Roast potatoes are a popular side dish that pairs well with grilled meats and poultry. Since it’s simple to make, it’s so easy to make a too-large batch of roast potatoes especially if you’re hosting a special event. So how do you keep the leftovers? Can you freeze roast potatoes?
Yes, you can freeze roast potatoes and it’s quite easy too. But before we get into that, do note that cooked potato is prone to texture changes when it’s stored in the freezer improperly. It could take on a grainy, soggy texture when the roast potatoes are exposed to frost and freezer burn. But when done right, roast potatoes should retain its smooth, delectable flavors even when frozen and defrosted.
When kept in the fridge, roast potatoes will only keep for 3 to 5 days. But when kept in the freezer, the dish will last for a year or more. This goes especially if the temperature is kept at a steady 0° Fahrenheit!
Thawed cooked or roasted potatoes will keep in the fridge for an additional 3 to 4 days. How you reheat the potatoes will affect the shelf life of the dish once it’s been defrosted.
Below is a step by step guide on how can you freeze roast potatoes.
How to Freeze Roast Potatoes?
If you’re making roast potatoes from scratch and you’re expecting a lot of leftovers, we suggest holding off on the seasonings until you’re ready to serve. That means washing, peeling, boiling, and sprinkling a little flour on the potato quarters before freezing. Seasonings tend to change flavors when frozen and defrosted and this could alter the flavor of the dish itself.
To store the half-made roasted potatoes, leave the potatoes to cool completely. Using a shallow rigid plastic container with an airtight lid, place the potatoes inside the container. Do not overfill the container, give the potato pieces enough room so they don’t stick together. Cover with the airtight lid then write the storage date. Finish up by sticking in the freezer.
Now for the leftover roasted potatoes, get several resealable plastic bags. You can either store the spuds in one large resealable plastic bag or divide the leftover into manageable portions using smaller resealable plastic bags. With a slotted spoon, spoon leftover potatoes into the plastic bag. Squeeze as much air as you can before sealing. Then, write the storage date with a marker and stick in the freezer.
How to Defrost and Reheat Roasted Potatoes?
It’s not recommended to defrost the roasted potatoes unless you’re reheating the leftovers.
For make-ahead roast potatoes with zero seasonings, you can cook the potato from frozen. Just preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit. On a greased baking dish, drizzle the spuds with olive oil and your choice of seasonings then stick in the oven. Cook for 15 minutes or so.
For leftover roasted potatoes, you can thaw the dish by transferring it from the freezer to the fridge. However, try not to let the spuds thaw completely. About an hour or two after transferring the roast potatoes to the fridge, you can reheat it using the microwave. Set on high then cook on 2-minute intervals. Just so the potatoes won’t dry out, cover the dish with a damp paper towel prior to microwaving.
Summary
Roast potatoes make a great snack, an appetizer or as a side dish. Now that you know how can you freeze roast potatoes, you can make a large batch and keep the rest for later!