Shelf Life Tips
- How long do cooked yams last in the fridge or freezer? The exact answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - refrigerate yams (including mashed and baked yams) within two hours of cooking.
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To maximize the shelf life of cooked yams for safety and quality, refrigerate the yams in shallow airtight containers or resealable plastic bags.
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Properly stored, cooked yams will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
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How long can cooked yams be left at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; cooked yams should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
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To further extend the shelf life of cooked yams, freeze them.
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To freeze whole baked yams: Wrap potatoes individually in foil and then place together in heavy-duty freezer bags or airtight containers.
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To freeze boiled and sliced or mashed yams: sprinkle first with a small amount of lemon juice to prevent discoloration and then place in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long do cooked yams last in the freezer? Properly stored, they will maintain best quality for 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - cooked yams that have been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How long do cooked yams last after being frozen and thawed? Cooked yams that have been thawed in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator before cooking; yams that were thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be eaten immediately.
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How to tell if cooked yams are bad? The best way is to smell and look at the yams: discard any that have an off smell or appearance, do not taste first.
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