Can you freeze Bob Evans mashed potatoes?

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you freeze Bob Evans mashed potatoes?” and discuss how to freeze bob Evans mashed potatoes?

Can you freeze Bob Evans mashed potatoes?

Yes, you can freeze Bob Evans mashed potatoes. Bob Evans mashed potatoes change less in texture or flavor when frozen due to the additives present in its composition, which help to retain the bound water during the frozen storage and the freeze-thawing procedures. 

Just like home-cooked mashed potatoes, Bob Evans mashed potatoes are buttery and creamy. However, freezing and thawing of foods can have a detrimental effect on their sensory and water-holding properties as a result of physical disruption of cells or cell components or to changes in the structure of certain macromolecules (2). 

Generally, additives are used in the food industry in order to improve the sensory quality of frozen food and minimize damage arising from freezing and thawing procedures. Some of additives are hydrocolloids, such as kappa-carrageenan and xanthan gum, which application is highly recommended in the food industry, in order to restrict syneresis and ice crystal growth and help to maintain the rheological characteristics of starch-based products (1,6).

How long can you freeze Bob Evans mashed potatoes?

In general, mashed potatoes can be stored for up to 12 months in the freezer, according to studies (3). However, Bob Evans manufacturers suggest a maximum storage period of 2 months for frozen mashed potatoes to ensure best quality.

Freezing is one of the safest ways to preserve food, as microorganisms cannot grow in food when the temperature is reduced to -10°C or below. This makes foods in their frozen state safer than refrigerated or dried foods, for example.

However, freezing is not capable of eliminating pathogenic microorganisms or microbial toxins already present in food before they were frozen (6).

How to freeze Bob Evans mashed potatoes?

To freeze Bob Evans mashed potatoes, you should follow the instructions:

• Ensure that the product is fresh and has been cooled.
• Transfer the mashed potatoes to a freezer-safe container, leaving some room for expansion.
• Cover the container tightly with a lid or plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.
• Label the container with the date of freezing and place it in the freezer.

According to studies, the differences from freshly prepared mash potatoes and frozen stored mash potatoes were less when the samples were frozen at very low temperatures, and thawed by microwaving. The quality decreases linearly, as storage time increases. However, there is no great loss in quality when the mashed potatoes are stored for up to 12 months (3).  

What are important recommendations to best freeze Bob Evans mashed potatoes?

Recommendations to best freeze Bob Evans mashed potatoes are to use a fast freezing method and to avoid temperature oscillations in the freezer during frozen storage. By following these two most important recommendations, the negative effects of freezing on the texture of the product can be minimized (6).

Slow freezing and freeze-thaw cycles cause melting and refreezing of ice crystals that lead to the formation of larger ice crystals, which disrupt the food structure, damaging its texture. Especially in the case of starchy food, the structure of the starch chains is lost leading to the leakage of water. This destabilization, called syneresis, is irreversible.

In addition to losses on texture, repeated freezing and thawing of the food matrix causes significant destruction of vitamins and acceleration of oxidation processes. Oxidation leads to the generation of off-flavors and off-odors in foods.

Air exposure can cause frozen products to develop rancid oxidative flavors. Keep frozen food in airtight containers or use wrapping material that does not permit air to pass into the product. Also, remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag or container to reduce the amount of air in contact with the product (4).

How to thaw Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes?

Bob Evan mashed potatoes may be reheated in the oven or microwave. At 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176.67 °C), place the amount of frozen mashed potatoes in an oven-safe dish and bake it for 20 to 30 minutes. However, it has been reported that the microwave is the best method to defrost and reheat mashed potatoes. 

According to studies, when instrumental analysis were applied to compare the texture of overnight thawing and microwave thawing of frozen mashed potatoes, the results showed better results for microwave thawing (3). 

To defrost and reheat mashed potatoes in the microwave, put the frozen mashed potatoes in a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a lid to retain some of the steam and prevent them from drying out in the microwave. Depending on the kind of microwave you have, heat it for roughly 5 minutes at 50% power.

In a study, frozen mashed potatoes were irradiated for a total of 20 min with output power ratings of 600 W. Samples were first irradiated for 15 min, and then removed from the microwave and stirred manually and gently with a spoon for 1 min to achieve a uniform temperature distribution. Next, the samples were irradiated for an additional 5 min under the same conditions. After thawing, the temperature reached at the product thermal center was measured in all cases (+50±5 °C) (3).

How to know if Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes have gone bad?

To know if Bob Evans mashed potatoes have gone bad, it is necessary to be aware of possible signs indicating spoilage. The growth of bacteria, yeasts and mold can cause off-odors, changes in the texture, slime and biofilm formation in food during storage. These are evidence of spoilage (5). 

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you freeze bob Evans mashed potatoes?” and we discussed how to freeze bob Evans mashed potatoes?

Reference

1. Miao, Wenhua, et al. Rheological, sensory, and microstructural properties of fresh and frozen/thawed mashed potatoes enriched with different proteins. CyTA-J Food, 2018, 16, 113-121.
2. Alvarez, María Dolores, Wenceslao Canet, and Cristina Fernández. Effect of addition of cryoprotectants on the mechanical properties, colour and sensory attributes of fresh and frozen/thawed mashed potatoes. Euro Food Res Technol, 2008, 226, 1525-1544.
3. Alvarez, María Dolores, Cristina Fernández, and Wenceslao Canet. Oscillatory rheological properties of fresh and frozen/thawed mashed potatoes as modified by different cryoprotectants. Food Bioprocess Technol, 2010, 3, 55-70.
4. Schafer, W. The science of freezing foods. 2021. University of Minnesota. 
5. Rawat, Seema. Food Spoilage: Microorganisms and their prevention. Asian j plant sci Res, 2015, 5, 47-56.
6. Kennedy, Christopher J., ed. Managing frozen foods. Woodhead Publishing Limited. 2000.