Can You Vacuum Seal Potatoes? (Answered)

So many foods are being preserved through vacuum sealing. Potatoes are popular among many and are used in making a variety of dishes.

Having them preserved and ready for use when needed would be of great help in the kitchen. However, can you vacuum seal your potatoes for future use?

 If so, how do you go about this process? Get the information you need about potatoes and vacuum sealing by reading through this article.

Can You Vacuum Seal Potatoes?

It is okay to vacuum seal your potatoes as this ensures they retain their freshness. Not only can you vacuum seal potatoes but also this method extends to the various potato dishes prepared.

As long as the right procedures are followed, your potatoes or potato dishes will remain preserved for long. So, how are potatoes prepared for vacuum sealing?

Can You Vacuum Seal Raw Potatoes?

Preservation of whole raw potatoes through vacuum sealing is not effective. This is because they get to retain a lot of moisture which will alter the preservation.

To add to that, fresh raw potatoes naturally contain a lot of water. As a result, they will not freeze completely when frozen. This makes them mushy and can eventually go bad.

Potato Preparation for Storage

Potatoes have to be well prepared before they are vacuum sealed for storage. You can preserve your potatoes in the following forms;

• Mashed potatoes.
• Potatoes that are partially cooked.
• Partially cooked French fries.
• Baked potatoes.

Vacuum Sealing Mashed Potatoes

Prepare your normal dish of mashed potatoes. Make them into patties which are like small flat cakes of the mashed potatoes. Place the patties on a cooking sheet and freeze them until they are totally frozen.

Once frozen, place your frozen patties in vacuum seal bags or jars depending on what you use for preservation. Vacuum seal the potatoes and place them in the refrigerator or freezer.

Vacuum Sealing of Cooked Potatoes

As discussed earlier, preserving raw potatoes is not an option. Well, how do you go about preserving them? Surprisingly, you can vacuum seal these potatoes either when peeled or unpeeled.

Wash your potatoes and cut them into slices, wedges or cubes depending on how you prefer them or what you use them for. After this, partially cook them in boiling water for three to five minutes.

 Ensure you cool your potatoes and you can do this by placing them in cold water. Always remember you need the potatoes partially cooked therefore aim at preventing them from cooking completely.

You can add a little lemon juice or white vinegar mixed in the ratio of one teaspoon to 1.8 liters. This prevents browning of the potatoes without altering the flavor.

Place your potatoes in a food dehydrator until they are completely dry. Pack the dried potatoes in your sealer bags or jars in your preferred amounts. Vacuum seal the potatoes and refrigerate them.

Vacuum Sealed French Fries

For French fries, prepare your potatoes as you normally would whether peeled or unpeeled. When frying them, just fry them partially enough not to turn them brown.

Ensure you dry the oil on the fries using paper towels or cooking sheets. When dry, freeze the fries and place them in your vacuum sealer bag or jar. Vacuum seal the French fries and refrigerate them.

When using the fries in future, fry them directly in hot oil. Do not thaw them as this makes them loose their fresh, crispy nature.

Vacuum Sealing Baked Potatoes

When vacuum sealing potatoes, ensure they are twice baked before the process. Vacuum sealing full baked potatoes ruins their crispy nature.

Twice baking potatoes involves roasting them plainly until they are crispy. Once roasted, mix the potatoes with the ingredients of your choice and bake them again.

When twice baked, place them in vacuum sealer canisters and vacuum seal them. Store the potatoes well in the refrigerator or freezer. For baked potatoes, consider using canisters rather than sealer bags.

How Long Do Vacuum Sealed Potatoes Last?

Mashed potatoes can stay for more than six months when vacuum sealed and frozen. For partially cooked potatoes, they remain fresh for more than one year. Moreover baked potatoes and fries can stay for up to three months when vacuum sealed.

Tips That Strengthen Vacuum Sealing

Vacuum sealing alone will not keep your potatoes fresh. Ensure you do the following when you choose to vacuum seal potatoes:

•  Seals used in the sealer bags or jars are good and airtight. Air in the food can lead to freezer burn.
• Keep the potatoes refrigerated when not in use.
• Vacuum seal the potatoes afresh after usage.

What is Freezer Burn?

Freezer burn refers to dehydration that occurs on frozen food when it is exposed to air. It can happen on your potatoes since they are frozen when vacuum sealed. Freezer burn will alter with your food’s flavor and quality.

Freezer burn can be prevented through reducing the air exposed to your frozen food which is achieved through;

• Ensuring your food sealer bags and jars are kept airtight to prevent entry of air.
• You can wrap your food with aluminum foils, plastic freezer bags or double layer papers before preserving them in bags or jars.

Advantages of Vacuum Sealing Potatoes

Vacuum sealing potatoes holds a lot of benefits for you including the following;

• When done properly, your potatoes stay fresh for usage.
• The flavor of the potatoes is retained.
• Unlike soaking potatoes in water for preservation where they start browning. Vacuum sealed potatoes keep their original color over long periods of time and will not brown.
• It saves time since you don’t have to prepare your potatoes each time you are cooking.
• It is economical. One can buy and preserve potatoes when the prices are affordable to use during expensive seasons.

Conclusion

Potatoes can be vacuum sealed when alone and also as prepared dishes. Consider using vacuum sealing to preserve your potatoes to rip off its benefits.