There are many different ways to store potatoes for use later in the year. Whether you are growing them yourself, or buying potatoes in bulk, you will find many great options for storing potatoes in this post!
We have grown potatoes in the past, but recently we have just opted for buying them in bulk at a low price from Azure Standard. That way I can plan exactly when I'm going to be bulk processing potatoes, and I can avoid harvest overwhelm - which happens so easily!
Just last month I ordered 150 pounds of organic potatoes from Azure Standard: 100 pounds of Russet Potatoes and 50 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes!
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For canning, making chips, and making french fries we prefer Russet potatoes, but for mashed potatoes you just can't beat Yukon Gold! They make the best, creamy homemade mashed potatoes!
So, if you are harvesting your own crop of potatoes, or just looking for ways to store potatoes from the store - this list will have something that suits your needs!
How to Store Potatoes: 5 Methods
While you can use a root cellar to store whole, fresh potatoes and then use them as needed, many areas of the world don't have that option. For example, here in Texas a root cellar is just no feasible!
So, instead we utilize other ways to store potatoes for long term storage and use. Here are all the ways we preserve our potatoes!
Method One: Canning Potatoes
The option I generally turn to first is canning potatoes. This option allows the potatoes to stay at room temperature and you can use them as needed for soups, stews, roasts and more!
Potatoes are canned in a pressure canner instead of a water bath canner and you can get the full directions for canning potatoes in this post.
Recipes for Canned Potatoes:
Easy Baked Potato Soup
Best Ever Roast Recipe
Method Two: Freeze Dried Mashed Potatoes
Just as with canned potatoes, freeze dried mashed potatoes can be kept at room temperature in an air tight container for use at a later time.
I try to keep as many things as I can at room temperature so that if the freezer fails, we don't lose a ton of our food supply!
Freeze drying mashed potatoes requires a home freeze drier, but after having my home freeze drier for a full year I can say with confidence that it is well worth the money to be able to store foods outside of the freezer!
Especially foods that don't can well. Read more about how to freeze dry mashed potatoes in this post!
Method Three: Potato Chips
The last option I employ to keep my potatoes out of the freezer is to turn them into potato chips!
If you've never had homemade potato chips before, you really are missing out. There's nothing quite like a still-warm-chip straight from the oil with a little salt just sprinkled on top. So delicious!
The process for making homemade potato chips is simple, just slice and fry! We like to use organic coconut oil for our potato chips to avoid the issues with standard vegetable oil.
You can get the printable recipe for homemade potato chips in this post!
Method Four: Frozen Mashed Potatoes
Did you know you can freeze mashed potatoes? I didn't until just a few years ago!
I was determined to find a way to store bulk mashed potatoes and so I did a series of test recipes to see which one froze best. This homemade mashed potatoes recipe won out and we've been making it ever since!
You can freeze these mashed potatoes in individual servings or as a family size portion as well. You can print the recipe and see the full process in a video for homemade mashed potatoes here.
Method Five: French Fries
Finally, we love making our own ready-to-fry French Fries!
The process is very simple, and yields fries that are ready to drop right into hot oil and pair with homemade hamburgers!
Step One: Wash and peel all potatoes and slice into fry strips. We do a fairly thin fry cut, because I like them crispy, but you can do steak fries if you prefer!
Step Two: Boil the potatoes for 2 minutes, then place them in ice water for another 1 minutes. Drain onto paper towels.
Step Three: Pat the potatoes dry to remove all excess water, then drizzle them with oil and lemon juice (to avoid browning). Rub them around the get an even coating.
Step Four: Place fries on a wax paper lined tray and freeze for several hours. Break them up and place them into baggies. Freeze until needed.
NOTE: You can also place prepared fries directly into a baggie before freezing. However, they will be stuck together. Break them up when ready to use as you would a bag of ice (on the ground, not with an ice pick!).
To Fry Homemade French Fries: Heat pot of oil (we use coconut oil) to 350° and fry until golden brown. Remove from oil, drain on paper towels, and salt to taste.
To Bake Homemade French Fries: Heat oven to 375° and place fries in a single layer on parchment lined baking tray. Bake until golden brown (about 35 minutes), flip them halfway through baking time to get an even browning.
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So, there you have it! 5 ways to store potatoes that will fit every taste and skill set! Enjoy!
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More Food Preservation Posts:
This post is part of the blogger roundup Preserving the Harvest.
Do you love preserving the harvest as much as we do? Click the links below and get detailed instructions for preserving 23 of the most popular fruits and vegetables
Preserving Vegetables (in alphabetical order)
How to Preserve Carrots by Freezing, Canning, and More from Oak Hill Homestead
4 Easy Ways to Preserve Cauliflower from Dehydrating Made Easy
Cucumber Fresh Pack Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe from The Self Sufficient HomeAcre
Make Your Own Garlic Powder and Other Ways to Preserve Garlic from Learning & Yearning
How to Freeze Your Green Bean Harvest from The Reid Homestead
How to Preserve Leafy Greens from Homespun Seasonal Living
Preserving Okra by Freezing, Canning, Fermenting, and Dehydrating from Schneider Peeps
5 Ways to Preserve Onions for Storage from Rockin W Homestead
How to Dehydrate Parsnips & Make Parsnip Chips from The Purposeful Pantry
3 Ways to Preserve Peppers from Grow a Good Life
5 Ways to Store Potatoes from A Modern Homestead
Ways to Preserve Radishes from The Purposeful Pantry
How to Freeze Squash (and Other Preservation Methods) from Our Inspired Roots
Freezing Tomatoes for Preserving Later in the Year from Stone Family Farmstead
3 Easy Ways to Preserve Zucchini from Grow a Good Life
Preserving Fruit (in alphabetical order)
Guide to Preserving Apples from Oak Hill Homestead
3 Ways To Preserve Fresh Summer Berries from Better Hens & Gardens
How to Make Cherry Jam from Scratch from The Self Sufficient HomeAcre
3 Quick Ways to Preserve Grapes from Homestead Lady
3 Best Ways To Preserve Mulberries from My Homestead Life
How To Preserve Oranges On The Homestead from 15 Acre Homestead
How to Freeze Peaches from A Modern Homestead
How To Preserve Strawberries On The Homestead from 15 Acre Homestead
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