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Christmas

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Original poster

Prepping potatoes on Christmas eve

32 replies

Summertime10 · 23/12/2020 19:31

Hi all, for those who prep some food items on Christmas eve, how do you store your potatoes once they're peeled and chopped?
I'm not sure whether to keep them in a pan with lid and water or to keep them in a zip lock bag.
Thanks

OP posts:
hopeishere · 23/12/2020 19:32

Pan of cold water.

Stickybbqwings · 23/12/2020 19:33

Following

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 23/12/2020 19:33

Pan of cold water.

Splodgetastic · 23/12/2020 19:33

Don’t keep in a pan with water for that long. They may disintegrate depending on variety as happened to my DH one Xmas and we had to hastily peel lots more about an hour before dinner and will discolour outside of water. You might be better off parboiling them first.

Birdladybird · 23/12/2020 19:35

Par boil them, cover in duck fat and then freeze! They will defrost quickly the day after and are the best roasties ever! (DH is a chef)

user1471530109 · 23/12/2020 19:35

I vaguely remember my late MIL putting a plash of milk in the cold water and leaving them overnight. I think the milk was to stop them going brown? Do they go brown?

Mrsjayy · 23/12/2020 19:35

Pan of salted water I don't know why a pp disintegrated I regularly do the night before potatoes.

Splodgetastic · 23/12/2020 19:44

@Mrsjayy It depends on the variety. Okay for waxier ones.

YouCanWorkItOut · 23/12/2020 19:46

I have seen loads of suggestion for parboiling then coating in fat - do you then add fat to the tin and heat it up before putting the potatoes in, or just put potatoes into preheated oven, no extra fat?

Clymene · 23/12/2020 19:57

Ziplock bag, dark place.

cakeinmyfacehole · 23/12/2020 20:03

I fully cook mine and then leave them under a clean tea towel when fully cool (they went soggy one year I covered them upsurge cling film). I do it the night before and take them out when just done (5/10 before 'perfect' done) and just leave them out. Give them a full hot blast on the day to get them finished and hot (if I were doing a turkey they go in when the turkey comes out to rest) and they are great.

NatMoz · 23/12/2020 20:04

Not helpful now but I just cook them/roast them in advance and then freeze them. On Xmas eve I defrost and heat them up on Xmas day.

In fact throughout the year I do this if I have some time for lazy but lovely roast potatoes!

cakeinmyfacehole · 23/12/2020 20:05

I fully cook mine and then leave them under a clean tea towel when cool (they went soggy one year I covered them up with cling film).

I do it the night before and take them out when just done (5/10 before 'perfect' done) and just leave them out. Give them a full hot blast on the day to get them finished and hot (if I were doing a turkey they go in when the turkey comes out to rest) and they are great.

CrustyChrimbo · 23/12/2020 20:07

If I parboil, add fat and freeze, should I take them out of the freezer on xmas morning? We'll be eating at 5pm.

I came on to ask what I can prep on christmas eve to avoid being stuck in the kitchen all day. Any other prep I can do the day before?

Kendodd · 23/12/2020 20:10

I do the same as Birdladybird saves loads of time as you can do this weeks before. Just make sure you freeze them separately, with space between so they don't stick together. Cook from frozen on Christmas day. You can do parsnip the same way.

Lemondrops41 · 23/12/2020 20:14

I parboil them, tip them into a colander and leave them until all the steam has gone (the steam dries them). Lay them out on a baking tray and keep in the fridge overnight .I do the same with my parsnips.

cushioncovers · 23/12/2020 20:17

Pan of cold water

Birdladybird · 23/12/2020 20:22

@YouCanWorkItOut no extra fat needed. My DH also puts a coat of semolina on the potatoes before freezing but this is an optional extra and he does like little fads Grin

@CrustyChrimbo we take them out in the morning and they are defrosted quite quickly.

This year we have already pre-made 80 3 course Xmas dinners for our restaurant customers. This also means our is pre-made and in our fridge and ready to go!

namechangefail2020 · 23/12/2020 20:24

I parboil and pour into hot fat then leave them to cool- then chill.

Just have to cook for 45 mins on the day and they're perfect and crispy 😄

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 23/12/2020 20:27

I parboil mine and put mine in ziplock bag and top up with ice water and store in fridge, never had it go wrong yet of course it will this year can do for both peeled potatoes for mash and roasties.

Do the same for all the veg I prep.

CherryRoulade · 23/12/2020 20:29

Depending on numbers, I sometimes part roast and cool then keep them in the fridge. That is for a large number eating. Otherwise I par boil very lightly then let cool, coat in a dusting of cornflour and pour over melted butter before popping in fridge.

Original poster
Summertime10 · 23/12/2020 21:16

Thanks a lot for the ideas. I've prepped and frozen my roasties using the batch lady method (she was my saviour last year!) but this was for the potatoes to make the mashed potatoes as the toddler and children like those too. Smile

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 24/12/2020 02:36

We put them in a pan of cold water every year and have never had a problem. I change the water before cooking.

DramaAlpaca · 24/12/2020 02:39

Pan of cold water, even for floury potatoes. Which make the best roast potatoes.

bumblingbovine49 · 24/12/2020 02:55

Raw peeled potatoes completely covered with cold water in a pan with a lid on are absolutely fine overnight . Just put the pan on the heat to boil when ready to make the mash. The are fine left for up to about 24 hours before needing to be cooked . They don't even need to be in the fridge