasted potatoes or skillet hash if you blanch them in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer them to an ice bath as mentioned above. Flash freezing is also advised. Don’t even bother.
Can you freeze raw potatoes without blanching?
You can theoretically freeze raw potatoes without blanching them. They will, however, not survive as long or keep their quality as well as potatoes that have been blanched before freezing. Raw potatoes that have been frozen may turn mushy and gritty.
Why don’t potatoes freeze well?
Raw potatoes do not freeze well because they contain so much water and may become mushy, watery, or even gritty. Cooking before freezing may seem to be a chore, but consider it a time saving.
Can I freeze uncooked potatoes?
You can and should freeze potatoes if you have an abundance of them. But keep in mind that raw potatoes contain a lot of water, so you should only freeze cooked or partly cooked potatoes. This water freezes and causes the potatoes to become mushy and gritty when thawed.
Why did my potatoes turn black in the freezer?
Because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable, this process, known as oxidation, occurs. When starches are exposed to air, they become gray, brown, or even black. An oxidized potato is perfectly fine to consume. The method has no effect on the taste or texture of the vegetable.
What can I do with too many potatoes?
We’ve got your back.
Hasselback potatoes are a kind of potato.
Soup with chorizo, potatoes, and cabbage.
Soup with chorizo, potatoes, and cabbage.
Curry with dry potatoes.
We can’t wait to have these Mexican eggs with potato hash for breakfast.
Lemon-preserved roast chicken with spicy potatoes.
Jacket sweet potatoes in 15 minutes.
Fijian-style potato curry with seared tuna.
How long do peeled potatoes last in the freezer?
However, uncooked potatoes may be stored in the freezer for up to 10 to 12 months (more on preserving potatoes later). Blanch potatoes before refrigerating or freezing to prevent a sweeter taste and discolouration.
How do you freeze potatoes without them turning black?
Rinse them with a mixture of water and white vinegar. Before freezing, blanch for 2-3 minutes in hot water (source). <- This takes more time, but it seems to be the most effective approach to keep your potatoes from becoming black.
