Sweet potatoes are versatile, full of vitamin A, C, fiber and potassium and can be prepared in many different ways (is there a helping of fried sweet potatoes in there?). If you need to cut the potatoes before cooking or you have some that want to go bad and you want to freeze them so they don't lose, here are some ways to store the cut potatoes so they stay good longer.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Keeping sliced raw sweet potatoes in the refrigerator
Step 1. Place the sliced raw potatoes in a large bowl
You can peel them or not, it's up to you, and they can be cut into cubes, large pieces or any other shape you like. Get a clean bowl large enough to hold all the pieces without going over the edge.
See if you have room in the fridge to put the bowl. If not, rearrange things so that it fits
Step 2. Cover the potatoes with cold water
You can use filtered or tap water. Stir the potatoes to ensure the water reaches all the pieces.
You can also put a handful of ice in the bowl to keep the water very cold, but this is not mandatory
Step 3. Leave the bowl in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours
If you're preparing things for a large meal, cut the potatoes a day early and refrigerate until it's time to cook. If you take out the water and notice that the potatoes are getting dark, soft or sticky, throw them away as they are spoiling.
Do not leave the bowl out of the fridge for more than two hours. This does not harm the potatoes, but it does heat up the water, which can darken them
Method 2 of 3: Freezing sliced raw sweet potatoes
Step 1. If freezing, peel and cut the potatoes into cubes
Take a vegetable peeler and peel off the potatoes. Place them on a clean board and cut into cubes of 1.5 cm or so. If you prefer, cut them into pieces or strips, as if you were making potato chips.
- It is important to remove the skin from the potato when freezing the cubes so that, when thawing, the bacteria present in the skin do not pass onto the potato.
- This process helps a lot those who have whole sweet potatoes that they want to spoil.
- Save the skins to make a vegetable stock or place them in your compost pile.
Step 2. scald the sweet potatoes for two or three minutes.
Boil water in a large pot, add potatoes and leave for two or three minutes. Carefully drain the water and transfer the potatoes to a bowl of ice water. Leave them there for another two or three minutes. Remove from water and place on top of a few sheets of paper towels to dry.
The scalding process prevents the potato from becoming soft and sticky after thawing
Step 3. Place the parboiled potato pieces in zippered plastic bags
Use sandwich bags or larger, depending on how much potato you have to store. Put the amount equivalent to a meal and get as much air as you can at closing time.
- Separating the potatoes into portions saves you time later. Since potatoes tend to stick together when frozen, leaving portions separate saves you from having to thaw a bunch of potatoes just to use a few.
- If you have a vacuum sealer, this is a good time to use it!
Step 4. Store raw sweet potatoes in the freezer for up to six months
Don't put anything on top of the potatoes until they've completely frozen so they don't squish before they harden. They will take five or six hours to completely freeze.
Label the plastic bag and write “Frozen at xx/xx/xxxx” or “Use up to xx/xx/xxxx” in permanent marker before taking to freezer
Step 5. Thaw the sweet potatoes in the refrigerator for two to three hours
Do not place potatoes directly in the sink or counter without defrosting them in the fridge first. If you do, they can mold or develop bacteria from the sudden change in temperature. Try to use the sweet potatoes within 24 hours of taking them out of the freezer.
- The thawed potato will be a little softer compared to a fresh one that has just been cut but is still good to eat.
- If the potatoes get frostbite, they may not taste as good as they used to be. It's up to you to use them or not.
- If you don't have time to wait to defrost in the refrigerator, use the microwave defrost function.
Method 3 of 3: Storing cooked sliced sweet potatoes
Step 1. Store the sliced baked potatoes in the refrigerator for seven days
Place potatoes in an airtight pot within an hour of cooking. You can also put them in the fridge while they're still hot if you want to put them away immediately after cooking. If the pot does not have a lid, cover it with plastic wrap.
Put a “Done day…” label on the jar to remember how long you can use it
Step 2. Freeze the sliced baked sweet potatoes in a plastic bag for up to one year
They can be cut, whole or pureed. You can freeze any potato that has already been cooked. Just put the potatoes in the plastic bag, remove the excess air and place them in the freezer. When you want to use it, defrost it in the refrigerator for a few hours and heat it up in the microwave, oven or on the stove.
Don't forget to put a label on the plastic bag so that you know until what date you can use the potatoes
Step 3. Throw away any baked sweet potatoes that are discolored or smelly
If you are going to heat the potatoes and smell bad or if they are discolored and have brown, black or even moldy spots, throw them away immediately.
- If, when you take the potatoes out of the freezer, you notice that they have been frostbitten, it is up to you to use them or not. Technically, they can be safely consumed, but they won't taste the same.
- If you have sweet potatoes in the fridge and you're worried that you won't be able to use them before they go bad, freeze them so you don't lose them.
Step 4. Ready
Tips
- If you have sweet potatoes that are about to go bad, cut them up and freeze! Thus, you can conserve them and avoid waste.
- Technically, sweet potatoes frozen at -18°C would last forever in the freezer, but to maintain their flavor, follow the shelf life recommendations given in the steps above.