Ready Mash - Do not freeze?

Fusspot

Hi, me again. I've just bought some ready mash for Sainsburys ready for my home made shepherds pie and it says on the packet Do Not Freeze - surely this can't be right. I have frozen mashed potato before. Any views on this?

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nuatha

Fusspot wrote: »

Hi, me again. I've just bought some ready mash for Sainsburys ready for my home made shepherds pie and it says on the packet Do Not Freeze - surely this can't be right. I have frozen mashed potato before. Any views on this?

Its almost certainly been frozen and thawed and therefore its not recommended that its refrozen.

Fusspot

I didn't think it mattered with potatoes. Means I will have to add the mash when it comes to eating the mince after I've thawed it out.

caronc

Sounds as though it's been previously frozen. Tbh I'd be happy to re-freeze, it might loose some texture (quickly sorted by a whisking in a knob of butter on reheating) but won't make you ill

Mav6215

Think they are just covering themselves so avoid any potential claims.

pollyanna_26

Hi Fusspot Nuatha is spot on with this . I haven't read your threads yet but if you have enough freezer space could you set aside some time in future to cook both savoury meals in bulk and do the same with mash ?
Mash can be open frozen in scoops and then bagged up . Or make a few different dishes assemble and then freeze ready to reheat .
Welcome back Nuatha - I've missed you
polly

elizabethhull

I freeze all sorts of things that either don't say or suggest not to freeze. We've had no ill-effects yet !!

Surely a pack of ready-prepared mash hasn't been previously frozen - that would seem very odd. Maybe they add some ingredient that loses texture on defrosting. I know 'fresh' fish sometimes has been frozen, but it always says so.

I'd go ahead anyway, but I am a little cavalier about that sort of thing, freezing Brie, pate, and all sorts of leftovers.

Mojisola

Fusspot wrote: »

I've just bought some ready mash for Sainsburys ready for my home made shepherds pie and it says on the packet Do Not Freeze -

Tesco's ready made mash can be frozen.

I wondered if there was something in the Sainsburys mash that might separate on freezing but it looks the same as Tesco (and home made mash).

PasturesNew

These instructions are aimed at the "lowest common denominator". Somebody else might, for example, have bought them and left them on the worktop for 4-5 days ... and then tossed them into the freezer.

There's nothing in the product that's dangerous, it's just the potential for "poor food management" they are looking at.

If you're happy you've kept it safe etc and it's "OK", then it'll be fine.

It's just a "catchall" statement they print on everything "in case" somebody aged 95 didn't do the right things .... and died .... and somebody now wants compo.