Can You Freeze Sweet Potatoes (+ How to Do It Properly)
on Mar 09, 2022
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Known for its delicious flavor and health benefits, the sweet potato is an incredibly versatile vegetable. It can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes, from savory stews, to oven-baked wedges, and even desserts! If you have sweet potatoes on hand and you know you won’t get a chance to use them before they spoil, your best bet is to freeze them.
In today’s article, we’re sharing the best methods to freeze sweet potatoes. We’ve also included some tips on how to reheat sweet potatoes after they’ve been frozen.
Can You Freeze Sweet Potatoes?
Yes, you can freeze sweet potatoes. With a few tips and tricks, you can freeze the extra sweet potatoes you have and enjoy them later.
How to Freeze Sweet Potatoes?
Freezing Blanched Sweet Potatoes
- Cut the sweet potatoes into wedges or cubes.
- Blanch the potatoes by adding them to a pot of boiling water. Test the potatoes after 5 minutes. You want them to be tender, not soft. Continue to boil if needed.
- Place the potatoes into a bowl of ice water. This will stop the cooking process.
- Drain and cool the potatoes on paper towels.
- Place the potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Ensure they are well spaced and in a single layer. Place the trays into the freezer and leave until completely frozen. This will take 4-5 hours.
- Remove the potatoes from the freezer and transfer to resealable freezer-safe bags or containers. If using freezer bags, remove as much air as possible before sealing. Label the bags/containers and place them in the freezer until ready to use.
Freezing Sweet Potato Fries
- Cut the sweet potatoes into fries or wedges.
- Blanch the potatoes in boiling water. Test the potatoes after 2 minutes. You want them to be tender, not soft.
- Place the potatoes into a bowl of ice water. This will stop the cooking process. Drain and cool the potatoes on paper towels.
- Place the potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Ensure they are well spaced and in a single layer. Place the trays into the freezer and leave until completely frozen. This will take about 2 hours.
- Remove the potatoes from the freezer and transfer to resealable freezer-safe bags or a freezer-safe container. If using freezer bags, remove as much air as possible before sealing. Label the bags/containers and place them in the freezer until ready to use.
Freezing Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes and add to a pot of boiling water.
- Cook them until tender. Season as you would for mashed potatoes by adding butter, salt, pepper, cream, etc. Mash the potatoes until smooth.
- When completely cool, place the potatoes into a resealable freezer bag or a freezer-safe container. If using a freezer bag, place it flat on the counter so the potatoes are in a relatively even layer, and remove all excess air. You can also place the mashed potatoes into ice-cube trays, and then place the trays into resealable freezer bags.
- Label the containers/freezer bags and leave them in the freezer until ready to use.
Freezing Boiled Sweet Potatoes
- Wash and scrub the potatoes well, and cut into desired pieces. The skin can remain at this point as it will come off easily when the potatoes are cooked.
- Place the potatoes into a pot of boiling water. Check the potatoes after 10 minutes. You should be able to pierce the potatoes with the tip of a knife. You want them to be tender but still firm.
- Remove the potatoes from the pot and cool to room temperature.
- Place the cooled potatoes into freezer-safe containers or resealable freezer bags. If using freezer bags, remove as much air as possible before sealing. Label the containers/freezer bags and leave them in the freezer until ready to use.
Freezing Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Wash and scrub the potatoes well. Use a fork to poke them all over and place them on a large baking pan.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake the potatoes for up to 1 – 1.5 hours until tender .
- Turn the oven off, and leave the potatoes in the oven until they have cooled to room temperature. This will take about 30 minutes.
- Wrap each potato with foil and place into resealable freezer-safe bags or a freezer-safe container. If using freezer bags, remove as much air as possible before sealing. Label the bags/containers and place them in the freezer until ready to use.
How to Thaw Frozen Sweet Potatoes
Remove the potatoes from the freezer and place them in the fridge until thawed. This will take a few hours.
To speed up the process, you can also use your microwave, however, the potatoes may dry out a bit. Select the defrost setting and defrost until they are completely thawed, checking every couple of minutes or so.
How To Reheat Frozen Sweet Potato Cubes/Wedges
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until hot and tender.
How To Reheat Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes until done.
How To Reheat Frozen Mashed Potatoes
Place the potatoes into a pot and gently reheat until they are hot and the consistency of mashed potatoes. Taste and re-season as needed.
Can you Freeze Sweet Potatoes Raw?
Because of their high water content, sweet potatoes must be cooked before freezing.
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How to Freeze Sweet Potatoes (Step by Step Instructions)
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes
- Water
Instructions
- Cut the sweet potatoes into wedges or cubes.
- Add them to a pot of boiling water. Cook for 5 minutes or until they are tender but not soft.
- Place the potatoes into a bowl of ice water. This will stop the cooking process.
- Drain and cool the potatoes on paper towels.
- Place the blanched potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Ensure they are well spaced and in a single layer. Place the trays into the freezer and leave until completely frozen. This will take 4-5 hours.
- Remove the potatoes from the freezer and transfer to resealable freezer-safe bags or containers. If using freezer bags, remove as much air as possible before sealing. Label the bags/containers and place them in the freezer until ready to use.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
