Potato tubers are our favorites in the kitchen. Not an extraordinary taste, but somehow indispensable. The frequent preparation means that occasionally a residue is left over. In the can with it, off in the freezer!

Boiled potatoes are cut into small pieces before freezing

Why cooking is a must

The question is not whether potatoes can be cooked for the freezer. You even have to be! Only if the potatoes are frozen in the cooked state, the defrosted result is reasonably edible.

  • Potato tubers contain a lot of starch
  • However, Frost converts starches into sugars
  • also destroys the cell walls of raw potatoes
  • the typical potato flavor is lost
  • the consistency becomes mushy

So if potatoes absolutely have to go into the freezer, they should either already be cooked or cooked beforehand.

How to freeze boiled potatoes

Boiled potatoes only taste as good as potatoes should taste freshly cooked. Therefore, only cook as many potatoes at a time as you can use. If you still want to freeze a few cooked pieces, then consider the following points:

  • do not cook too soft
  • Remove skin from cooked potato tubers
  • cut into smaller pieces if necessary
  • let cool before freezing

tips

Boiled and sliced potatoes are especially handy when frozen as an ingredient in gratins.

Freeze finished potato dishes

The best way to freeze boiled potatoes is with ready-made food. It can be a potato soup, but also mashed potatoes, potato dumplings or fried potatoes.

Even dishes that are not made exclusively from potatoes, but only contain a portion of the tuber, can be frozen without any problems.

Ready-to-eat food that cannot be eaten immediately should be deep-frozen immediately after it has cooled.

Thaw in an appropriate manner

Cooked potatoes should not be allowed to thaw at room temperature.
Small frozen pieces can be added to cooking food while frozen. Otherwise they have to be thawed slowly and gently:

  • thaw in the fridge
  • ideally overnight
  • or plan several hours for it

Using frozen potatoes

Frozen potato chunks can be used as an ingredient in potato soups and casseroles. You can also use them to make mashed potatoes. A little seasoning can improve the flavor lost in the freezer.

Frozen potatoes are less suitable as baby food. Since babies do not tolerate spicy food, the new, sweet taste is fully retained. A lot of babies can't get used to it.

Sweet potatoes tolerate frost better

Of course, cooked sweet potatoes can also be frozen. They even survive the frost unscathed than "normal" potatoes.

Freezing and thawing is the same for both types of potatoes. Whole frozen sweet potatoes are also good to reheat in the oven.

durability

Potato pieces that have just been boiled, without spices or other additions, can be stored in the freezer for a whole year. Potato dishes, whether made entirely or partially from potatoes, taste best during the first trimester. They should therefore not be stored deep-frozen for longer.

Conclusion for fast readers:

  • Suitability: Raw potatoes become sweet and mushy; only freeze cooked potatoes
  • Preparation: Do not cook too soft; get rid of shell; cut into pieces or slices
  • Potato dishes: mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, potato soup and dishes with potato content
  • Freeze: let cool; Fill into containers and label
  • Sweet potatoes: tolerate frost better; freeze while cooked
  • Shelf life: Boiled potato pieces: 12 months; Potato dishes: 3 months
  • Thawing: in the refrigerator for several hours; Use frozen when cooking
  • Use: For potato soups, casseroles and puree; Improve flavor with spices
  • Baby food: Less suitable; many babies do not like the altered taste of potatoes

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden