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Frozen or tinned potatoes

(66 Posts)
Judy54 Sat 07-Feb-26 14:00:00

I am considering keeping a bag of frozen potatoes possibly roast in the freezer and/or some tinned potatoes in the store cupboard as a back up for when I run out of fresh ones. Have you tried either and do you have any recommendations. Would love to hear your views.

Gingster Sat 07-Feb-26 14:07:32

Don’t bother with tinned. Horrible. Soft and tasteless.

Frozen roasts are ok.

shysal Sat 07-Feb-26 14:21:22

If you have an air fryer, the tinned potatoes are not bad dried off and roasted. I haven't tried them done in the oven but I am sure they would be fine. Also parboiled fresh potatoes coated in oil can be successfully frozen and air fried or roasted at a later date. If you are using the oven and have space, you could do some jacket potatoes and freeze them. When needed they microwave in 5 minutes, just like the McCain ones you can buy. When I make mash I usually do extra and freeze in individual portions. Potatoes are really useful for preparing ahead, so good luck with trying them out.
Years ago when we visited my MIL we always had tinned ham with tinned potatoes and tinned veg followed by tinned fruit!

Rocketstop2 Sat 07-Feb-26 14:33:11

I haven't had frozen potatoes as such although people say frozen mash is quite good. I usually have tinned potatoes in but not for eating as they are, I add them to other things for a quick fix like to a curry or a soup/casserole, they are useful for that I find.

LadyGracie Sat 07-Feb-26 14:34:59

Occasionally I’ll buy Aunt Bessie’s roasties in duck fat as a back up, they’re ok.

I remember tinned new potatoes from when we went camping 50+ years ago, they had a peculiar smell and taste. I haven’t bought them since.

Elegran Sat 07-Feb-26 15:01:29

I am one of those who say frozen mash is good. At least, Auntie Bessie's is good and so is Tesco's own brand. I haven't tried any others. It is useful to have a bag in the feezer - they are in small lumps, so you can take out as many as you need at a time, put them in the microwave with a little water and a knob of butter for a few minutes and give them a stir.

Same with a bag of potato croquettes, they take 15 minutes or so in the oven or air-fryer and are crisp outside and soft inside.

Potato Pops are Malteser-size balls of potato in batter, better for nibbles than a meal, but they go down well with children.

theworriedwell Sat 07-Feb-26 15:14:10

Frozen mash is the only frozen potato I use. I've used aunt Bessie's Sainsbury's and Iceland's. All good. I don't like frozen roast potatoes, havent tried the tinned ones for over 30 years and they weren't nice but they might have improved

Doodledog Sat 07-Feb-26 15:14:28

I concur about frozen mash. It's great for something like cottage pie in a hurry. I don't think frozen roast potatoes are ever better than ok. A bit like frozen yorkshire puddings - they will do if you are hungry and short of time, but will never be a real substitute for home made.

I find the potatoes in sauce you get in ambient packs in Aldi and Lidl much better than frozen roasties. They keep for ages in a cupboard, and you just heat them up. Like the ones in the photo.

SORES Sat 07-Feb-26 15:17:10

tinned potatoes are horrid water soaked things, I have tried them all
frozen is ok
as are packets of dried Idahoan when on offer, instant mash

I freeze home made mash without adding anything to it,
this is fine, better than supermarket frozen which is ok actually

twiglet77 Sat 07-Feb-26 15:25:57

Frozen roasties aren’t a patch on fresh, but they’re handy to have in. I get frozen mash from Morrisons or Waitrose, less keen on the Aldi one. Portions on my plate and four minutes in the microwave, so easy!

I use frozen potato wedges too, my DGS like “skin-on fries”.

Astitchintime Sat 07-Feb-26 15:32:07

Another fan of Idaho mash here. Tinned potatoes are dreadful and Aunt Bessie’s roasties are ok. I’ve sometimes made a stock of mash, portioned and frozen it when spuds were very cheap.

kittylester Sat 07-Feb-26 15:45:38

Cook frozen roast potatoes are great - nearly as good as mine. I stock up when we pass a Cook Store. None of the others are very good imo.

I do keep parmentier from M&S in the freezer but they have to be thawed. Likewise the potatoes in cheese sauce from Waitrose.

Wouldn't have tinned potatoes.

Visgir1 Sat 07-Feb-26 15:59:15

I buy as back up Frozen baby Roast potatoes from "M&S" later on in the season they will be replaced by Baby Frozen Jersey Royals. We like them, so do several of my chums, who also use as back ups. I put them in the Air fryer quick and easy.
I also keep Tin ones which I use for my Cornbeef hash, curries etc.
I very rarely make/eat mash potato so no idea if that's any good.

Cossy Sat 07-Feb-26 16:00:46

Frozen potatoes are ok, I find tinned ones disgusting?

Cossy Sat 07-Feb-26 16:01:24

M&S do great mash and roast potatoes both can be frozen

Marg75 Sat 07-Feb-26 18:02:14

Not a fan of frozen roast potatoes, they're often all different sizes, some very small mixed with large. Not a patch on the real thing. DH is a fan of Idaho mash, I put plenty of salt & pepper in and some butter.

eazybee Sat 07-Feb-26 18:46:25

Neither.
Fresh potatoes or extra vegetables.

Oreo Sat 07-Feb-26 18:55:21

Gingster

Don’t bother with tinned. Horrible. Soft and tasteless.

Frozen roasts are ok.

I agree.

Oreo Sat 07-Feb-26 18:56:10

M&S mashed potato is ok, just add butter.You can freeze it.

Oreo Sat 07-Feb-26 18:56:52

Sorry Cossy I didn’t see your post.

Coolgran65 Sat 07-Feb-26 19:11:30

A packet of Idaho mash can serve 3 and is pretty good.
Haven't tried frozen mash.
Tinned potatoes are beyond disgusting.
Im not really a fan of frozen roast potatoes though dh thinks they are grand.
Frozen baked potatoes are good. I usually cook as directed in the microwave then rub with butter and give them about ten minutes in the air fryer to crisp up. Good if you like to eat to eat the skin.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Sat 07-Feb-26 20:17:36

Tinned potatoes, that brings back memories. Sometimes I'd go round one of my friend's for tea and get given a tin of Heinz soup with tinned potatoes added, it was quick and simple I suppose. They sometimes had Goblin pudding with tinned potatoes and tinned peas. It wasn't that unusual in the 70s, lots of food was tinned. My mum was a really good cook and friends loved it if she invited them for tea, or Sunday lunch was even better, not a tinned potato in sight, and homemade trifle for 'afters' 😂

M0nica Sat 07-Feb-26 21:44:49

Neither. If I ran out of potatoes I would serve rice or pasta.

Trisha99 Sat 07-Feb-26 21:56:58

I use Tesco basic frozen potatoes, I’m not a fan of roast potatoes but DH really likes them so keep a bag of these in the freezer.
I find the trick is to cook them on their own on a baking tray- put them in to roast for about 15 minutes, then take the tray out, cut the larger potatoes n half, drizzle a little cooking oil over them and pop back in till crispy.
Oh and I ignore cooking instructions, they always need longer to get a crispy exterior.

Fallingstar Sat 07-Feb-26 22:13:21

Another fan of aunt Bessie’s frozen mash.
Always have a bag or two in the freezer.