Baked potatoes are a delicious, healthy side dish that everyone loves.
But what do you do with all of the leftovers once the initial potato is gone?
Here are some quick ideas on what to do with leftover baked potatoes that I’ve gathered for you.
Check them out.
Make a potato salad
Making a potato salad with your leftover baked potatoes is a great use for them.
You can add bits of bacon, cheese, and veggies such as celery and onion to make it even better.
To do this, simply chop your leftover baked potatoes into small pieces and mix them with mayonnaise or any salad dressing of your choice.
You can even add some sour cream, buttermilk, spices, pepper, salt to taste.
This potato salad makes a great lunch on its own if you are looking for something simple that doesn’t require much effort at all.
Make potato pancakes
I love corned beef hash but feel that it’s just too salty sometimes.
If that’s the case for you as well, then you should try making some potato pancakes with your leftover baked potatoes.
To do this, grate your leftover baked potatoes into small pieces and mix with onion and egg to form a batter.
Add seasoning of your choice to the batter – salt, pepper, garlic powder are some great options.
Heat a pan with oil on medium-high heat and fry the potato pancakes until browned on both sides.
Enjoy.
Make some home fries
Another great idea on the topic of what to do with leftover potato pancakes.
You can make some yummy breakfast potatoes by mixing leftover baked potatoes with chopped onions, red and green bell peppers, and spices of your choice.
I love to add a bit of garlic powder into the mix as well because it adds a nice flavor to them.
In fact, feel free to experiment with different seasoning options as well as vegetables as you make these breakfast potatoes.
Make mashed potato cakes
Another great use for leftover baked potatoes is to make mashed potato cakes.
To do this, you simply need to mix the leftover with an egg and flour, then flatten them into pancakes before frying them.
You can eat these by themselves or serve them with some veggies or gravy of your choice.
Make twice baked potatoes
I love eating twice-baked potatoes, and it’s such a shame that I can’t find them in restaurants anywhere.
Luckily, you can make some at home with your leftover baked potatoes.
Simply scoop out the flesh of your leftover baked potato and mix it with milk, butter, salt, pepper, and other spices.
Fill the potato skins back up with this mixture before baking for about 15 minutes or until golden.
You can play around with different ingredients here – add bacon, cheese, sour cream, chives for some added flavor and texture to your twice-baked potatoes.
Make a baked potato soup
To make a baked potato soup, simply add your leftover baked-potato pieces to a pot of chicken broth.
You can choose to skip the chicken broth and simply melt some butter before adding your leftover potato pieces instead.
If you’d like, you can add in chopped bacon, cheese, sour cream, chives, and other spices as well in order to make this baked potato soup taste even better.
Refrigerate and reheat for another meal later on
Probably the easiest option when it comes to what to do with leftover baked potatoes.
If you don’t want to eat them right away, simply refrigerate them.
After a few days of storing, yours will be cold enough that they can then be fried or heated up in the oven again.
This way, you can relive your baked potato cravings anytime and save yourself from eating potatoes for too long in a row.
Add them to your meatloaf recipe for an extra boost of flavor
If your meatloaf recipe asks for mashed potatoes, you can easily use leftover baked potatoes to substitute them.
Simply mix the leftovers with milk, salt, pepper, and other spices of your choice until they reach a mashed potato-like texture.
If you’d like, you can also add some corn flakes or bread crumbs in order to help bind everything together.
Add the mixture into your meatloaf recipe and bake as usual, and you’ll have a scrum-diddly-umptious dinner on your hands.
How long are leftover baked potatoes good for?
For best results, eat your leftovers within 3 days of baking them.
They can last up to a week in the fridge, but don’t taste nearly as good after that point. (source)
Are leftover baked potatoes good?
Yes, they are.
Just make sure that you remove them from the oven while they still have a bit of firmness to them – otherwise, the insides might be too soft and watery.
Do you refrigerate leftover baked potatoes?
Yes, they are best refrigerated after they’ve cooled to room temperature.
They can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Why do baked potatoes take so long to make?
Baked potatoes can take anywhere from 1 hour to 90 minutes to make, depending on the time needed for your oven’s preheating process.
That’s because baked potatoes need to be baked at a high temperature in order to get crispy. (source)
Can I freeze baked potatoes?
Yes, they can be easily frozen and reheated later on for a quick meal.
Just make sure that you remove any excess salt or seasonings from the skin before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or tin foil.
Baked potatoes can last up to 3 months in the freezer if stored properly.
Can I microwave leftover baked potatoes?
No, they should not be reheated in the microwave.
This is because microwaves tend to overcook and dry out food instead of only heating them up.
If you’d like, you can add some water or chicken broth when microwaving leftovers in order to keep them from drying out too much.
Why do you wrap baked potatoes in foil?
Wrapping baked potatoes is a great way to ensure that they remain fresh and moist as they cool.
You can even wrap them in tin foil instead of regular foil if you’d like – just avoid placing the potato directly on top of your oven’s heating coils, as this could flatten it. (source)
Can you store baked potatoes in plastic wrap?
Yes, you can wrap baked potatoes in plastic wrap if you’d like – just make sure that you separate the skin from the exposed flesh before storing them.
Otherwise, your exposed flesh will dry out far too much.
Do I need to store my leftover baked potatoes in a sealed container?
If you’re going to be reheating your leftovers within a few days, you don’t need to place them in a sealed container.
If they’re going to be at room temperature for more than a day or two, however, you should definitely keep them tightly covered so that bugs and other pests can’t get at them.
Do leftover baked potatoes go bad?
Yes, they will go bad if they’re not stored properly.
If you’d like, you can keep them in the fridge for up to 1 week – just make sure that they’re tightly wrapped so that they don’t dry out too much.
You can also freeze and reheat them later on. (source)
Can old baked potatoes make you sick?
Yes, baked potatoes that have been sitting at room temperature for more than a few days can cause food poisoning.
If yours have been sitting out for longer than a week, take them back to the grocery store and purchase fresh ones.
How do you reheat leftover baked potatoes?
Reheating is simple – just place them in the oven and bake at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes, or until they’re heated through.
You can also wrap them in tin foil before heating them up – this will help ensure that they remain moist.
Do you have to peel baked potatoes?
Many people eat baked potatoes with the skin on – you’re welcome to do so yourself.
If you want to peel your baked potatoes, simply use a sharp knife to remove the skin.
Be careful if removing the skin after baking – it might be very hot at first.
What goes well with baked potatoes?
Potatoes are delicious on their own, but they’re even better when served with a side dish.
Some of our favorite side options include sour cream, shredded cheese, melted butter, chives, bacon bits, and baked beans.
What do you eat with twice-baked potatoes?
A lot of people love to eat their twice-baked potatoes with ranch dip or sour cream.
Some folks also eat them alongside the main dish, such as chicken or steak, while others enjoy topping their twice-baked spuds with whatever dishes they’re already making for dinner.
What to do with leftover baked potatoes – Conclusion
In conclusion, they can be used to make a delicious potato salad, potato pancakes, or even corned beef hash.
So if you’re looking for some quick and easy ideas on what to do with your leftovers, look no further.
These recipes are simple and tasty and will leave you wanting more.