Can You Freeze Cooked Sweet Potatoes? [4 Ways To Freeze Them]

Raw sweet potatoes will last for a week or two at room temperature. However, cooked sweet potatoes don’t last as long. If you have cooked a large batch of sweet potatoes and want to store the excess for later, you may think of refrigerating or freezing the leftovers. But, can you freeze cooked sweet potatoes?

You can freeze cooked sweet potatoes in airtight, freezer-safe containers or bags. You can either boil, bake, blanch, or mash them before putting them in the freezer. Raw sweet potatoes don’t stay in the refrigerator due to their high-water content. However, they stay in the freezer for six months.

Let’s talk about this in more detail now.

Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Cooked Sweet Potatoes?

Sweet potatoes are root vegetables with a long shelf-life.

They will last for at least a month when you store them at room temperature in a dry, cool place.

Depending on the temperature and humidity conditions of the place where you live, they may keep for even longer.

They remain usable until they lose their firmness or start sprouting.

Unlike most fruits and vegetables, raw sweet potatoes don’t do well in the refrigerator or freezer because of their high-water content.

The cold and humid refrigerator environment changes their texture.

If you have no other option but to refrigerate raw sweet potatoes, cut them and submerge them in water before placing them in the fridge.

They will not last too long, even when stored in this manner. You should use them within a day.

However, cooked sweet potatoes hold up very well in the refrigerator and freezer.

You can store cooked sweet potatoes in the refrigerator for a few days. In the fridge, they will hold up for up to a week.

These vegetables hold up for even longer in the freezer.

If you freeze them properly, they will last for several months.

Freezing sweet potatoes doesn’t affect their texture.

You can thaw them, and they will be just as good as freshly prepared sweet potatoes.

How To Freeze Cooked Sweet Potatoes? (Four Easy And Practical Ways)

Cooked sweet potatoes hold up well in the freezer. Here are four easy ways to prepare them for freezing.

1. Boiling

The simplest way to prepare a big batch of sweet potatoes for freezing is by boiling.

You can boil the sweet potatoes whole without even peeling their skins.

Just cut them up into chunks of any size and put them into a pot of boiling water.

Boil till the skin comes off. It shouldn’t take more than fifteen minutes.

Then, remove the cooked sweet potatoes from the pot, peel the skin, and leave to cool.

Once they are at room temperature, bag them in airtight, freezer-safe bags and get rid of any excess air. Seal it and place it inside the freezer.

2. Blanching

If you don’t have enough time to boil all your sweet potatoes, you can quickly prepare them for freezing by blanching.

For this process, prepare a large pot of boiling water.

Chop the sweet potatoes and add them to the boiling water.

Wait for three to five minutes till they are tender but firm.

Remove the potatoes from the hot water and transfer them quickly into an ice bath.

The ice will stop them from cooking any further.

You can now put them in a freezer-safe bag and seal the bag. Use them up within twelve months.

3. Baking

Baking sweet potatoes takes a long time.

Nonetheless, baking a large batch of sweet potatoes ahead of time and freezing them will help you save the time you spend cooking each day.

When it’s time for your meal, pull them out of the freezer, reheat, and use them as a side dish.

To prepare sweet potatoes for baking, clean them thoroughly.

Pierce the skin with a fork on all sides and line them up on a large baking tray.

Bake at 375°F for ninety minutes until they are nicely done. Then, let them cool to room temperature.

Wrap the baked sweet potatoes in aluminum foil or parchment paper and place them in an airtight freezer-safe bag.

You can store them in the freezer and use them within four to six months.

Recommended: Can You Cook A Sweet Potato With Its Skin On? | Does A Sweet Potato Grows Underground? | When Does A Sweet Potato Goes Bad? | Can Onions Go Bad?

4. Mashing

Mashed sweet potatoes are a versatile ingredient that you can have on their own or add to various recipes.

They hold up well in the freezer and thaw easily.

To prepare mashed potatoes, begin by boiling or baking the sweet potatoes.

Peel off their skins after they cool down completely.

Then, mash the sweet potatoes with a fork or wooden spoon, taking care to avoid lumps.

To prevent discoloration, add an acidic agent like lemon juice or citric acid to the mash.

Next, transfer them to freezer-safe bags or containers.

If using airtight bags, squeeze out the excess air before sealing the bags and freezing them.

You can use these mashed sweet potatoes for up to six months.

You can even freeze individual portions separately to easily take them out and thaw at different times.

