How to Freeze Sweet Potatoes

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Let’s learn how to freeze sweet potatoes in 4 different ways. Sweet potatoes are healthy, filling, and delicious. There are different ways to freeze sweet potatoes depending on how you want to use them when thawed.


I live in NC, the sweet potato capital! Sweet potatoes grow so well here, maybe better than any other crop. They are tough… They don’t mind the heavy soil, they don’t mind the brutal summer heat (actually, they love it!), they do just fine with our summer dry spells, and on the other hand, they can handle the monsoons.

Surprisingly, they don’t have too many bugs that bother them. The only ones that love them as much as us humans are the deer and the rabbits. The deer can be managed with this simple deer fence and the rabbits don’t eat that much (they only nibble on a few leaves here and there usually). And both creatures are afraid of dogs so if you have a good farm dog around, your sweet potatoes should be just fine!

How to Freeze Sweet Potatoes…

mashed sweet potatoes in bags

They are filling and healthy and, of course, delicious! Overall, they are a great crop to grow in the garden. I grow both the common orange sweet potatoes (here is how to plant sweet potatoes) and purple sweet potatoes.

The thing about sweet potatoes is that in addition to all the amazing benefits I mentioned above, they are also pretty easy to store for winter. If you have a root cellar, or a cool basement (that doesn’t freeze and stays around 45 degrees or so) it’s actually very easy to store sweet potatoes in bins throughout the winter.

So you might think, well, why do you freeze sweet potatoes then? Let me tell you…

Why Should I Freeze Sweet Potatoes?

  • The first reason is… Well, I don’t have a root cellar or a basement. I wish that I had. I literally dream about a root cellar at night! I also don’t use my air conditioning as most people do. I live in a small house with four kids. My doors are almost always open and we are all going in and out all day. Very often, the house is very warm and the sweet potatoes last for a month or so but then they’ll start sprouting and soften.
  • The other reason to freeze sweet potatoes is to save cooking time. I’ll show you below my favorite way to freeze sweet potatoes; as mashed sweet potatoes. I freeze the mashed sweet potatoes and later use them in my beloved sweet potato bread. I make a ton of sweet potato bread loaves during the summer and sell them at the local farmer’s market. It saves me a whole lot of time if I already have bags of measured and frozen sweet potato puree. I simply take as many as I need out of the freezer the night before and let them thaw during the night. Then I get to work on the bread in the morning!

Four Ways to Freeze Sweet Potatoes…

There are a few ways to freeze sweet potatoes. The way that you choose depends on what you are planning to do with your sweet potato later…

  1. Freeze blanched sweet potatoes.
  2. Freeze boiled sweet potatoes.
  3. Freeze roasted sweet potatoes.
  4. Freeze mashed sweet potatoes.

Freeze Blanched Sweet Potatoes…

You can freeze blanched sweet potatoes just as you would freeze blanched white potatoes or as you would blanch green beans and freeze them.

  • Peel your potatoes, cut them, and add them to a pot of boiling water.
  • Let cook for 2-3 minutes and then scoop them right into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
  • Let them hang in the ice water for a few minutes before removing them and drying them.
  • Then freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  • Once they are frozen, pack them in bags and store in the freezer (this way they won’t stick to each other).

If you are planning to use your sweet potatoes for sweet potato french fries, then this is a great way to freeze them. When you’re ready to use them, just take them out of the freezer, set them on a baking sheet and bake in a 450 degree preheated oven for 30 minutes or so.

Freeze Boiled Sweet Potatoes…

The thing about freezing raw potatoes is that they tend to change their color and darken in the freezer. Blanching can stop that, however, it’s not always enough for sweet potatoes. So your other option is to keep boiling your potatoes a bit longer… About 15 minutes or so.

This means that your potatoes are going to be a bit softer and you might not be able to use them later for a crispy french fries, but they’ll last a long time in the freezer and you can use them in many other recipes later.

Follow the same process that I describe above… Peel, cut (not as french fries. Larger pieces will work better), boil for 15 minutes or so (until tender but not completely soft). When freezing boiled potatoes, you don’t have to add them to an ice-water bath, just set them on a plate to cool and then pack them and freeze.

