How long can cooked potatoes last in the fridge?

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long can cooked potatoes last in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of cooked potatoes. Moreover, we are going to discuss tips to properly store cooked potatoes.

So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.

How long can cooked potatoes last in the fridge?

Cooked potatoes can last for about 3-4 days when stored properly in the fridge at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in an air-tight container or plastic zipper bag.

Thus, the cold temperature of the fridge will decrease the rate of bacterial growth and will subsequently prolong the shelf life of your cooked potatoes.

The proper way to store your cooked potatoes in the fridge is to put them in the air-tight container or zip lock bag once you have cooled it thoroughly at room temperature. It is best practice to refrigerate the leftovers of your cooked potatoes within 2 hours after potatoes are being cooked. 

In the case of boiled potatoes, it is better to store them with a cloth on them rather than storing them in an air-tight container in the fridge. The reason behind this is that potatoes need stable air flow so that molds won’t grow on them. Moreover, if you store boiled potatoes in an air-tight container then here potatoes draw out water at a faster rate and get spoiled quickly.

How long do cooked potatoes last in the freezer?

Cooked potatoes if kept in an air-tight container or air-tight bag in the freezer can last for about 10-12 months provided that it was stored properly.

But it is worth mentioning that freezing is only suitable when it comes to mashed potatoes and you should refrain from freezing dishes that have potato pieces in them as potatoes will become glassy and they will also lose their firm texture when they get thawed.

So what you gotta do is to add the mashed potatoes to the plastic freezer bag and eliminate as much air as you can from the bag by gently pressing it while sealing the bag or you can use a vacuum sealer pump for this purpose. Now label the bag and store it in the freezer

Thus, keeping the mashed potatoes in the freezer will increase their shelf life considerably due to the freezer’s cool temperature that halts the bacterial growth on cooked potatoes.

It is worth mentioning that the figures mentioned above are the estimated shelf life of the cooked potatoes.

Other FAQs about Potatoes which you may be interested in.

Can you peel potatoes before boiling them?

Can you eat half-cooked potatoes?

How to reheat roasted potatoes in the oven?

Tips to properly store cooked potatoes

1. You should always store your cooked potatoes at 40°F or below. Bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40°F and 140°F, therefore it is always advised to store your cooked potatoes at a lower temperature.

2. One thing to keep in mind is to let your cooked potatoes cool thoroughly before putting them in the container or the zip-lock bag. If you put steaming hot cooked potatoes in these airtight bags or containers, the moisture will build up inside them which can provide suitable conditions for the bacteria to grow.

3. In the case of boiled potatoes, it is better to store them with a cloth on them rather than storing them in an air-tight container in the fridge.

4. It is a good practice to store cooked potatoes on one of the shelves of the refrigerator rather than the door as there is a lot of temperature fluctuation at the door of the fridge that can mess up the quality of cooked potatoes.

5. If you want to preserve the freshness and quality of the cooked potatoes for a long time then it is better to freeze them. But it is worth mentioning that when it comes to freezing, then it is better to freeze mashed potatoes but freezing is not a good option when it comes to cooked potato pieces as they will lose their firm texture when they will get thawed.

6. Once you have reheated the cooked potatoes, you should never refrigerate them. As when you reheat the cooked potatoes, their temperature rises more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit and we know that bacteria grows at a faster rate between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. So the bacteria will find their way to your cooked potatoes and you should never refrigerate the reheated cooked potatoes.

You can read how to make potato wedges here.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long can cooked potatoes last in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of cooked potatoes. Moreover, we discussed tips to properly store cooked potatoes.

Citations

https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-long-can-you-store-cooked-potatoes#:~:text=Cooked%20potatoes%20and%20other%20cooked,refrigerator%203%20to%204%20days.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-long-do-potatoes-last

https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/18081