If you’re like me, you load up on bags of sweet potatoes from the store. Sweet potatoes are so nutritious and delicious, but did you know they can also be frozen? This article shares how to freeze sweet potatoes whole, mashed or diced.

baked sweet potato prepped for freezing whole, diced, or mashed.

Frozen Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes have a high water content. This means that if you freeze them raw, they can very easily get freezer burned, and turn mushy or mealy when thawed.

It is not recommended that you freeze raw potatoes because they just won’t act right in recipes nor will they taste their best.

If you want to freeze a whole sweet potato, then it’s also important to cook it first. Instead of blanching it whole, though, you’ll need to roast it completely. Then, you can let the potato cool and freeze it whole with its skin or without its skin.

Blanching Sweet Potatoes

Blanching is a way to preserve many vegetables, and it’s a great way if you are planning to dice your sweet potatoes to use later in Sweet Potato Hash or wedge them for Sweet Potato Fries.

By blanching your sliced or diced sweet potatoes, you are basically just taking the raw “bite” out of them before freezing. This way, when you go to use them in a recipe, you cut off some of the cooking time and still achieve the perfect texture.

Let’s go into the details on the best way to freeze sweet potatoes whole, mashed, or diced. With just a few extra steps, you can use them in different ways.

Why You Need This Guide

  • Sweet potatoes are nutritious and budget-friendly. They’re also naturally gluten-free and are a fantastic complex carbohydrate (see my full list of the best gluten-free carbs).
  • You can buy sweet potatoes in bulk at most grocery stores. This makes them convenient to have in your pantry. Once you cook them, you can also freeze them for added convenience.
  • For people who don’t like to eat vegetables, sweet potatoes can be a welcome food. They have a naturally sweet taste and are a good option for a healthy side dish.

Steps on Freezing Whole Sweet Potatoes

Yes, you can freeze whole sweet potatoes! But, you’ll need to roast them first. Let me show you how.

collage with process photos for how to freeze a whole baked sweet potato.

Step One

Scrub potatoes well, pat them dry with a paper towel, prick with a fork, and place on a baking sheet.

I like to line my cookie sheet with parchment paper for easy clean up.

Step Two

Bake potatoes for an hour at 400°F, or until they can easily be pricked with a fork.

Large sweet potatoes may require even longer cook time, up to 75 minutes.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Three

Let cool completely to room temperature. At this point you can leave the skin on or remove the skin from the baked sweet potato.

Step Four

Wrap each cooked and cooled baked sweet potato in aluminum foil and then place them in a labeled and dated zip-top freezer bag or resealable freezer bag.

Wrapping them in foil will help retain the moisture in the potato and keep it from drying out. Store for 10-12 months.

How to Freeze Mashed Baked Sweet Potatoes

You can also peel and mash up your fully baked sweet potatoes and freeze them that way.

how to freeze mashed sweet potatoes

Step One

Bake your sweet potatoes. I like to make Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes as the easiest and fastest method. Let the potatoes cool and then remove the skin.

Step Two

Place the baked and peeled sweet potatoes in a bowl and use a potato masher to mash them.

Don’t season them before freezing, but wait until you defrost and serve them to add seasonings.

Step Three

For best results, place your sweet potato puree in quart size resealable freezer bags to freeze flat.

Step Four

Place the bag of mashed sweet potato in the freezer for up to several months. Defrost before using.

Use your mashed sweet potatoes in a Sweet Potato Casserole or as the topping on a Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie.

How to Freeze Diced or Sliced Sweet Potatoes

If you prefer to freeze your sweet potatoes sliced or diced, you can do that too. You can also freeze sweet potato pieces.

how to freeze diced sweet potatoes

Step One

Before freezing the diced, sliced, or wedged sweet potatoes, you’ll need to blanch them in a large pot of boiling water for 5 minutes.

Step Two

Drain the blanched sweet potato cubes and lay them on a baking sheet. You can put them in a large bowl of cold water to cool down, but you don’t have to.

Always freeze your blanched or baked sweet potatoes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet before adding to an airtight freezer bag, or you risk all your hard work being frozen into a single lump.