How To Thaw Frozen Sweet Potatoes?

You can thaw cooked and frozen sweet potatoes in the refrigerator or on the countertop.

To make sure that the sweet potatoes thaw evenly, we recommend leaving them in the refrigerator overnight.

It will take less time to thaw the potatoes at room temperature.

However, you may end up with frozen bits this way.

You can also use the defrost setting on your microwave oven to thaw frozen cooked sweet potatoes quickly.

Choose the right time setting to ensure that the sweet potatoes defrost properly but are not overcooked.

Can You Freeze Cooked Sweet Potato Casserole?

You can save a lot of time and effort by doubling up a sweet potato casserole recipe and freezing the excess for another meal.

The easiest way to do this is by freezing the casserole in the dish you intend to serve it.

After preparing the casserole recipe, allow it to cool to room temperature.

Then, cover the top of the casserole with parchment or aluminum foil.

Wrap the top of the casserole once again and seal it thoroughly.

Place the casserole inside a ziplock bag to prevent air and moisture from seeping inside.

If you prefer to store the dish in an airtight plastic container, lock it in place with the lid.

Store the topping in a separate bag, so it doesn’t touch the sweet potato base.

You can place it in the same ziplock bag as the casserole and freeze it together.

When you decide to use the casserole, give it 24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator.

Once it has thawed, leave it on the countertop to allow it to reach room temperature.

Finally, prepare the frozen topping, assemble the casserole, and bake it as per the recipe instructions.

Can You Freeze Cooked Sweet Potato Pie?

Yes, you can freeze cooked sweet potato pie. It will hold up in the freezer for up to three months.

However, the texture of the pie may change slightly from when it was freshly prepared.

To store cooked sweet potato pie for future use, prepare the pie and leave it outside to cool.

Once it reaches room temperature, cover it with plastic wrap.

Wrap it once again with aluminum foil to prevent air and moisture from entering.

Alternatively, you can also place it in a freezer-safe container with an airtight lid and freeze it.

When you decide to use the pie, give it 24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator.

After that, let it return to room temperature by leaving it on the counter for an hour.

Then, bake or reheat the pie for 30 to 40 minutes before serving it.

Can You Freeze Cooked Sweet Potato Mash?

Cooked sweet potato mash freezes beautifully when you take suitable precautions to store it properly.

You can use it for up to a year in the freezer.

To freeze cooked sweet potato mash, prepare the mash without any lumps.

Add a spoon of lemon juice or citric acid to prevent any discoloration during storage.

Transfer it into an airtight freezer container or zip-lock bag.

Remove any excess air. Finally, place it in the freezer, where it will keep for several months.

You can allow it to thaw in the refrigerator or on the countertop when you need it.

You can also reheat it in the microwave using the defrost setting.

Can You Freeze Cooked Sweet Potato Fries?

Just like regular potato fries, sweet potato fries also freeze well.

To prepare them for freezing, cut the sweet potato fries and boil them for two to five minutes.

Then, quickly transfer them into ice water to complete the blanching process.

After that, drain the sweet potato fries, dry them thoroughly, and pack them into airtight freezer-safe bags.

You can also toss them with cooking oil or bake them in a pre-heated oven for 15 minutes prior to storage.

When the fries cool, flash freeze them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Then, pack them into freezer-safe bags and store them till you need them.

This method ensures that the fries don’t stick to each other.

You can easily remove the amount you need from the bag and leave the rest undisturbed in the freezer.

With either method, use your cooked sweet potato fries within three to four months.

Related: Does Microwaving Sweet Potatoes Destroy Nutrients? | Do Juicers Leave Pulp? | Does A Masticating Juicer Retains Fiber? | Are Tortillas Bread?

Can You Freeze Cooked Sweet Potato Wedges?

Yes, you can freeze cooked sweet potato wedges for up to three months.

For freezing, prepare the sweet potato wedges as you usually do.

Then blanch the wedges for a few minutes before draining and drying them thoroughly.

Blanching will stop the cooking process, and the sweet potato wedges will be partially cooked.

Leave them to cool to room temperature at this stage.

You can then directly freeze them or flash freeze the wedges before packing them into airtight bags.

You can also freeze sweet potato wedges in individual portions.

This will make it convenient to retrieve just the amount you need.

When you wish to enjoy the sweet potato wedges, take them out of the freezer and let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Alternatively, you can also use the defrost setting on your microwave.