Looking to have a stash of homemade sweet potato fries ready on demand? Imagine the delight of pulling out perfectly prepped, delicious fries from your freezer, just waiting to be crisped up… Well, is this possible or not?
Can You Freeze Sweet Potato Fries?
Yes, you can freeze sweet potato fries for up to 3 months. Prepare the sweet potatoes as you usually would for fries before blanching them. They can then be frozen on a tray before being bagged up.
Do Do Sweet Potato Fries freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Sweet Potato Fries? Yes
How to Freeze Sweet Potato Fries
Below is the method I recommend you use when freezing sweet potato fries. There are a few vital steps you should take, but it’s well worth it if you want to have a decent stash of fries:
- Select and Prep
Start by selecting firm, fresh sweet potatoes. Avoid any with visible blemishes or cuts. You’re not going to improve the quality of them in the freezer! Peel the sweet potatoes, then cut them into your desired size and shape of fries. I prefer skinny fries as they tend to crisp up better. - Blanch
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add your sweet potato fries for between 2 and 3 minutes. - Ice Bath
Immediately drain the fries and transfer them to a large bowl filled with ice and water. This halts the cooking process and helps to preserve the colour and texture. - Dry
Once cooled, dry the fries on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. This step is essential as it prevents the fries from sticking together when freezing. - Initial Freeze
Arrange the fries in a single layer on a baking sheet. Try to prevent them from touching each other as much as possible. Place the tray in the freezer and freeze until solid – usually about 2 hours. - Bag Up
Once the fries are solid, transfer them to airtight freezer bags. Be sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing. This will help prevent freezer burn and keep the fries fresh. Don’t forget to label the bags with the date.
Yes, you can freeze cooked sweet potato fries. However, they may not be as crispy when reheated, so it’s recommended to undercook them slightly if you plan on freezing.
How Long Can You Freeze Sweet Potato Fries?
Sweet potato fries can be frozen for up to 3 months. This timeframe is suggested to ensure that the fries maintain their best quality in terms of texture, colour, and flavour.
Freezing food pauses bacterial growth, so they don’t technically ‘expire’ in the freezer.
However, over time, the quality of any frozen food – sweet potato fries included – can degrade because of freezer burn, ice crystal formation, and the slow breakdown of the food’s texture and flavour compounds.
Your fries won’t become unsafe to eat after this 3-month mark. But they may not taste as fresh or have the same satisfying texture.
Cooked sweet potato fries will typically last 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Prepared, uncooked sweet potato fries can last in the refrigerator for about 1 to 2 days when stored in water to prevent them from turning brown.
How Do You Defrost Sweet Potato Fries?
This is the best part. You don’t need to defrost sweet potato fries! You can go straight from the freezer to reheating, making these one of the most convenient sides to have ready in your freezer.
I find there are two ways you can reheat them from frozen:
In the Oven
This is the most popular way I have found to reheat sweet potato fries from the freezer. Here is how I do it:
1. Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 425Ā°F / 220Ā°C. You want a high temperature to ensure your fries get crispy.
2. Arrange
Spread the frozen fries in a single layer on a baking sheet. Give each of them a little space – crowding the pan will result in soggy fries.
3. Bake
Bake the fries for about 20 minutes. This will be for fairly skinny fries and not wedges. You’ll need to adjust this timing depending on the size. Halfway through the cooking time, take a moment to flip the fries for an even cook.
4. Serve
Once golden brown and crispy, remove the fries from the oven and serve immediately – with plenty of salt, of course!
Use Parchment Paper
Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper can not only make cleanup easier but can also help your fries to not stick and achieve a better overall crisp.
In the Air Fryer
If you have joined the air fryer clan, reheating sweet potato fries from frozen is one of the best ways to use it. Here’s my method:
1. Preheat
Preheating your air fryer isn’t always necessary, but it can lead to better results. Set it to 400Ā°F / 200Ā°C for 5 minutes.
2. Arrange
Place your frozen sweet potato fries in the air fryer basket. Don’t overload it ā the fries should be in a single layer for optimal crispiness.
3. Cook
Cook the fries for between 10 and 15 minutes. Make sure to shake the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
4. Serve
They’re ready to serve once the fries are crispy and heated.
The Post-Fry Toss
After cooking, I love to toss my fries in a bowl with a tiny bit of olive oil and some seasoning. The oil helps the seasoning stick to the fries. I love a combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika and oregano.
Yes, you can defrost sweet potato fries in the microwave, but they might lose some crispiness compared to reheating in an oven or air fryer, and they can be reheated from frozen, so there’s no point either.
Can You Refreeze Sweet Potato Fries?
Yes, technically you can refreeze sweet potato fries, but it’s generally not recommended.
Each time you freeze, thaw, and refreeze foods, you’re promoting the breakdown of the food’s texture and flavour due to the formation of ice crystals within the food structure.
This process can lead to moisture loss, resulting in dry, mushy, or grainy fries when they are finally reheated – that’s certainly not what anyone wants from their fries!
So, while it’s possible to refreeze your sweet potato fries, for the sake of quality and safety, it’s best to only freeze and thaw them once.
Do Sweet Potato Fries Freeze Well?
Yes, sweet potato fries do freeze well due to their high starch content. Starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes tend to hold up better in the freezer than those with a higher water content, which can become mushy when thawed.
Blanching before freezing also helps preserve the texture, flavour, and nutritional value of sweet potato fries.
With the proper prep, sweet potato fries can be frozen and enjoyed later, maintaining much of their original taste and texture. It’s an excellent method that I love for convenient meal prep and reducing food waste.
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