This easy guide will teach you how to freeze potatoes! Freezing your potatoes will make them last longer, and can simplify your cooking substantially.
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💡 Why you should freeze potatoes
There are many excellent reasons why you should consider freezing potatoes.
When you freeze potatoes, they will stop their ripening process. It's a great way to keep your potatoes fresh for longer, and can help reduce food waste.
You can freeze potatoes in any shape or form. Having frozen potatoes on hand can definitely make your cooking easier, as you can pull cubed or wedged potatoes out of the freezer whenever you need them.
I love to have frozen potato cubes on hand for quick and easy mashed potatoes, or to add a few to a potato breakfast skillet or breakfast burritos.
📋 Which potatoes can you freeze
Any type of potato can be used, and potatoes can be frozen in any shape! Check out the instructions below to see how you can use different shapes of frozen potatoes to make a variety of dishes.
🔪 How to freeze potatoes
How you freeze your potatoes determine how they can be used later. Keep in mind that larger pieces of frozen potatoes take longer to thaw and cook. Smaller pieces of frozen potatoes can often be added directly to your dishes while they are still raw, and cook much faster.
When you freeze potatoes, you should always make sure to use freezer safe containers. Potatoes should only be frozen for up to 6 months, or they risk developing freezer burn.
Freeze potatoes in wedges
Best method for: Making potato wedges.
Instructions: Peel the potatoes, or wash them if you prefer to make potato wedges with the skins on. Cut them into similar sized wedges. Add the wedges to a freezer bag, and freeze.
When you want to make potato wedges, you should thaw them in the fridge overnight. The potato wedges will then be softer than raw potatoes. Place them in the oven and cook the wedges as you normally would. Keep in mind that thawed potatoes usually cook faster than raw potatoes.
Freeze potatoes in cubes
Best method for: Adding diced potatoes to stews, curries, skillets, mashed potatoes and other dishes.
Instructions: Peel the potatoes, or wash them if you prefer to use cubed potatoes with the skins on. Cut them into similar sized cubes. Add the potato cubes to a freezer bag, and freeze.
To use the frozen potato cubes, you can simply add them directly to soups, stews or skillet meals. Small potato cubes will heat up quickly, and can therefore often be used frozen.
Freeze potatoes whole
Best method for: Making baked potatoes and mashed potatoes.
Instructions: Peel or wash the potatoes. Add them to a freezer bag, and freeze. When you want to use the potatoes, you should thaw them in the fridge overnight. Keep in mind that they can take a while to thaw all the way through, especially if the potatoes are large.
Thawed whole potatoes are much softer than raw potatoes, and if you use them in a baked potato or mashed potato recipe, they will cook faster than usual.
Freeze potatoes in slices
Best method for: Adding sliced potatoes to stews and casseroles, mashed potatoes and potato au gratin (scalloped potatoes)
Instructions: Slice the potatoes and place them on a sheet pan or in a freezer safe baking dish. Place this in the freezer, and wait for a few hours. When the potatoes are slightly frozen, you can transfer them to a freezer safe container for permanent freezer storage. This method will prevent the potato slices from freezing solid into one large chunk.
To use the frozen potato slices, you can thaw them slightly by keeping them in room temperature for 30 minutes, then use them while they are still half frozen. As they are thin, they will heat up quickly in your preferred dish.
Freeze cooked potatoes
Best method for: Making mashed potatoes or adding potatoes to skillets, stews or casseroles.
Instructions: You can freeze any steamed or boiled potatoes. Place them on a sheet pan or in a freezer safe baking dish. Transfer the tray to a freezer, and leave the potatoes to freeze. After a few hours, you can move the potatoes to a freezer safe container for permanent freezer storage.
Cooked potatoes will be very soft and mushy after thawing them. They are well suited to make mashed potatoes, and can also be used in stews or casseroles.
🥗 What to make with frozen potatoes
Here are some of my favorite recipes that you can make using frozen potatoes!
Pytt I Panna
Garlic parmesan potato wedges
Hamburger Soup
Stoemp - Belgian Mashed Potatoes
Thai Yellow Chicken Curry
Vegetable soup with smoked sausage
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📋 Frequently asked questions
Can you re freeze potatoes that have been thawed? - This is typically not recommended for food safety reasons.
Can you freeze potatoes that have been baked or roasted? - I would not recommend it. These potatoes simply don't tend to taste very well when thawed.
How to Freeze Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 oz potatoes
Instructions
Freezing potato wedges
- Peel the potatoes, or wash them if you prefer to make potato wedges with the skins on. Cut them into similar sized wedges. Add the wedges to a freezer bag, and freeze.
Freezing whole potatoes
- Peel or wash the potatoes. Add them to a freezer bag, and freeze. When you want to use the potatoes, you should thaw them in the fridge overnight. Keep in mind that they can take a while to thaw all the way through, especially if the potatoes are large.
Freezing potato cubes
- Peel the potatoes, or wash them if you prefer to use cubed potatoes with the skins on. Cut them into similar sized cubes. Add the potato cubes to a freezer bag, and freeze.
Freezing potato slices
- Slice the potatoes and place them on a sheet pan or in a freezer safe baking dish. Place this in the freezer, and wait for a few hours. When the potatoes are slightly frozen, you can transfer them to a freezer safe container for permanent freezer storage. This method will prevent the potato slices from freezing solid into one large chunk.
Freezing cooked potatoes
- You can freeze any steamed or boiled potatoes. Place them on a sheet pan or in a freezer safe baking dish. Transfer the tray to a freezer, and leave the potatoes to freeze. After a few hours, you can move the potatoes to a freezer safe container for permanent freezer storage.
Cathy M.
How do you keep cut potatoes from turning dark when they thaw?
Tonje
Some potatoes might turn a little dark if you thaw them before cooking them. You can prevent this by soaking or blanching the potatoes before you freeze them. Potato types with a lower starch content don't tend to turn dark, so you can also try to use a different type of potato.
Emily
Hi Tonje, I have à Large gathering coming up that requires me to make a lot of homefries. I was wandering, if I slice and freeze the potatoes ahead of time will they be ok for cooking with oil in a large cast iron skillet? Will they crisp up when fried after frozen or just turn to mush? Please help! Thanks!
Tonje
Hi Emily! You can absolutely cook potatoes with this method, but they wouldn't get as crispy as if they were fresh. If you want to prepare the potatoes ahead of time, I recommend that you slice them one or two days before, cover them with water, and leave them in the refrigerator instead. That should save you some time on the big day, and result in amazing fries!