How to freeze potatoes

If you notice that there are too many of you potatoes (not a bad problem, honestly), the good news is that it’s easy to freeze them for another day. You don’t even have to peel them first if you don’t want to.

But before you throw potatoes straight into the freezer, some light prep work is needed to ensure they thaw nicely. Follow our guide on how to freeze potatoes so you have plenty of future hash browns, mashed potatoesand more.

Can you freeze potatoes?

Yes, but they must be partially cooked before freezing. Raw potatoes contain a lot of water, which can cause them to become quite mushy or grainy when thawed.

Should you peel potatoes before freezing them?

This is up to you. Because you will ultimately be using the potatoes straight from the freezer, you should consider what dishes you will use them in and whether it is appropriate to use the skin.

Some potatoes have a thinner skin that is easy to use in most dishes, such as Yukon Golds, but other potatoes, for example reddish brownhave a thicker skin which would not be ideal in silky mashed potatoes, for example.

How to parboil potatoes

Parboiling potatoes is easy and helps the pudding freeze better. All you need to do is boil your potatoes (cut as you like) in unsalted water until they are tender but not falling apart. Cooking time depends on how large the potatoes are cut, with smaller pieces usually taking less than five minutes.

We recommend that you use unsalted water so that you can adjust the spices to taste when preparing the final dish.

How to freeze potatoes

Follow these five steps to freeze potatoes properly:

1. Preparation: Divide the potatoes into desired pieces, whether fries, cubes or wedges. If desired, you can peel the potatoes before cutting them.
2. Precooking: Bring a large pot of unsalted water to the boil. While the water comes to a boil, prepare an ice bath in a large bowl. Add the potatoes to boiling water and cook until barely tender. For smaller cuts this may only take a few minutes; large pieces can take five minutes or more.
3. Ice bath: Remove the potatoes and immediately plunge them into an ice bath. (This will stop cooking quickly.) Let stand for a few minutes.
4. Drain and dry: Sift potatoes. Pat it dry to remove as much moisture as possible.
5. Freeze: Spread the potatoes on a baking tray. Freeze on sheet until firm, about 6 hours. Place in an airtight freezer bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How long do frozen potatoes last?

If you store them properly, frozen potatoes will last about three months in the freezer. To prevent freezer burn and maintain quality, store them in airtight freezer bags or containers.

How to use frozen potatoes

Frozen potatoes can be boiled, baked, roasted, baked, or baked straight from the freezer. You also throw them in directly soups or stews without defrosting. This vegetable soup would be a great option for frozen potato chunks.