Do you have some leftover mashed potatoes and want to know how long they will last for? Maybe you were given leftover mashed potatoes and aren’t sure how long they are good for?
Or are you curious and want to know more? No matter the reason that brought you here today, we have the answers for you.
Finding out how long leftover mashed potatoes are good for can be tricky, especially if you are new to leftover potatoes.
You head online for some guidance but are met with conflicting and contradicting information leaving you unsure where to turn or who to trust. How will you know how long your mashed potatoes are good for now?
Well, you can turn to us for the answers you need. Keep reading to find out how long leftover mashed potatoes are good for with our complete guide today!
We have all the information you need, including some helpful tips on storing and using your leftover mashed potatoes.
Let’s not waste any more time and dive into our article now!
How Long Are Leftover Mashed Potatoes Good For?
Generally speaking, leftover mashed potatoes are good for three to five days if they are kept in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze your leftover mashed potatoes and they can be kept in the freezer for up to twelve months! That is plenty of time for you to enjoy your favorite potato.
But for your leftover mashed potatoes to last, they need to be stored correctly!
Starchy foods like mashed potatoes grow microbes and bacteria when they are left out at room temperature for too long.
This could cause food poisoning, vomiting, and diarrhea if you then eat the potato.
It also puts you at risk for botulism, a severe form of food poisoning. This can be identified by any of the following symptoms:
- Slurred speech
- Droopy eyelids
- Vision problems
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty breathing
If you notice any of these symptoms after eating mashed potatoes, you must seek medical attention immediately.
How To Store Leftover Mashed Potatoes
Now that we know mashed potatoes are good for a few days, let’s look at the best ways for you to store them! First up, you should never leave your mashed potatoes sitting for more than two hours at room temperature.
Mashed potatoes left out longer than this should be discarded and not consumed by anyone to avoid the risk of food poisoning.
If your mashed potatoes include additional ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, butter, or other dairy products, then the potatoes should be stored immediately.
This is because the extra ingredients make the mashed potatoes less stable and increase the chances of bacteria breeding quickly.
There is a ‘danger zone’ for cooked foods, between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. You can avoid this zone by keeping your food chilled or hot, avoiding bacteria growth as you do.
Keep your leftover mashed potatoes in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in your refrigerator and zero degrees in your freezer.
Storing Mashed Potato In Your Refrigerator
If you are storing mashed potatoes in your refrigerator, place them in a shallow container. You want your potatoes to cool evenly, with no warm spots to prevent the leftovers from going bad quickly.
Make sure you place them in an airtight sealed container. This will:
- Stop your mashed potatoes from drying out quickly
- Prevent them from spreading to other foods
- Stop the potatoes from absorbing other smells in your refrigerator
Opt for plastic containers or reusable plastic bags with as much air removed as possible to help keep your food protected.
Place your potatoes as close to the back of the refrigerator as possible, looking for the coldest spot in the fridge!
Storing Mashed Potato In Your Freezer
Before you place leftover mashed potatoes in your freezer, you need to portion them out! This means that you can defrost the amount you need, rather than having too much potato.
You can do this with freezer-safe Ziploc bags.
Portion out your potato and seal the bag, flattening it as you do. This helps you store them easily on your freezer shelf and prevents any air from being trapped in the bag.
Once your potatoes have cooled to room temperature you can put them in the freezer. If you put them in when they are still warm, they can heat other foods around them.
Top Tips For Reheating Mashed Potatoes
Below we have our top tips for reheating mashed potatoes, let’s take a look at them now to ensure that your mashed potatoes always turn out perfect!
Defrost Thoroughly
Before reheating frozen mashed potatoes, they need to defrost thoroughly. It is best to place your frozen mashed potato in the refrigerator overnight.
It takes several hours for the potatoes to thaw, so it’s best to let them thaw while you sleep. That way, you can enjoy tasty mashed potatoes the next day!
Reheat On The Stovetop
You can reheat your mashed potato in a saucepan on your stovetop. Add the potatoes to a pan over a medium heat. If you find your mashed potatoes are looking dry, you can add some liquid to them while they warm through.
You could use cream, chicken broth, or milk to do so. We recommend starting with ¼ cup and adding more liquid slowly until you reach the desired consistency. Once warmed through, remove from the heat and serve.
Reheat In The Oven
You can also reheat your mashed potatoes in the oven. Set your oven to 350 degrees and put your mashed potatoes in an oven-safe dish.
Add the dish to the oven for 20 to 30 minutes. You can also use an internal thermometer and remove the potatoes once they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
You will want to add some liquid to the dish too before reheating them to prevent your potatoes from drying out too.
It’s worth noting that once you have reheated your mashed potatoes, you should consume them and not store or attempt to reheat them again.
How To Know If Mashed Potatoes Have Gone Bad
Before reheating your mashed potatoes, you should check to see if they have gone bad. Even if it hasn’t been the full five days, your potatoes might go bad, so it’s always best to double-check.
There are a few ways you can check if your mashed potatoes have gone bad. First, look at the potatoes. If there are any glossy-looking areas, dry patches, or moldy patches, do not eat them.
If you notice an unpleasant smell, you should also not eat your mashed potatoes.
If the potatoes pass these two tests, rely on taste. If your mashed potatoes have a sour taste, they should be discarded and not eaten.
How To Use Up Leftover Mashed Potatoes
There are a few ways that you can reuse your mashed potatoes if you don’t want to store your leftovers.
Let’s take a look at what dishes you could incorporate your mashed potatoes into now. We have listed them below so you can gather some inspiration for your next meal.
- Loaded potato egg rolls
- Mashed potato fries
- Salmon mashed potato patties
- Polish potato dumplings
- Mashed potato puffs
- Pierogi lasagna
- Mashed potato cake
- Shepherds pie
- Mashed potato cinnamon rolls
- Mashed potato flatbread
- Potato croquettes
- Fried mashed potato balls
- Mashed potato casserole
- Mashed potato waffles
- Twice-baked potato cups
- Mashed potato nuggets
- Slow cooker potato soup
- Potato pancakes or fritters
- Mashed potato gnocchi
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, leftover mashed potatoes are good for three to five days, providing they are kept in the refrigerator.
They can last a further 12 months if they are frozen too, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your mashed potatoes!
Don’t forget to use our guide to see the best ways to store and use your leftover mashed potatoes to ensure that you never need to throw out leftovers again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you leave us today, be sure to check our brief FAQ section to get the answers to your last-minute questions!
Mashed potatoes can last for three to five days in the refrigerator. If you have added milk, butter, sour cream, or other dairy products then the potatoes might go bad quicker than this timeframe.
When you store your mashed potatoes in the refrigerator, make sure they are stored in an airtight plastic container towards the back of your refrigerator.
Yes, you can freeze mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes should be cooled to room temperature before being portioned into freezer-safe bags.
Remove as much air as possible from these bags too, as this helps to protect the potatoes from freezer burn.
Mashed potatoes can stay in the freezer providing they are kept in freezer-safe bags, for up to 12 months. They should be kept in a freezer with a temperature of zero degrees and stored in freezer-safe bags with as much air removed as possible.
To defrost your mashed potatoes, remove them from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator overnight.
KFC mashed potatoes can be kept in the fridge for three to five days. They can also be frozen as you would homemade mashed potatoes and reheated as usual.
Some people recommend adding 50% more power and doubling the time when reheating the potatoes to soak up any excess moisture.