Freeze Baked Sweet Potatoes…

I love baked sweet potatoes! A baked purple sweet potato is a regular meal or side dish around here. It does take a little bit of time to bake potatoes though. So if you want to save yourself this time and ensure that you have a healthy and delicious side dish or a meal ready to go when you need it, you can freeze baked sweet potatoes beforehand.

I don’t peel the potatoes when baking. I stab them a few times with a fork and then wrap with tin foil (you can add a tiny bit of olive oil in there if you’d like). Then, bake them in a 425 degree oven. if you are going to freeze the baked potatoes, you can bake them 3/4 of the way (about 40 minutes in most cases, but this time will change depending on the size of the potato). Then, take them out of the oven, let them cool and freeze for later.

When you are ready to serve your potato, place it in a preheated oven again to thaw and for the final baking (20 minutes or so usually). Remove from the oven and season with butter, salt and pepper, and herbs.

Freeze Mashed Sweet Potatoes…

This is how I usually freeze my sweet potatoes simply because I use most (if not all) of my mashed sweet potatoes to make sweet potato bread. Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how I freeze mashed sweet potatoes…

Ingredients…

  • Sweet potatoes – make sure to choose firm sweet potatoes. Process as many as you want to freeze. If you are processing a large amount, you will probably need to work in batches. I usually work with eight sweet potatoes at a time.

Kitchen Tools…

  • Cutting board
  • Vegetable peeler
  • Knife
  • Pressure cooker – I use my pressure cooker to make the job of softening the potatoes go quicker. You don’t have to use a pressure cooker, you can just place your cut-up potatoes in a pot of boiling water and boil them until soft.
  • Skimmer
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Hand mixer – I use my hand mixer to mash the sweet potatoes. Of course, you can also use a potato masher for this.
  • Measuring cup
  • ZipLock bags – I use sandwich size ziplock bags and I measure 1.5 cups of mashed sweet potatoes per bag. This is the amount that I need to make one loaf of sweet potato bread. Choose the size of the bag that you are going to use according to how many cups of mashed sweet potatoes you want to fit in each bag.

How to Freeze Mashed Sweet Potatoes…

Step one – prep the sweet potatoes. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes. Since we are going to mash all of them, it really doesn’t matter how you cut them. I try to cut them into small pieces so they soften faster.

Step two – boil the sweet potatoes. If you are using a pressure cooker as I do, add the potatoes and 1.5 cups of water to the pot. Close the cooker, place it on the stovetop and turn the heat to high. It takes a few minutes for the water to start boiling and for the pressure to build. Once the weight starts to jiggle set your timer to six minutes. After six minutes, turn the heat off and take the pressure cooker to the sink to run some cold water over it.

The cold water will cool the pot quickly. Remove the weight and let the rest of the pressure escape before you open the pot. Then set the pot aside and let the potatoes cool.

If you don’t have or don’t want to use a pressure cooker, add the potatoes to a large pot and cover them with water. Set on the stovetop and bring the water to a boil. Lower the heat just a bit to keep a rolling boil and boil until the sweet potatoes are soft.

Step three – mash the sweet potatoes. Use a skimmer ladle to transfer the potatoes into a bowl. Then use a potato masher or a hand mixer to mash the potatoes. You might need to let them cool again for just a bit after mashing.

Step four – pack and freeze. Divide your mashed sweet potatoes into zip-lock bags. I add 1.5 cups of mashed sweet potatoes into a sandwich-size bag because that’s the portion that I need for one loaf of sweet potato bread. Close the bag and flatten it (it’s easier to stack the bags in the freezer and it’s easier to thaw them if they are flattened).

Always remember to label your bags before freezing. I also freeze pumpkin puree for my pumpkin bread so it’s easy to get confused. Once the bags are filled and labeled, send them to the freezer!

frozen sweet potatoes in bags

How to Use Frozen Mashed Sweet Potatoes…

  • In casseroles.
  • To make sweet potato pie or bread or any other baked good.
  • To make fritters – sweet potato puree goes very well in salmon patties.
  • As a mashed sweet potato side dish.

Frequently Asked Questions…

How long will frozen sweet potatoes last in the freezer?

