Canned Potatoes Are The Time Saver You Should Turn To More Often

While hunting for canned peas or tomatoes in the grocery store, you've likely passed by canned potatoes hundreds of times without giving them a second glance. This is a missed opportunity because they can significantly cut down on prep and cook time, and might be among the most beneficial items to stock in your kitchen.

Canned potatoes are peeled and partially cooked prior to canning, meaning they're ready for immediate use once opened. They're available in several forms for convenience, including sliced, diced, and whole, all offering a variety of uses with minimal effort. In a world where fresh potatoes are abundantly available, you may question the necessity of canned versions. Nevertheless, even disregarding their pre-prepped status, canned potatoes boast a significant advantage in terms of shelf life. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, unopened cans remain edible for up to five years, far outlasting a bag of fresh potatoes. So, even if you don't plan on using them as a regular replacement for fresh potatoes, it's still a great idea to keep a few cans on hand for those times when you run out of fresh ones, or when they start to sprout.

When you use canned potatoes, the first thing you'll want to do is drain them and give them a rinse, as the liquid they are submerged in can contain a good amount of sodium. Like fresh, unseasoned potatoes, canned potatoes are pretty bland straight from the can. Regardless of how you decide to prepare them, they will require seasoning. Simply season them as you would fresh potatoes and use them accordingly. You can sauté them in butter or oil with fresh herbs and garlic. They make excellent oven-roasted potatoes, but be sure you thoroughly dry them before tossing them with oil and flavorings so they'll get nice and crispy. They're also perfect for cooking in the air fryer.

For mashed potatoes, simply boil them until they're fully cooked and mash them as normal. You can use canned potatoes for potato salad, casseroles, and shepherd's pie, to name a few more potential dishes. To save even more time, utilize the sliced canned potatoes for things like scalloped potatoes and the diced ones for soups, stews, chowders, and pot pies.

Once you've opened a can of potatoes, store any unused ones in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to four days for the best texture and flavor. They're really not meant to be frozen, as the texture will change for the worse once they thaw out. Remember, canned potatoes are already partially cooked, so when you cook them (whether that's boiling, pan frying, or roasting), they should be ready in a shorter amount of time than you're used to. Be careful not to overcook them because will just turn to watery mush, just as the fresh one do.

A can of potatoes can feed one or two people, so it's perfect for those cooking for just themselves, couples, or roommates. If you're feeding a family, take this into consideration when you're doing your grocery shopping. Canned potatoes are like a little open secret at the market. They're there, but no one really talks about them, so it's high time we brought this little open secret into the limelight.