Can You Freeze Baked Potatoes?

Whether you have cooked for a crowd or simply have a few left from a weeknight dinner, you may be thinking about what to do with leftover baked potatoes. If you’ve run out of potato recipes to try, you may wonder: can you freeze baked potatoes? The good news is yes, you can absolutely freeze baked potatoes.

“I do it for convenience as I am usually busy and tend to forget about ingredients like potatoes that live in the dark cupboard,” Chef Shawn Matijevich of the Institute of Culinary Education tells Southern Living. “I'll bake the whole bag at once and freeze it.”

Matijevich says that freezing baked potatoes is a great way to utilize leftovers or to prepare meals.

Can You Freeze Baked Potatoes?

Yes. Freezing baked potatoes is a delicious way to always have potatoes at-the-ready for meals.

“You don't just have to use them as second-hand baked potatoes,” Matijevich says. “The cooked frozen potato can be turned into soup, croquettes, gnocchi, or even mashed potatoes.”

Does Freezing Baked Potatoes Change Taste and Texture?

"A little bit," says Matijevich.

“But I would say they are 80% as good as fresh hot baked potatoes when you're done,” he explains, adding that the texture is a little more mealy and possibly watery. “But it depends on the type of potato. Russets are best for freezing, but Yukon golds are a close second."

2 Steps To Freezing Baked Potatoes

While it’s not hard to freeze baked potatoes, there are two necessary steps for proper preparation to ensure your potatoes are delicious when thawed.

Step 1: Cooling

Matijevich says the first step is making sure potatoes are cooled.

"Wait until the potatoes have cooled all the way down to room temperature before you place them in the freezer,” he says. “I like to split them in half to let the heat escape.” 

He adds, “It’s important that they cool down to 70 degrees Farenieheit in less than two hours and go straight into the freezer after that for food safety.”

Step 2: Put Them In a Bag

After the potatoes have cooled, put them in either a vacuum bag or a high-quality freezer bag to ensure they don't get freezer burn while they are in there. Make sure to date and label the bags.

“Don't keep them in foil to cool or to store them,” Matijevich warns. “Botulism can grow in there and then you’d have a really bad day. Bacillus cereus is also a concern if you don't chill them properly.”

How To Thaw Frozen Baked Potatoes

The best way to thaw frozen potatoes is actually to not let them thaw at all, says Matijevich. In fact, he heats his frozen baked potatoes straight from the freezer.

“If you let them thaw and then cook them again, the texture suffers more,” he says.