Freeze Dry Potatoes for Long-Term Storage

Potatoes.  They are a staple in our society.  We eat them in almost every restaurant and, I'd say, most homes.

They are inexpensive and can be used for any meal.  Potatoes have a long shelf life when stored correctly, plus, they just taste great.

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But they won't last forever.  Eventually, potatoes start to rot or sprout.  They also can turn green if they get too much sunlight.  Which means eventually that harvest of potatoes will go bad.

What if I told you there was a way to easily preserve those potatoes for future use?  Plus, you could save them in multiple forms for different uses.

What way?  Easy, freeze drying potatoes!  Yep, you can freeze dry potatoes in some many different forms for use in the future.  We've tried 4 different methods of freeze drying our potatoes and they've all turned out great.

Let's show you two methods of how to freeze dry potatoes.  That way you can can have potatoes year round, whether raw or cooked.

What is Freeze-Drying?

Freeze drying is the process of freezing an item almost completely solid and then removing all moisture content through a vacuum process.  This allows for foods to become shelf-stable when they might otherwise not be able to be preserved.

If you are new to freeze drying, check out our post All About Freeze Drying and its benefits.

Supplies Needed to Freeze Dry Potatoes

Freeze Dryer Machine:  We use the large Harvest Right Freeze Dryer.  We decided to go with the large because it can hold more, which means filling less often versus running the machine more often.  But they come in small, medium and large.  And they released an Ex-Large version in 2023.

Vacuum Sealer: A vacuum sealer is a good investment if you plan to store your freeze dried goods in jars.  This eliminates the cost and need for oxygen absorbers.

Mylar Bags:  A Mylar bag is a great choice for storing freeze dried foods.  They come in many sizes and keep light from getting to foods.  They can be stored in tubs or 5 gallon buckets for easy access.  Make sure to purchase thick bags to avoid foods puncturing through and ruining your food supply.

Impulse Sealer: An Impulse Sealer is used to seal Mylar bags.  Heat is applied to the bag layers to seal them together and avoid moisture, air and light from penetrating the bags.

Oxygen Absorbers: Whether you plan to use Mylar bags or canning jars, you'll want to invest in oxygen absorbers.  These will be added to each Mylar bag and short term shortage jars.  This ensures that any oxygen in the packaging is absorbed and keeps the food from spoiling.  

You can purchase these in many places including from Harvest Right and even on Amazon.  We've had success with both, but you may need to try a few brands until you find one that works best for you.

Freeze Drying Raw Potatoes

It is always great to have potatoes on hand for meals.  Whether you are cooking breakfast, lunch or dinner, potatoes are great for many different types of meals.

Why Freeze Dry Raw Potatoes?

Since so many recipes call for potatoes, freeze drying raw potatoes allows for you to use your potato storage for more meals and recipes.  For instance, dice raw potatoes can be used in a Breakfast Potato Skillet  for a hearty breakfast or in contrast, in a delicious Foil Dinner.

For both these meals, you would reconstitute the potatoes in cool water for 10-15 minutes and then add into your recipe and cook as normal.

Raw potatoes could also be used for roasting, in the crockpot or as a simple side dish.  Since they are raw, they would need to be cooked before eaten with any meal.

Step-by-Step Guide to Freeze-Drying Raw Potatoes

Wash and dice raw potatoes into 1/2" to 1" pieces.  Place raw potatoes into a bowl of water to help remove starch and keep the potatoes from turning brown/black during the freeze drying process.

Place raw potatoes on freeze drying trays and add them in the freeze to do a quick flash freeze for 2-4 hours.

Remove from freezer and add trays in freeze dryer. Press start. Allow potatoes to go through the freeze dry process.  When prompted, turn release valve and remove from freeze dryer.

Place into Mylar bags with an oxygen absorber and seal with heat. OR store in an air tight jar or container for immediate use.

 

Freeze Drying Roasted Potatoes (or cooked potatoes)

If you want to save cooking time when it comes to potatoes, another method of freeze drying potatoes is to roast the potatoes before freeze drying.  Why would roasting them be different than leaving the potatoes raw?

Instead of having to cook the potatoes before using them, roasted freeze dried potatoes can be eaten without cooking.  You can pull them out of the bag and eat them like a snack!  Who doesn't love a yummy potato snack?

These potatoes can be eaten without cooking or they can be added to meals and recipes as a quick side dish or addition to the recipe.  Just reconstitute them and toss them in the casserole.

VIDEO:  Freeze Drying Roasted Potatoes

Step-by-Step Guide to Freeze-Drying Roasted Potatoes

Freeze drying roasted potatoes takes a little more time, just because you need to cook the potatoes first.

Wash and dice potatoes into 1/2" to 1" pieces.  Toss potatoes in oil and seasonings. Place on a baking dish. Roast potatoes in the oven for 30 minutes at 400°F.

Remove potatoes from oven and allow them to cool. You could also pop them in the freeze to do a quick flash freeze. 

Move potatoes to freeze dryer trays. Place in freeze dryer. Press start. Allow potatoes to freeze and go through the freeze dry process.  When prompted, turn release valve and remove from freeze dryer.

Place into Mylar bags with an oxygen absorber and seal with heat. OR store in an air tight jar or container for immediate use. 

 

Benefits of Freeze-Drying Potatoes

Potatoes freeze dry really nicely.  Which makes them great for storing years into the future.  Not only do they have a longer shelf life compared to fresh potatoes, but they also retain their flavor and nutritional value. 

Plus, they require minimal preparation and can be easily stored for on-the-go meals or emergency situations. 

But perhaps the most enticing benefit is their versatility. From crispy hash browns to creamy mashed potatoes, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating delicious dishes with freeze-dried potatoes. 

So why limit yourself to just one form of potatoes when you can have them in all their forms with the convenience and longevity of freeze-drying?

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