Can You Freeze Mashed Potatoes?
Mashed potatoes are an excellent side dish to any meal, but they can also be used as a base for other dishes such as casseroles and soups. They’re versatile enough to make them ahead of time and freeze them in individual portions or even whole containers.
So, if you’re wondering if you can freeze mashed gold potatoes, the quick answer is yes! But there are some things that you need to keep in mind before doing so. The best way to store mashed dollop potatoes is in the refrigerator. This will help prevent the starch from turning into lumps and allow the flavors to develop. However, they’ll start to thaw once you take them out of the fridge.
How Long Would Frozen Potatoes Last?
If you freeze potatoes, the shelf life depends on how many servings you have stored at one time and the kinds of potatoes. For a 3lbs of potatoes, you need to portion it when you freeze it. If you plan to use frozen potatoes within two months, then it’s safe to assume that they’ll still taste good.
However, if you want to freeze bake potatoes for longer than two months, you should consider using them immediately after defrosting. Otherwise, the texture may become mushy.
How Do You Freeze Mashed Potatoes?
There are two ways to freeze mashed larger potatoes: flash freezing and non-portioned.
Flash Freezing
Flash freezing is the most common method of storing mashed potatoes. To do this, simply place your potatoes in a freezer bag and seal it tightly. Then, put the bag in the freezer. Once the potatoes are completely frozen, remove them from the freezer and transfer them to a storage container.
Non-Portioned
Another option is to portion out the mashed potatoes. For example, you could divide them into small containers and freeze them individually. When you’re ready to reheat them, just add water and heat until warm.
Easy Ways For Reheating Frozen Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes can be made ahead of time and frozen. However, when you reheat them, you should avoid adding too much liquid because it might cause the potatoes to get soggy. Here are some ways to preheat frozen mashed potatoes:
Stovetop
If you’re reheating frozen mashed potatoes over the stove, you don’t need to worry about getting them too wet. Simply bring a pot of water to a boil and pour it over the potatoes. Let them simmer for 10 minutes and then serve.
Microwave
The easiest way to reheat frozen mashed potatoes is by microwaving them. Simply microwave them on high for about 3 minutes per serving. Make sure to use a microwave-safe bowl. Alternatively, you can boil them in a saucepan over medium heat.
Oven
If you’re not in a hurry and want to cook the potatoes thoroughly, you can bake them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the potatoes on the baking sheet and cover them with aluminum foil. Bake them for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue cooking for another 30 minutes.
Slow Cooker
When reheating mashed potatoes using a slow cooker, you need to ensure that the potatoes aren’t sitting directly on each other. Instead, arrange them in an even layer on a plate or bowl. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and then cover it with aluminum foil. Set the slow cooker to low and let the potatoes cook for 5 hours.
Other Mashed Potatoes That Can Be Frozen
Aside from regular mashed potatoes, you can also freeze mashed sweet potatoes, hash browns, and creamed corn. The only thing you need to remember is that these foods will lose their flavor after being frozen. So, you should try to eat them as soon as possible.
Here are some other mashed potatoes you can freeze:
Mashed Potato Flakes
Mashed potato flakes are similar to instant mashed potatoes but they have a more delicate consistency. They come in various flavors, such as garlic butter, cheese, and bacon.
To make mashed potato flakes, you will need to cut up a peeled potato into small pieces. Then, place the pieces in a food processor and pulse them several times. You can use the resulting mixture to prepare mashed potatoes.
Mashed Potato With Toppings
To level up your mashed potato game, you can top it with different toppings. Some examples include sour cream, chives, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped green onions. For to make this happen, mix all of the ingredients before placing them on top of the mashed potatoes.
Sweet Potatoes
Instead of regular potatoes, you can also use sweet potatoes to make mashed potatoes. Sweet potatoes are sweeter than regular potatoes so you won’t need as much salt to season them. Plus, they are easier to peel.
You can either mash the sweet potatoes or leave them whole. If you choose to mash them, simply add raw milk and a stick of butter to the cooked sweet potatoes and blend them until smooth.
KFC Mashed Potato
If you’re a big fan of KFC, this potato recipe might be right up your alley. This version of mashed potatoes comes from the Colonel’s secret menu at his restaurants. It includes fried chicken, gravy, and crispy bits of bread.
You’ll first need to fry the chicken and then combine the chicken drippings with flour. Once the flour has been combined with the fat, you can add the rest of the ingredients. Finally, you can stir everything and pour it over the mashed potatoes. You can pair this with your favorite dip such as
Conclusion
To sum it up, there are many ways to make mashed potatoes. However, if you don’t like the taste of regular potatoes, then you can always experiment with other types of potatoes. Remember that you shouldn’t overcook them because they tend to get mushy when they are too soft.
If you’re thinking of storing your mashed potatoes, you can freeze them and thaw them out later. But you should avoid doing this because they tend to lose their texture.