Sweet potatoes will last a long long time in the freezer. My general rule is that I try to use my frozen goods within a year. I have never had a problem with a year-old bag of frozen sweet potatoes and I assume that it can even last longer than a year.

Will my frozen sweet potatoes change their color?

Since we blanch or boil before we freeze, the sweet potatoes shouldn’t change their color. However, if you are concerned about that feel free to add a tablespoon of orange or lemon juice to each one-quart of mashed sweet potatoes.

Do I need to thaw the potatoes before using them?

Always thaw the mashed sweet potatoes before using them. If you are freezing blanched potatoes as french fries, there is no need to thaw them, you can stick them in the oven when they are still frozen. If you boiled your potatoes, yes, thaw them before you use them. So really, it depends on how you chose to freeze the potatoes.


If you don’t have another way to store sweet potatoes then freezing them is a great option. No matter which way you choose, they are all pretty simple. Just think about the way that you’d like to use them later and choose the right way to freeze them accordingly.

More How to Freeze Content…

More Sweet Potato Recipes…

labeling the bag of frozen sweet potatoes

How to Freeze Sweet Potatoes

Yield: 8 sweet potatoes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

There are a few ways to freeze sweet potatoes. These instructions will walk you through how to freeze mashed sweet potatoes (other ways described in the notes and the post).

Ingredients

  • 8 sweet potatoes

Instructions

  1. Step one - Peel and cut the sweet potatoes. It doesn't really matter how you cut your potatoes since we are going to mash them but pieces shouldn't be too large so the potatoes can soften quickly.
  2. Step two - Add your potatoes to a pressure cooker (if you don't have a pressure cooker, just add them to a pot of boiling water and boil until soft). Add 1.5 cups of water (I use a Presto pressure cooker. If you use a different one, follow the manufacturer's instructions). Close the pot.
    Set the pressure cooker on the stovetop and turn the heat to high. It will take a few minutes for the water to boil and the pressure to build. Once the weight starts to jiggle, set your timer to six minutes.
    After six minutes, turn the heat off. Take your pressure canner to the sink and run cold water on it to help it cool faster. Then remove the weight to let the rest of the pressure out. Open the pot and set aside to let the potatoes cool.
  3. Step three - Transfer the potatoes to a large mixing bowl and mash with a mixer or a potato masher. Set aside to cool the rest of the way.
  4. Step four - Use a measuring cup to measure your desired portion before adding the mashed sweet potatoes to a ziplock bag. Flatten the bag (it's easier to store it in the freezer this way) and label it. Store in the freezer for up to 18 months. Thaw before using.

Notes

You can also freeze blanched sweet potatoes, boiled sweet potatoes, and baked sweet potatoes. If you are interested in one of these ways, make sure to visit the post where you'll find more information on how to do that.

Frequently Asked Questions...

    1. How long will frozen sweet potatoes last in the freezer?
      Sweet potatoes will last a long long time in the freezer. My general rule is that I try to use my frozen goods within a year. I have never had a problem with a year-old bag of frozen sweet potatoes and I assume that it can even last longer than a year.
    2. Will my frozen sweet potatoes change their color?
      Since we blanch or boil before we freeze, the sweet potatoes shouldn’t change their color. However, if you are concerned about that feel free to add a tablespoon of orange or lemon juice to each one-quart of mashed sweet potatoes.
    3. Do I need to thaw the potatoes before using them?
      Always thaw the mashed sweet potatoes before using them. If you are freezing blanched potatoes as french fries, there is no need to thaw them, you can stick them in the oven when they are still frozen. If you boiled your potatoes, yes, thaw them before you use them. So really, it depends on how you chose to freeze the potatoes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 103Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 41mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 4gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g

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3 Comments

  1. Peggy Murphy Stroer says:

    Thank you for the info. Retirement might see me selling sweet potato bread at the farmers’ market!

    1. I LOVE the farmer’s market! it’s my social outing 😉
      It’s fun and I get to mix in the community and meet amazing people. And I like the extra money, of course!
      Sweet potato bread is a regular for me. I make a batch of six loaves of bread at once. Super easy.
      Good luck!

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