Ways to Use Frozen Potatoes
To roast the potatoes, preheat your oven to 425˚F, toss the frozen spuds with a little oil and seasoning, spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet, and roast until the potatoes are cooked through and the outside is crispy, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Frozen potatoes can often be used straight from the freezer, but if do want to thaw them first, always defrost them in the refrigerator. You may find the taste or texture to be a bit different than if you used fresh potatoes, so check doneness to be sure you don't overcook your potatoes.
Yes! You absolutely can freeze potatoes, and you should if you have an excess of spuds. But there's one important thing to remember: You should really only freeze cooked or partially cooked potatoes, as raw potatoes contain a lot of water. This water freezes and, when thawed, makes the potatoes mushy and grainy.
Just one golden rule to remember: you don't usually need to defrost your frozen potatoes before you cook them up again, so in most of the methods and recipes below, they're ready to use straight from frozen. All you'll need to get started is some space in your freezer, resealable bags and a little patience.
Microwave in 5 mins
Pop the potatoes on a microwaveable plate and cook from frozen. When the time's up, leave them to stand for a minute before tucking in.
The reason behind this is that potatoes have a very high water content which means they don't freeze well and can turn soggy, watery, and potentially gritty once thawed. In fact, if you freeze raw potatoes, each drop of water will crystallize.
This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black. An oxidized potato is completely safe to eat. The process doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the vegetable.
However, If you do store raw potatoes in the freezer, they may last up to 10 to 12 months (more on storing potatoes later). To avoid a sweeter flavor and discoloration, blanch potatoes before refrigerating or freezing.
Do potatoes turn black when frozen? Often potatoes don't turn black in the freezer but turn black when thawed after being frozen. This is typically caused by exposure to oxygen and can be prevented by keeping fresh sliced or peeled potatoes submerged in water, and by blanching them before freezing.
Are they still good to eat? Because you just put them into the freezer, the cell structure hasn't broken down so while the visual looks bad, they are probably still safe to eat. Same thing happens to onions when frozen from raw.
Baking Instructions: Frozen Potatoes
To bake and serve frozen potatoes directly from the freezer, unwrap the potatoes and place in a baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 425°F for 35 to 45 minutes or until mostly warm.
A: It's okay to keep the potatoes frozen or you can let them thaw until they are still chilled. Place them on an oiled, flat-top grill or skillet that's heated to 350 degrees F. Cook for 4 minutes on each side, turning once.
When frying French fries, do not let them thaw before using. I recommend that frozen French fries be kept completely frozen before using. This guarantees that the surface of the potato is sealed during the frying process, resulting in a crispy, high quality fry.
Place frozen or thawed potatoes in a covered oven-safe dish and heat in a 350º F oven for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
Since diced frozen potatoes have been pre-partially cooked (blanched) this makes it convenient to drop into a pan to quickly finish cooking and caramelize. Frozen or thawed, frozen potatoes would make a less-than-ideal potato salad, as the cells will break down further if boiling, making a mushy texture.
If you're planning to make roasted potatoes or a skillet hash, you can freeze diced or chopped potatoes as long as you blanch them in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer them to an ice bath as described above. Flash freezing is recommended as well.
When slicing the potatoes place into water with a little acidity to keep them from turning gray. A small amount of white wine vinegar of lemon will do the trick. Then drain and place the potatoes in foil along with your spices and some olive oil or vegetable oil. Wrap up tight and refrigerate, then grill.
Peel or cut russet potatoes, for best results.
However, you can freeze potatoes in the skin if you prefer. If you want to save the skin, it's best to cut the potatoes before you freeze them.
Tubers that are oxygen deprived, either from flooding or being stored in a low-oxygen environment, can get something called “blackheart.” Some potato pathogens can cause internal blackening. So don't worry about a potato like this, but do steer clear of anything mushy, fuzzy or moldy.
Add a Thickening Agent
This is the most common, and perhaps the simplest way, to thicken mashed potatoes. You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry.
To get those potatoes crisp again, Consumer Reports recommends reheating in a 400-degree oven, covering your potatoes with tin foil until warm, and then removing the cover for a final few minutes to allow the skin to crisp back up.
The flavor and texture of instant mashed potatoes doesn't suit everyone, but they can save the day and can work wonders in this case. Whisk a little cornstarch into the warm potatoes, only a teaspoon at a time, until the potatoes thicken to your liking.