How I process potatoes to reduce waste!

How about you, do you live in a hot and humid climate? Do your potatoes sprout out in a week's time? Come and take a look at how I prep ahead the potatoes that come into this kitchen to reduce waste. While adding convenience at the same time. 

We are a potato eating family! 

And in all honesty I believe I have said more than once, that I have never met a potato I didn't like! It must be the Irish in me, because while I enjoy pasta, I love potatoes. I also happen to live in East Texas where the everyday heat is hard on my spuds...and with no root cellar like I have had in the past, I had to change how I store potatoes. And by store, I mean cook and put in the fridge or freezer because even my Cold Storage Pot, did not work long term in this hot and humid climate. 

I had already begun putting packages of 

cooked brown rice in the freezer, along with cooked barley. In ready to pull, thaw and serve portions for our little family. When it dawned on me, so, why not potatoes? I do have to say it is really nice to go out to the freezer after my morning walk and feeding the chickens to get meat and a cooked side dish out for dinner. All I have to worry about is how to cook the meat and which vegetable to serve with dinner. And if I am really on my game (which I really try to be!), I can usually find some way for hubby to grill the meat outside....

I should also explain that for some reason in our part of Texas 

organic potatoes are a bit hard to find. Often my favorite H.E.B. market has an empty organic section right where the potatoes are meant to be found, when we go shopping. Giving yet another reason why cooking and freezing potatoes is a good use of my prep time in the kitchen! I like to have both russet potatoes as well as the small waxy style yellow potatoes as part of our meals. Both types of potatoes do a great job of making mashed potatoes. Let's start with... 

Russet Potatoes:

I usually take the easy way out with russets, especially when I can find a bag with a couple of larger potatoes that can be served as a baked potato. Organic bakers are hard to find, but I love opening the bag of potatoes to find at least two that can be served as a baked potato. From there I microwave all the russet potatoes. Adding more time for the larger ones. With the larger ones set aside, the smaller ones are often made into hash browns by my hubby for breakfast or Quick and Easy Pan Fried Chips. After microwaving the russet potatoes, they are stored in the fridge until needed. I will also use russet potatoes to make the same Mashed Potatoes and Carrots you see below.  

Small Yellow Potatoes:

I love having bags of Oven Roasted Small Yellow Potatoes in the freezer. They can be added to what you are cooking or heated separately and served on the side. Fair warning, potatoes do water a bit when they thaw, but to be honest, I do not mind that trait in this potato. But I have also found that cooking them for dinner in the frozen state, reduces the watering. The oven roasted flavor is delicious. The process is easy, simply wash well, removing any sprouts. Toss in olive oil and place in a large roasting pan. Sprinkle with salt and roast at 350 degrees until done and the side of the potato touching the pan is golden brown. About 45 minutes to an hour. 

Remove from the oven, let cool then transfer to storage bags and freeze. My husband keeps a bag of these in the freezer in the Tiny House, he loves frying these up for his breakfast as well. 

Anther favorite is Mashed Potatoes and Carrots which can be made with either russet potatoes or the small yellow waxy potatoes. I have made them with both types of potatoes and they are delicious with either type. Why put carrots with the potatoes? Turns out, we were not eating many carrots as part of our vegetables. Which I hoped to change around. As they are very good for you. Don't ask me why, but I just didn't think of cooking carrots that often. So I though, why not cook and mash carrots and potatoes together, and it turns out, we love this combo. 

Basically you cook potatoes for mashed potatoes, but also use about half weight of carrots, along with the potatoes. In the photo above I had a two pound bag of potatoes and about one pound of carrots. Oh and put the carrots in the bottom of the pan, because often they take a bit longer to cook than potatoes do. After the potatoes and carrots are cooked, add a knob of butter, and some milk and mash away. I prefer to leave them a bit rustic, but mash them as you will want to enjoy them. And as a side note, we do not peel, but feel free if that is your preference. 

Package for the freezer and freeze until needed. And again, potatoes water a bit when thawed, but I am happy to report that the water is taken up back into the potatoes when the mashed potatoes are heated to be served. 

How about you, do you have a family favorite way to freeze potatoes?

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