How to Freeze Mashed Potatoes
Freezing mashed potatoes: Best Ways to Store Frozen Mashie in 2024
Can You Freeze Mashed Potatoes, you may successfully freeze mashed potatoes and did you know that frozen mashed potatoes taste just as good as fresh ones?
They do! And they’re cheaper too! But how do you freeze mashed potatoes without ruining them?
Knowing how to Freeze them is important if you are preparing mashed potatoes for a big group.
There are several ways to freeze mashed potatoes, and each method has its pros and cons.
I’ve tested these methods myself and found them to work well. Now you can learn from my mistakes and save yourself hours of trial and error.
How to Freeze Mashed Potatoes Correctly, So They Last Longer
Mashing potatoes is a great way to use leftovers in your refrigerator. But when you’re done, allow them to quickly cool down the mash before putting it away in an airtight container. Otherwise, the hot potato steam, condensation, and water will cause the mashed potatoes to spoil faster than usual.
The trick is not to let the mashed potatoes sit too long after cooling. This allows the starch to absorb moisture from the surrounding air, causing the potatoes to become soggy. Instead, store the mashed potatoes in an air-tight container and freeze them right away.
To avoid this problem, simply place the cooled mashed potatoes in an air tight container and keep them frozen until needed.
Always Cool or Freeze mashed potatoes within two hours after making them.
Avoiding freezer burn is important when freezing mashed potatoes because it helps prevent them from becoming hardened and lumpy. Freezer burn occurs when food freezes unevenly, resulting in ice crystals forming inside the food. This causes the food to become hard and dry, making it unpleasant to eat. If there is too much freezer burn it can actually make a food safety issue.
The Best Way to Freeze Mashed Potatoes
What Is The Best Way To Freeze Mashed Potatoes
There are many different ways to freeze mashed potatoes, mainly around the size of the portion you are freezing.
When storing mashed potatoes in the freezer, keep an eye out for any leaks in the bag, which could cause mold formation, or let in moisture to promote freezer burn.
Don’t overdo it with the butter and cream; if it is too much, it may separate, and your mashed potatoes won’t freeze well. But at the same time keeping mashed potatoes fresh longer is enhanced by having a little bit of milk or heavy cream in the recipe. This helps prevent the potatoes from drying out and keeps them soft and fluffy.
Use a parchment lined baking sheet to freeze them to stop from sticking or adhering to the baking tray.
If you’d prefer not to use parchment paper, just line a baking sheet with aluminum foil instead. This method works well because the aluminum foil doesn’t absorb any moisture, unlike parchment paper which can if your mash is too wet.
How to Freeze Mashed Potatoes Two Ways
Mashing up some potatoes can take a little elbow grease, especially if you want to make enough mashed potatoes for several meals. But once you’ve got the process down pat, freezing the leftovers makes it easy to stretch out your potato supply. And it doesn’t matter whether you make a big batch or just one small serving—either way, you can store extra in the freezer.
The key to freezing mashed potatoes successfully is to allow them to cool completely before putting them into containers. This helps prevent ice crystals from forming inside the potatoes. If you don’t wait long enough, the frozen potatoes will become mushy when defrosted.
To freeze, start by making a double batch of the dish. Once the potatoes have been cooked and cooled, they are ready for freezing.
Bulk Freezing For Big Group Servings
If you are having a crowd over, a good solution is making and freezing Big Group Servings of Mashed Potato ahead of time. Plus it saves on time and washing dishes!
For Group serving, look to store the frozen potatoes in layers of about an inch thick.
There are two ways that you may do this
firstly you can estimate how much-mashed potato you can fit into your Ziploc bag, place it inside and massage it so that it is approximately 1 inch thick. Then simply place the bag (bags) into the freezer, and that’s it. You can even layer the bags one on top of the others to save space.
The second method is to first quickly freeze the mashed potato by spreading it out around 1 inch thick onto a baking tray that is lined with foil or parchment paper. Placed the tray into the freezer and when frozen, you can simply break it into manageable portion sizes placing it then into your Ziploc freezer bag.
Freezing Mashed Potato For Single Servings
A single serving of mashed potato is a great way to be able to make a quick dinner at the end of a busy day or to give the kids a treat after school.
Freeze mashed potatoes in individual portions. Simply divide the amount of mashed potatoes you need into smaller containers (like muffin tins) and then freeze them. From there you can put them into small ziplock bags, or double wrap the portions in plastic wrap.
Be sure to label the mashed potato bags with the date they went into the freezer and if you are super efficient the weight.
What Are The Benefits Of Freezing Mashed Potato
Freezing mashed potatoes really is a great idea for busy families who love potato dishes. But just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea. In fact, freezing them is a smart choice for several reasons.
But perhaps the biggest benefit of freezing them is that it saves money. Because you don’t have to buy expensive takeaways like french fries or onion rings and of course it is more healthy. To add flavor to mashed potatoes, add ingredients like cream cheese or sour cream, you can save money while still enjoying delicious food.
And since you can freeze mashed potatoes in individual servings, you can enjoy them whenever you’d like.
Plus
– Frozen mashed potatoes are great for making ahead meals, leftovers, and snacks.
– Freezing makes mashed potatoes easier to handle, and they don’t stick together as much.
– Freezing keeps mashed potatoes moist, which helps prevent them from drying out during reheating.
Can I Freeze Mashed Potatoes That Have Already Been Cooked?
Yes, this is safe to do so as long as they have not been left out overnight.
While you could just throw it in the fridge, that would require you to remember to remove it every day.
Instead, freeze it in individual servings and then reheat whenever you’d like. Just pop it into a microwave safe dish and heat until warmed through.
To make Microwaved frozen mashed potatoes taste even better, add flavorings like garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and butter. Then, sprinkle cheese over each serving.
Do Mash Potatoes Freeze Well?
Do cooked mashed potatoes freeze well? Freezing mashed potatoes is easy, and they freeze really well as long as they do not have too much liquid in the original batch.
Simply place the cooked potatoes into freezer bags and seal them tightly. Then, label each bag with the date and the number of servings.
For freezing large quantities of mashed potatoes, consider making double batches instead of single ones. This way, you can enjoy leftovers for days!
There’s no need to worry about the texture for your potatoes. If you freeze them they’ll come out perfectly fine, just add a stick of butter to reverse any gummy potatoes.
Can You Freeze Mashed Potatoes?
How Long Do Frozen Mashed Potatoes Last?
How long do frozen mashed potatoes last in the freezer?
– Frozen mashed potatoes will keep for about two months.
– Don’t eat them if they tend to smell sour as well as if there’s a separation between the liquid and the solids.
– Thawing frozen mashed potatoes before cooking them will help prevent the texture from changing too much.
How Long Are Mashed Potatoes Good For
How Far In Advance Can You Make Mashed Potatoes?
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes – You can make them up until 3-4 days before you want to eat them if they are kept in the fridge.
How Far Ahead Can You Freeze Mashed Potatoes?
You can make them 3 months in advance, and they will still be fresh when thawed.
Can You Freeze Mashed Potatoes in A Ziplock Bag?
Yes, you can freeze them in a Ziploc bag. Just follow these steps:
- Wash the potatoes thoroughly before cooking and peel off the skin.
- Cook The Potatoes and Mash or blend them in a food processor until smooth.
- Place in a bowl and cover, letting them sit overnight in the fridge.
- Drain and liquid and put into a Ziploc bag.
- Seal, Label, and Freeze.