Prepping Potatoes for the Freezer

Have you ever had a large bag of potatoes that was going to go bad before you could use it all? I have! I get them when the price is right, but don't always feel like having a ton of potato meals. What better way to save those potatoes than putting them in the freezer?!

The tricky part about freezing potatoes is, they don't freeze well raw. After thawing a raw potato the texture gets mealy and undesirable. However, you don't want to cook them so much that they fall apart when cooking.

Here's what I do:

Dice potatoes and place in a stock pot.
Cover completely with water and bring to a boil.
Allow to boil 2-3 minutes- potatoes should be just barely cooked though.

Drain and rinse with cold water to stop potatoes from cooking further.

Spread out on a lined baking sheet and flash freeze for 2-5 hours.

Remove potatoes from freezer and transfer to labeled freezer bags.
If you have a scale, I recommend dividing them in 32oz (2lb) bags- it's the standard size you'll find at the grocery.
Place bags in freezer and use when you're ready.

Note: I leave the skins on, but you can peel them before dicing if you prefer.

What's your favorite way to use frozen diced potatoes?

This post was originally published on 12/30/11 @ oneincomefamilyliving.blogspot.com. I wrote, revised, and transferred it here.