By the method of freezing, it is possible to prepare for the future a large number of various products, both of plant and animal origin. And the fact that the hostesses decide to freeze the potatoes, there is nothing strange. In this way, you can significantly save time with daily cooking. But in order for this product to retain its taste and healthy qualities, it is necessary to prepare it correctly. Further from the article we learn how to freeze potatoes for the winter at home.
Kitchen tools
The equipment you need to freeze potatoes depends on the specific method of harvesting. In general, you need to prepare:
- pan;
- a large bowl;
- colander;
- tray;
- bags for food storage or plastic containers.
When freezing products retain more nutrients than in conservation. Learn how to freeze tomatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peas, oyster mushrooms, white mushrooms, corn, carrots, horseradish, zucchini, pumpkin, cucumbers.
Choosing the right potato
For freezing, the best is the potato variety that contains a small amount of sugar and starch. The fact is that when frozen, the starch will be converted into sugar, and the potato will change its taste for an unpleasantly sweet. Perfect for freezing variety "Semiglazka", as well as other varieties with pink skin. 
Important! Potatoes that will be frozen should have a dense structure and a flat surface. Tubers with different indentations and damage due to pests cannot be used.
Preparation for freezing
First you need to fill the tubers with water for a while. Then, when the surface of the potato dips a little, you can easily wash it using a brush for this purpose.
Next, you need to peel the tubers, and then put them in cold water. It is necessary that the product does not darken, as well as to remove part of the starch, which goes into the water.
Ways to freeze potatoes: step by step instructions
Today, experienced housewives freeze potatoes not only entirely, but also prepare original semi-finished products, for example, for fries. We offer step by step instructions on how to freeze potatoes at home.
You can also freeze fruits and berries - strawberries, apples, blueberries, cherries.
Whole
To freeze whole potatoes, it is better to select small sized tubers. If there are only large ones at hand, then you can cut them.
- First of all, it is necessary to subject washed and cleaned tubers to blanching. To do this, prepare two pans. One should be set on fire, and in the second one you can pour as much cold water as possible, to which, if possible, you can add pieces of ice.
- It is necessary to dip the potatoes in boiling water and plan the blanching for no more than 5 minutes. Then remove and immediately immerse in chilled water.
- After the product has cooled, it should be laid out on a towel and dried. You can blot the tubers with paper towels or a towel. It is very important that the potatoes are dry, otherwise after freezing the product will be covered with a crust of ice.
- Carefully dried tubers can be laid out in bags and put into the freezer.
Important! To avoid sticking potatoes together, you can also freeze the product in several stages. First, you will need to lay out the tubers in a single layer on a tray and send it to the freezer, and after they freeze, pack in bags or containers.
For fries
To prepare a semi-finished product, which can later be used for deep-frying, you need to perform a series of actions:
- Peeled product should be cut into bars. To do this, you can use a special cutting knife with rectangular holes, a grater, or an ordinary knife.
- Next, cut the product to salt, which will help avoid blanching of the workpiece in the freezer.
- Now you need to pour wheat flour in a separate bowl and put the potatoes there. Flour will help ensure roasted french fries have a golden crust. You need to mix the products thoroughly so that each slice is covered with flour. The process must be carried out quickly, otherwise the flour becomes wet and begins to stick together, resulting in a large flour lump.
- Now you need to lay out the semi-finished product on a tray in a single layer and send it to the freezer for freezing. After the product is completely frozen, you need to collect it, put it in containers and again send it to the freezer for storage.
Did you know? The first in the world root plant, which could grow in weightlessness, is precisely the potato. This experiment was conducted on the US spacecraft "Columbia" in 1995.
Mashed potatoes
Particularly creative hostesses are interested in whether it is possible to freeze mashed potatoes. It is worth answering what is possible, since many are already actively using this method.
- It is necessary to peel and boil the potatoes until ready, as usual.
- Then pound the product into a puree. If desired, you can add to it butter or milk.
- After that, let the potatoes cool completely, pack it in a bag and place in the freezer.
Important! It is very important that the mash is completely cooled before it is sent to the freezer. Otherwise, the steam will freeze and form an ice crust, which during defrosting will make the dish watery.
For a change in the "winter" menu, hostesses harvest green onions, greens, spinach, parsnips, peppers, garlic, white and cauliflower, squash, mint, sunberry, celery, tomatoes.
Roasted
Frozen potatoes can also be frozen:
- First you need to clean the product and cut it into pieces.
- Then the potatoes are fried in a skillet as usual. In the process, you can add salt and your favorite spices.
- After the potato is fully cooked, you need to cool it.
- Next, with a paper towel, remove excess fat from the product.
- It remains to pack the fried potatoes in portioned bags and send them to the freezer.
Shelf life
Before cooking, defrosting potatoes is not necessary. It should be immediately laid out in a frying pan, or dipped in broth. Store the product in this form for a long time. Roasted potatoes and mashed potatoes will retain their qualities for several weeks, and tubers, frozen as a whole, can be stored for about 2.5-3 months.
Did you know? The birthplace of potatoes is considered to be South America. Until the current time there are wild varieties. It is from South America that this product began to travel the world, once in Europe.
As you can see, such a procedure for procurement of products does not take much time. However, it helps to significantly save it in the future, when you need to quickly cook a tasty dish.
