The fridge is probably one of the most significant inventions that make our modern lifestyle possible. It remains to be our busy population’s easy fix for deriving nutrition amidst our hectic schedules. Here’s everything you need to know about freezing potato salad and coleslaw.
Can you freeze potato salad?
Potatoes are among the most popular staple foods around the world. Every piece, big or small, is highly nutritious.
- Other than being a great source of carbs, potatoes also contain very high levels of Vitamin C to boost the immune system.
- It also contains Vitamin B6 which powers several crucial body processes and promotes brain and nerve health.
- Other minerals found in potatoes include potassium, phosphorus, folate, and Vitamin A
How healthy and convenient it would be if you can have potatoes on-hand anytime you feel like helping yourself to a couple of pieces of potato wedges, baking a huge piece of potato meal with chili con carne on it or, fixing yourself a plate of healthy potato salad.
However, it takes time to boil, cool down, and prepare potato-based meals. That’s why, placing potato salad in the fridge may sound like a great idea – and it is!
P/s: If you haven’t prepared a potato salad before, here is a video of Chef Mark Anthony, demonstrating a healthy, vegan way of fixing yourself this dish:
The question is, can you freeze potato salad? To be more specific, is it a healthy way of storing this dish?
You must know that storing a fixed potato salad dish is not the smartest thing to do. Here’s why:
- The mayonnaise and every other fresh herb you put in, like celeries, which have water content in them, will end up making the dish unpleasantly soggy and therefore unappealing.
- Freezing the fixed dish will damage the texture of your potato salad and change the way it tastes as well
- If you’re trying to save leftover potato salad, make sure that what you are putting in the fridge has not been left standing on the table for hours. Otherwise, you will only be storing bacteria
Yet, there is a step-by-step process by which you can better store your potatoes without endangering your health nor suffering the quality of your potato salad.
- Step 1: Wash your potatoes
- Step 2: Soak potatoes in ice-cold water. Bring to a boil
- Step 3: Place your potatoes in a rack to cool down overnight
- Step 4: Cut your potatoes based on the use you have in mind. If you intend to fix these into a potato salad, simply cut lengthwise then cut again from end-to-end
- Step 5: Store in the fridge using zip-locked, airtight food bags. Don’t forget to let the air out. Oxygen spoils food and allows aerobic bacteria to survive and you don’t want that. Don’t forget to label
- Step 6: Freeze
When it’s time to fix your salad, simply thaw frozen potatoes. Press down paper towels to remove any moisture formed. Cut and toss in your ingredients. Store in cool temperature. Serve when cold.
Easy? We thought so.
Can you freeze coleslaw?
Now, for another one of our favorite salad, coleslaw, it would be nice if you can do the same easy storage and easy preparations that we now know can be safely done for the potatoes in your potato salad.
Cabbage, most especially the red purple varieties, contain nutrients that are anti-diabetes and anti-cancer.
It also contains high levels of antioxidants that relieve inflammation in cells which, if left unchecked, causes our body to age, cells to become damaged, and us to develop diseases in the long haul.
You must not freeze a fixed coleslaw for the very same reasons that we don’t want to freeze our potato salad. Instead, you can follow these steps:
- Step 1: Thinly cut up your cabbage
- Step 2: Using a strainer, drop your cabbage in a pot of boiling water. Keep it there for 90 seconds
- Step 3: Drop your boiled cabbages in a bowl of ice cold water
- Step 4: Allow the cabbage to dry
- Step 5: Store in an airtight bag
- Step 6: Freeze
If you haven’t prepared coleslaw before, here’s a video that shows you just how this tasty and healthy salad is made:
Conclusion
When it comes to storing fresh produce like potatoes and cabbage, simply wash, cut, cook or blanch, then freeze these on their own – no dressings, no need for salt.
When you’re ready to serve, thaw and toss in your other ingredients, including your dressing. That’s easy enough to make plus you can have peace of mind knowing that you did the safest, healthiest way of storing your salads.
