Cooking your French fries is a great way to ensure quality. But if you have cooked more than you can eat at a time, then you might wonder to save the leftovers.
Well, when it comes to saving perishable foods like French fries, freezing is the best way to go.
However, if this is your first time, there might be so many questions on your head all pertain to freezing cooked French fries.
If you are in this situation, do not worry because you are in the right place. In this post, I will answer some of the most common and important questions about freezing-cooked French fries.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the following questions:
1. Can you freeze cooked French fries?
Yes, cooked French fries can be frozen. To keep cooked French fries in the freezer longer, they should be stored properly.
The best thing to do is to put it in an airtight container or freezer bag and remove as much air out of the container.
Then, wrap it with freezer wrap or aluminum foil. This protects the French fries from freezer burn.
2. How long do cooked French fries last in the freezer?
Assuming that it is properly stored, cooked French fries can last in the freezer for about 10-12 months.
Frozen-cooked French fries will still be safe to eat after a year as long as it is kept at a constant 0 degree Fahrenheit.
Aside from proper packaging, you also need to make sure that the temperature is constant. If not, frozen foods can be in great danger.
3. How long can cooked French fries last in the refrigerator?
Cooked French fries can last for up to 3-5 days in the refrigerator if stored correctly.
The best way of refrigerating cooked French fries that works well is by putting them in a shallow airtight container.
Then, wrap it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap tightly. This will help the cooked French fries last longer in the refrigerator.
4. How do you freeze fast-food French fries?
Freezing fast-food French fries is pretty much like freezing any French fries. It is simple.
All you need to do is to place the fries on a sheet pan in a single layer. This is to avoid the fries from sticking together.
If you freeze a lot of fries, you can use parchment paper and put it on the top of the first layer then place another layer.
Keep doing it until all the fries are placed properly. Then freeze the fries. That’s it. You have successfully frozen fast-food fries.
5. How long do cooked French fries last after being frozen and thawed?
Cooked French fries can last for about 3-5 days in the refrigerator after being frozen.
However, French fries that are thawed on the counter, microwave, or in the cold water won’t last long.
If you thawed French fries at room temperature for too long, I suggest that you eat them immediately within 1-2 hours.
Always remember that bacteria can grow rapidly in a warm environment.
6. How long can cooked French fries be left at room temperature?
Cooked French fries can only be left at room temperature within one to two hours.
As mentioned, leaving cooked French fries at room temperature puts them at risk of bacterial contamination.
If cooked French fries are left outside at a temperature of 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit, they are not safe to consume.
If you have leftovers, the best thing you can do is to freeze them. Place the leftover French fries in an airtight container or freezer bag before popping them in the freezer.
Do it immediately. Do not give room for bacteria to grow rapidly.
7. What happens if you leave frozen fries out overnight?
Leaving frozen fries out overnight may contaminate the fries. The bacteria can quickly grow in warn environment.
This is the reason why experts recommend that foods should be safely stored in the freezer or refrigerator within two hours.
Overnight is more than enough for the bacteria to contaminate the fries. Therefore, the fries will not be safe even freezing or refrigerating them.
Freezing or refrigerating will not kill the bacteria. The 0 degrees Fahrenheit will only prevent the bacteria from growing rapidly but they remain alive.
Therefore, eating French fries that are left out overnight is not safe. I always recommend discarding them.
Like I always say in most of my posts, safety must be the top priority.
8. Can French fries be refrozen?
Technically, you can refreeze French fries. However, the results might be undesirable.
The problem is that when frozen fries are thawed, they tend to release a lot of moisture.
When you refreeze them, the fries will stick together because of the moisture. This is one of the reasons why refreezing does not work well in all frozen foods.
Freezing multiple times can deteriorate the quality of the food.
9. How can you tell if frozen fries are bad?
Like other frozen foods, you can easily detect if frozen fries are bad. Some of the signs are foul odor, discoloration, and mold.
If you see these signs, the fries are no longer safe to eat. Again, it is better to discard them.
If you want to learn more about freezing foods, feel free to visit my guide here.
