Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Update on the Frozen Mashed White Potatoes

Quite pleased with the results of the frozen mashed sweet potatoes, we pulled some frozen mashed white potatoes from the freezer recently as well.  I froze these in 1 cup portions as well.  Our grocer only sells organic white so that's what I froze, but if they start selling organic red skin potatoes, I'll use them as well.  And if you are new to reading my blog, our garden was flooded out, so I had very little harvest, hence the buying of potatoes in 2015.

The results?


Delicious.  I noticed the outside of them, after I reheated in the oven, dried a teensy bit, but they were very good.   Just like the frozen mashed sweet potatoes, I heated them frozen, and did not thaw them.


These were previously mashed with organic butter and organic greek plain yogurt (and salt), and there was no difference in taste and texture after reheating.  I do recommend packaging them individually, then into a larger bag, so you can take as you need.  Otherwise they will freeze together (or use your foodsaver).

I'll most likely be doing this until I get a root cellar.  Then again, it was mighty nice to just pull them from the freezer already mashed too. 

14 comments:

Dawn said...

Have you tried freezing baked potatoes, often when I am cooking some I put extras in the oven then once cool I pop them in the freezer ready for a later date, they taste just the same, I will have to try some mashed and the sweet potatoes :-)

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Dawn, I had heard you could do that. I have not yet, however the mashed sweet potatoes tasted just like the inside of a baked one too.

hoosier girl said...

I had never thought to try freezing potatoes. Thanks for the tip!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Hoosier girl, I have frozen diced potatoes in the past, but never mashed. I do not have root cellar or good alternative yet, so buying and freezing was my choice last fall. My 100-some potato plants rotted due to excess rain last year.

Susan said...

Kristina, at what temperature and for how long do you cook yours? Mine were not as good, and I think it was because I thawed them first.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Susan, I heated mine at 350°F and set the timer for 45 minutes. I think I took mine out at about 40 minutes, but anywhere between 35-45 minutes appears to reheat them nicely.

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Amazing!
I am glad you updated on the outcome of the potatoes. I may just be trying this in the future. So then, you DO recommend adding butter before freezing?
I don't know that I'd have thought of that.
thanks for the great ideas!

Mama Pea said...

Okay, I think my problem was the same as Susan's. I thawed mine first and they got very "watery." Ishy, for sure. Even though we do have a root cellar and the potatoes keep well there, as you say, Kristi, having them all set in serving portions is something I like.

I make "Twice Baked Potatoes" (you know, scoop the centers out of baked potatoes, add sour cream, onions, seasonings, cheese, etc., then fill the potato shells back up with the mixture) and they freeze beautifully.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Patricia, I added butter and the yogurt, but drained out all the boiling water first. I was hesitant, but it turned out nicely.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Mama Pea, that sounds wonderful! I'll have to try making those next.

Lady Jane said...

Great idea... Will give this a try. Hugs, LJ

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Thanks Lady Jane

RB said...

Sounds real good.
Because of the cost of freezer bags, I was going to get a Foodsaver once but the bags for that aren't cheap either. Then I got smart, started saving everything for the freezer in individual portions in cheap sandwich bags which I then toss into the more expensive freezer bags for freezing. It keeps the freezer bags clean so you can use them again and again and again.
We're still dealing with the aftermath of the storms here in Central NC. We lost power for short periods here and there through the night, but about the time it took us to shift animals around to keep them warm and light candles, the lights came back on again. We were plenty blessed about that.
The yard looks like a war zone. We live in the midst of a gathering of tall pines. I lost count of the limbs that fell during the night. But we're mighty blessed they didn't hit anything major like the house, the cabin, the cars or the chicken coop. Everything's safe and sound. Praise God!!!
There are still hundreds of thousands of homes without power. Bro Tom's store didn't open today because the power was out to that entire area. I pray everyone remembered to let their faucets drip so they don't suffer water damage from burst pipes when the power comes back on.
Prayers also for those living alone, especially the disabled and elderly, that someone will check to be sure they're safe and warm too.
God bless.
RB
<><

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

RB, I too put off the purchase of a food saver due to cost. I am glad you area all okay after that storm.