Can You Freeze Potatoes? How to Freeze Potatoes?

Life would have been a lot easier if everything could fit in our lives the way potatoes fit in almost “every” recipe, isn’t that right? Potatoes are famous for their versatility. That said, you can cook them in so many different ways, either by cooking them “alone” or with other vegetables, etc. It won’t be wrong if we say that a meal is incomplete if we don’t have potatoes on the table.Well, that was about “cooking” potatoes. What about preserving them or freezing them? The question is, why would we freeze potatoes?

Well, here is the answer. Let’s say you have grown your own potatoes, and the yield has exceeded your expectations, or you grabbed a good deal from the supermarket, how can you keep them eatable for longer periods?

Of course, you will preserve them. The best way to preserve the potatoes is to freeze them. But freezing does not mean you just throw them in the freezer because there are high chances they will turn black. Of course, you cannot eat rotten or “black potatoes.”

So the question is, how can you freeze potatoes effectively? The first and the most important thing before freezing the potatoes is to cook them partially. The reason is simple, potatoes have so much moisture (water) in them, and if you freeze potatoes in raw form, they can turn watery, grainy, or mushy. Moreover, it is up to you if you want to peel potatoes before freezing them or not. There are different methods to freeze potatoes for different purposes. We’ll discuss three methods you’ll need most. Let’s start with roasting.

How to Freeze Potatoes for Roasting

If you are about to freeze potatoes for roasting, not only will it be time-saving, it will also have added crunch as well. Here is how you can freeze potatoes for roasting:

After peeling the potatoes, cut them into chunks, cubes or wedges.
Then, boil some water and blanch them but keep them tender.
After blanching the potatoes, the next step will be cooking them. How long should you cook? Well, it depends on the size of the pieces (large or small). However, do not overcook them.
The next step includes draining the potatoes. Drain them and then put them in ice water. After that, drain them again and let them cool completely.
Spread the potatoes on a baking sheet in such a way that potatoes should not touch each other.
Then, it is time to freeze them. Normally, it would take them 6 to 12 hours. Make sure they have become solid, and you can also freeze them for more than 12 hours if needed.
Then, use airtight freezer bags for freezing them. You can easily freeze them for three months.

How to Freeze Potatoes for French Fries

If you want to freeze potatoes for French fries, then the process will have some added steps. First of all, freezing potatoes for French fries will need blanching.

Start with peeling the potatoes (it is optional).
Then cut them in slices. It is up to you if you want thin or thick slices.
Boil the water in a pot and blanch the potatoes for a minimum of two minutes. You can blanch them longer depending on the size or variety of potatoes.
Then comes draining the potatoes. Drain them and then put them in ice water. After that, drain them again and let them dry completely.
Add some vegetable oil in them. One tablespoon of vegetable oil will be enough for 2 pounds of potatoes.
Then, place a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread the potatoes on the sheet and let it freeze for 6 to 12 hours.
Put them in airtight bags, and after that, you can freeze them for up to six months.

How to Freeze Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are easier to freeze. Why? It is because they are rich in different ingredients such as cream, cream cheese, sour cream, etc. These ingredients are very helpful in the preservation of potatoes as they help in preserving their texture during the freezing process. Here is how you can freeze the mashed potatoes:

First of all, you need to mash the potatoes, and you can mash them as per your likeness or depending on the recipe.
Once the potatoes are mashed, put them in an airtight freezer bag and allow them to cool completely.
You can freeze the mashed potatoes for up to 6 months.

Tips

However, keep in mind that freezing the fresh potatoes will have different results as compared to those who are eager to see the dustbin. Also, the potatoes should be frozen in airtight bags and label them for use later.