Can You Defrost Sweet Potatoes?

Can you defrost sweet potatoes?

By TheWholePortion

Page last updated: 09/13/2022 | Next review date: 09/13/2024

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In this brief guide, we will answer the question “Can you defrost sweet potatoes?” and discuss how to properly defrost sweet potatoes. We will also discuss how to properly store sweet potatoes and if you can cook sweet potatoes without defrosting them.

Can you defrost sweet potatoes?

Yes, you can defrost sweet potatoes but you should keep in mind that their texture might change once they have been defrosted. They can become a little mushy. That should not be a problem though because once you cook them, everything will come together and their texture would not be bothersome anymore.

How to defrost sweet potatoes?

You can defrost the sweet potatoes in the fridge, in a cold water bath, or a microwave. To defrost sweet potatoes in the fridge, take them out a night before you want to use them. Then leave them in their original packaging and place them in a shallow bowl or a plate so catch all the liquids and prevent them from dripping down in your fridge.

After that just leave them inside the fridge overnight. They will be ready to be used the next morning. Of course this method only works if you do remember to take out the sweet potatoes a night before.

To defrost the sweet potatoes in a cold water bath, fill up a bowl with cold water. Then remove your sweet potatoes from the freezer and place them inside a ziploc bag. Submerge this bag in the cold water bath and let it sit until all the sweet potatoes have defrosted.

To defrost the sweet potatoes in the microwave, remove them from the freezer and place them in a microwave-safe bowl. Put this bowl inside the microwave, and turn it on on low heat for a couple of seconds.

Microwave heats up really fast so you need to keep checking on the sweet potatoes if they have defrosted. You do not want to overdo it as the sweet potatoes can become dry and may even get cooked unevenly.

Can you defrost sweet potatoes at room temperature?

No, you should not defrost something at room temperature. This is because bacteria starts to grow and multiply at temperatures between 40 and 140. Your food will get contaminated and if you eat it, you can get food poisoning.

Can you cook sweet potatoes without defrosting them?

Yes, you can cook sweet potatoes straight out of the freezer without defrosting them. This will save you time especially if you are in a hurry.

However, you will need to cook your dish for a couple of extra minutes since the sweet potatoes are frozen, they will take some time before they are defrosted and cooked.

How to properly freeze sweet potatoes?

We will tell you step by step how to properly freeze sweet potatoes. Freezing sweet potatoes is a great way to extend their shelf life especially if you have bought them in bulk or if you have some extra lying in the pantry. Freezing is always better than letting your food go to waste.

To freeze the sweet potatoes, first wash them to take any dirt off them. Next, pat them dry and cut them into chunks or fries however you want to cook them later.

Then take a saucepan and fill it with water. Bring the water to a boil and then carefully place the cut up sweet potatoes in it. Let them sit in boiling water for about 2 to 3 minutes.

Next, take a bowl and fill it with water. Add ice cubes to the bowl of water. After 2 minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately take out the sweet potatoes and transfer them to the bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process.

Once they have cooled down, take them out and pat them dry. Now divide them in individual serving sizes and transfer them into a ziploc bag. Then put these ziploc bags in the freezer.

Learn more about properly freezing sweet potatoes here.

Other FAQs about Sweet Potatoes that you may be interested in.

How to reheat sweet potato fries

Can you eat sweet potatoes without cooking?

How many sweet potatoes should be prepared for a single person?

What is the real difference between a sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “Can you defrost sweet potatoes?” and discussed how to properly defrost sweet potatoes. We also discussed how to properly store sweet potatoes and if you can cook sweet potatoes without defrosting them.