I run a sweet potato farm. My town has been hit by a storm, so I have no other choice but to sell all my sweet potatoes. However, there are still a lot of unsold stocks and I worry that they might rot soon. Can I freeze these sweet potatoes so that they may have longer shelf life?
I am sorry for the disaster that happened in your place. Nature, indeed, can be a farmer’s worst nightmare. Rotten crops would be a huge loss especially to your income as a farmer. By freezing them, you would gain more time to sell your stocks.
The sad thing is that raw sweet potatoes can not be successfully frozen. However, freezing cooked sweet potatoes is possible. With this method, they can last for 10 to 12 months when properly stored. The sweet potatoes to be frozen should be fresh, else it will result to a poor quality food.
Can you Freeze Sweet Potatoes?
Sweet potatoes cannot be frozen effectively. Freezing them raw would decrease its taste and nutritional content. They also become brittle.
However, boiled and baked sweet potatoes can be frozen. There is no significant change in taste when freezing is done correctly.
For successful freezing, fresh sweet potatoes should be used. Note that their skin is even and has smooth tones. Sweet potatoes with bruises should be avoided as they are prone to bacterial growth.
The sweet potatoes would have to be cured first for at least a week in order to get a desirable taste. They can be mashed or sliced, all up to your choice. It is also recommended to dip or mix lemon juice on the sweet potato to prevent discoloration.
Sealing of the sweet potatoes in a freezer bag where air is removed is also important. It prevents the growth of microbes in your food, extending its shelf life.
In room temperature, raw sweet potatoes have an average shelf life of 1 to 2 weeks. When cooked and frozen, they may last 10 to 12 months depending on how it was stored.
How to freeze sweet potatoes
The only way to freeze sweet potatoes successfully is to cook it first. Though it involves cooking, it is still a very easy method.
- Cure the sweet potatoes for about a week. You can cure them by letting them dry outside where it is warm.
- Pick only fresh sweet potatoes. The fresh ones have smooth and blemish-free skin. The overripe ones have decaying spots.
- Boil the sweet potatoes in water. You can also bake them in an oven. Cook until the sweet potatoes become mushy.
- Let them sit in room temperature. Freezing while they are still hot may result to food spoilage.
- Skin the sweet potato and you can choose to either chop or mash it.
- For chopped sweet potatoes, dip into two tablespoons of lemon juice. For the mashed ones, mix it into the same amount of lemon juice. This will prevent discoloration of your frozen sweet potato.
- Place them in a freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible in order to prevent bacterial growth.
- Seal the bag and freeze. They can be stored for 10 to 12 months, depending on how careful you were on freezing.
How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Sweet Potatoes?
Sweet potatoes are a delicious and nutritious vegetable that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. But what do you do when you have extra sweet potatoes? Here are five delicious ways to use up your leftover sweet potatoes:
- Make roasted sweet potato wedges – Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut your sweet potatoes into wedges and toss with olive oil and sea salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Make mashed sweet potatoes – Another great way to use up your leftover sweet potatoes is to make mashed sweet potatoes. Just add them to a large pot with some milk and butter, and mash until desired consistency is reached. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Make sweet potato fries – If you’re in the mood for something a little lighter, try making sweet potato fries. Just cut your sweet potatoes into fry-sized pieces, toss with some olive oil and sea salt, and spread on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Make a sweet potato casserole – A classic holiday dish that’s perfect for using up leftover sweet potatoes. Simply combine mashed sweet potatoes with eggs, sugar, milk, and spices. Pour into a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Top with marshmallows (optional) and serve warm.
- Make sweet potato pancakes – For a fun and unique way to use up your leftover sweet potatoes, try making sweet potato pancakes. Just add mashed sweet potatoes to your favorite pancake recipe (or use this recipe) and cook as usual. Serve with syrup and butter, and enjoy!
So there you have it – five delicious ways to use up your leftover sweet potatoes. Next time you find yourself with extra sweet potatoes, try one of these recipes and enjoy!
Sweet potato recipe
This baked sweet potato is a side dish filled with sweet potato goodness. Its taste is boosted with the addition of salt, butter, and ground pepper.
With sweet potato hash browns, eating hash browns can now be done healthily. This crispy hash brown, seasoned with Himalayas salt, has also a garlicky taste which made it even more delicious.
Eating fries every day without sacrificing your health is now possible with sweet potato fries. This is perfect for health conscious consumers who are fries lovers.
Wrap Up
Yes, you can freeze sweet potatoes. You can also use sweet potatoes for baking purposes or as a substitute for regular potatoes! If they are still whole after freezing, just cook them in the oven until they turn soft and become edible. Once cooked, they can be used as any other vegetable side dish such as mashed sweet potato. Follow these steps on how to freeze your sweet potatoes: make sure you wash them first before cutting (if necessary), peel off their skin (if necessary), cut each piece into cubes of about 1 inch thickness, place on a tray or container (in a single layer) and freeze for 12 hours or more depending on your refrigerator, transfer them to an airtight container (or bag) and place back in the freezer.
Now that you know how to freeze your sweet potatoes, please share your experience with me in the comment section below.
