Sweet potatoes aren’t the same as potatoes. Although both sweet potatoes, as well as white potatoes belong to tubers that originated from Central as well as South America, they’re not distant cousins. Sweet potatoes are extremely rich in vitamins A, C and dietary fiber. They can be cooked in many different ways, from boiling to mashing to dicing and roasting.
There aren’t many veggies that are as versatile as sweet potatoes. They are great with almost everything sweet or savory. If you’re a big fan of sweet potatoes, you likely need to buy sweet potatoes to avoid going to the supermarket too often.
If you’re wondering whether you could put the cooked sweet potatoes in the freezer, The answer is yes. There’s no need to throw out your leftovers when you could save them to use in the future. Read on to find out how.
Can Sweet Potatoes Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze all kinds of sweet potatoes, including mashed potatoes and raw and cooked sweet potatoes. There are several methods to store sweet potatoes. There are also steps to be done in preparing the sweet potatoes to ensure that they aren’t ruined by flavor or become mushy on the day they are thawed.
Cooking the sweet potatoes in water before freezing can prevent the enzymatic process that results in changes in texture and color. This will prolong their shelf-life substantially.
How to Freeze Sweet Potatoes?
Freezing sweet potatoes is a great way to enjoy them throughout the year and reduce cooking time. The sweet potato can be frozen, raw, cooked, boiled, baked, or mashed. Explore various ways to prepare and keep sweet potatoes in the freezer.
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Boiled:
Cook sweet potatoes in a single pot, cut, dice, or slice. There is no need to peel them before cooking since the skins easily peel off after cooking. Sweet potatoes cooked in boiling are ideal for making stews, soups, and candied sweet yams.
To store boiled sweet potatoes:
- Place fresh sweet potatoes in a large pot of simmering water.
- Cook them for between ten and fifteen minutes until the skin quickly gets out with a fork, but they retain some rigidity.
- Remove the potatoes from the saucepan and allow them to cool down to room temperature.
- Transfer them into a freezer bag, squeeze out any air, and then keep their contents in the freezer for up to 6 months just like frozen boiled potatoes easily.
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Baked:
Baked sweet potatoes typically take an extended time to cook. Preparing a large amount and freezing them will reduce the time needed to cook your favorite sweet potato dishes.
To cook and freeze sweet potatoes baked in the oven to bake sweet potatoes, first heat the oven to 375°F. Rub and wash your sweet, fresh potatoes. Use a fork to poke the skin several times, then place them on a baking sheet. Cook the sweet potato for 90 minutes and then allow them to cool down to room temperature. Then, wrap each potato with aluminum foil and place it in a freezer bag. You can keep sweet potatoes baked in the oven on a frozen shelf for up to six months.
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Mashed:
Mashed sweet potatoes taste great as a stand-alone ingredient. You can combine them in numerous sweet potato dishes like sweet potato casseroles or desserts made with sweet potatoes.
To make and store mashed potatoes, roast or cook your sweet potatoes. Allow them to cool to room temperature before peeling away the outer skins. Put the spuds into an enormous bowl and then mix them using a wooden spoon until they’re smooth.
Add one tablespoon of lemon juice per quarter quart of sweet potato to stop your potatoes from becoming brown. Transfer the sweet potato mash to freezer bags and squeeze them flat to make as much space inside the bag as possible. Take out all the air.
You can store the sweet potatoes mashed in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Can You Freeze Cooked Sweet Potato Wedges?
Yes, you can freeze sweet potato wedges cooked for up to 3 months.
To freeze, make those sweet potato slices like you usually do.
Then let the wedges blanch for a couple of minutes before drying and draining them completely.
The blanching process will stop the cooking process while the potato slices are only partially cooked.
Allow them to cool to temperatures at room temperature.
You can then freeze them or freeze them in flash wedges before packing them into airtight bags.
You can also store sweet potato wedges in portions of a single portion.
This allows you to get only the amount you require.
If you’d like to have these sweet potato wedges, remove them from the freezer and let them be thawed in the refrigerator overnight.
You can also make use of the defrost feature in your microwave. if you want to know lip smacking grilled potato wedges recipe then checkout here.
How to Thaw Frozen Sweet Potatoes?
The second important aspect is to know how to remove the sweet potatoes from their freezer. If you don’t handle it properly, all the effort you put into freezing them won’t be worth it. But don’t fret; it’s easy to melt frozen sweet potatoes.
No matter what cooking method you choose, take the frozen spuds from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator. Allow them to sit for a while until they have thawed.
If you don’t have space in your refrigerator, place the vegetables in cold water for the night.
It is also possible to use microwaves to help speed up the process. Change the microwave settings so they “defrost,” then wait until they’ve been frozen and thawed. One word of caution, However, this method can cause the drying of your sweet potatoes.
Tips & Tricks
- If you think that raw sweet potatoes are safe in the refrigerator. Think twice. They’ll grow hardcore and aren’t as tasty.
- In actuality, these guys can be frozen longer. As a rule of thumb, you can keep them for up to one year if properly frozen.
- One benefit is that even if you freeze sweet potatoes doesn’t mean that they lose their nutritional significance. They still provide all the health benefits, even if they’re frozen.
- When your sweet potato is suffering from the freezer, burn it doesn’t mean they’re not safe to consume. At the same time, they may not taste as delicious; however, they’re still suitable for eating.
- If you don’t own an air sealer, use the straw to secure your meal. Seal the bag, leaving an opening. Insert a straw into this opening, then squeeze the most air you can. Seal it completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell when the sweet potato has gone off?
Sweet potato that is raw and has turned soft, mushy, or has developed molds, should be removed. The drastic shift in color from light brown or black can be an indication it is a sign that the sweet potato is rotten. Sweet potatoes that have been cooked and become rotten will give off-odor.
Can You Refreeze Sweet Potatoes?
It’s not recommended to freeze any food after you’ve thawed it, and sweet potatoes aren’t any different. The process of freezing and thawing can cause food items to undergo a process of degradation and the growth of bacteria, so you should be careful not to freeze more than once.
Can You Freeze Sweet Potato Chips?
Yes, you can! Frozen sweet potato fries or chips are an excellent method of having them in the fridge without having to prepare them. Prepare your fries as normal and boil them for five minutes with boiling water. Drain, then allow to steam dry before packing them in bags, they taste quite good just like apple chips, potato chips etc.
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