Step Three

Freeze the cubed or diced potatoes for several hours.

Step Four

Transfer the frozen cubes to a zip top bag and store for up to several months. You can also use a vacuum-sealed bag if you prefer.

By freezing diced sweet potatoes, they will be perfect for hash browns or french fries or my Sweet Potato Smoothie.

Another great option is to slice them into rounds and freeze them after blanching them.

Cooked and bagged sweet potatoes

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

  • You can use this cooking process for blanching and freezing sweet potatoes with white potatoes too! This is also essentially the same method for freezing carrots, freezing cabbage, freezing broccoli, and freezing cauliflower.
  • If you don’t have time to prep your sweet potatoes for freezing right now, be sure to store them in a dark place like a pantry until you’re ready to cook them.

Frozen Sweet Potatoes FAQs

How long can you freeze sweet potatoes?

Frozen sweet potatoes will last for 10-12 months. Be sure to get as much air out of the zip-top bags as possible.

How do you blanch sweet potatoes?

Blanching means putting your cut potatoes into boiling water for 5 minutes or so, until just barely tender. Be sure to drain and dry completely before freezing.

How do you thaw frozen sweet potatoes?

Frozen potatoes are best thawed in the fridge to help retain their moisture and texture, though you can also often use them straight from frozen.

How do you reheat frozen sweet potatoes?

Use in any of your favorite recipes! The oven will be best for giving them a crispy outer texture, especially if you have pre-cut them. Just keep in mind that they have been parcooked, so you will need to cut some cooking time out of your recipe. It is easy to simply roast them with some olive oil and salt and watch for them to be done.

Can you freeze raw sweet potatoes?

Raw potatoes are not a good idea to freeze due to their high water content. They will easily attract freezer burn and can become mushy or mealy when thawed.

What’s the best way to freeze sweet potatoes?

The best way will depend on how you plan to use your frozen sweet potato. For the most versatile use, it’s probably best to peel and dice your sweet potatoes, blanch them, and then freeze the diced and blanched potatoes to use later in soups, stews, or hash.

Does cooked sweet potato freeze okay?

Yes! Let the potato cool and then wrap it in foil and put it in an airtight bag or container. Freeze for up to 10-12 months and defrost before using.

What are the benefits of freezing sweet potatoes?

There are numerous benefits including reducing food waste by preserving sweet potatoes before they go bad. Another benefit of freezing sweet potatoes is that you will save time in the future because then you just have to defrost the potatoes before using them in a recipe or serving them after they have defrosted.

More Helpful Freezer Guides

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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Cooked sweet potatoes whole, diced, and mashed

Frozen Sweet Potatoes

If you’re like me, you load up on bags of sweet potatoes from the warehouse store. Sweet potatoes are so nutritious and delicious, but did you know they can also be frozen? This article shares how to freeze sweet potatoes whole, mashed or diced.

  • Total Time: 90 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 whole sweet potatoes (any type)

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry your potatoes. If baking whole, prick with a fork.
  2. Bake at 400°F for an hour, or until easily poked with a fork.
  3. Let cool completely before freezing in zip-top bags.
  4. You can also freeze mashed sweet potatoes. Cook, peel, and mash the potatoes. Let the potatoes cool slightly and then transfer to zip top bags and store in the freezer.
  5. Another option is to cut and blanch the potatoes. Simply boil for 5 minutes until they are slightly tender. Dry completely before freezing in a single layer on parchment. Once completely frozen, add to labeled and dated zip-top bags.

Notes

  1. Sweet potatoes are best either partly or fully cooked before freezing – do not freeze raw!
  2. You can freeze any type of sweet potato including the ones with orange, purple, or white flesh.
  3. Potatoes will last in the freezer for 10-12 months; be sure to remove as much air from the bag as possible.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 sweet potato
  • Calories: 112
  • Sugar: 5.4 g
  • Sodium: 71.5 mg
  • Fat: 0.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26.2 g
  • Fiber: 3.9 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: freezing whole sweet potatoes, freezing diced potatoes

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.