How to Store Potatoes: 5 Tips for Storing Potatoes

Potatoes are the tubers (large underground storage stems) of Solanum tuberosum, a nightshade plant native to the Andes Mountains, where they’ve been cultivated for about 8,000 years. A member of the same family as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, potato plants also produce flowers, leaves, and poisonous berries.

Mature potatoes are harvested in the fall by killing the above-ground part of the plant and leaving the potatoes in the soil for a few weeks to thicken their skins. Potatoes are a popular starch that can be stored at room temperature in your home for everyday use. However, there are many ways you can prevent them from going bad rapidly.

A pound of potatoes from the grocery store can survive in your home for months if they are stored properly. The best way to store potatoes is to keep them in a dark, cool place with plenty of air circulation. They should be stored at room temperature (around 50 degrees Fahrenheit) out of the sunlight.

If you just bought a large bag of potatoes from the grocery store to use over a few months, you want to set your stored potatoes up to last. Here are some storage tips for keeping your potatoes fresh for months to come.

1. 1. Store them in the dark. The best place to store potatoes is in a dry, dark place, such as a kitchen cabinet or drawer, or a root cellar or unheated basement. The ideal storage temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure your storage space also has good ventilation and is not in direct sunlight.
2. 2. Encourage proper ventilation. Store your potatoes in a well-ventilated container that allows for airflow such as a paper bag, cardboard box, wire basket, or mesh bag. They will also keep at room temperature in a bowl on the countertop that is out of direct sunlight. Never store potatoes in a plastic bag or airtight container, because they will trap air and gas around the potatoes, encouraging them to spoil.
3. 3. Store them at room temperature. Raw potatoes like cold temperatures, but they should be stored at room temperature. Storing your potatoes in the refrigerator doesn’t prolong their storage life, and the cold can turn your potatoes' starches into sugars, encouraging sprouting.
4. 4. Store them away from other veggies. Certain fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, and onions, produce ethylene gas which causes nearby produce to ripen faster. For long-term storage, keep potatoes away from these fruits and vegetables to preserve them longer.
5. 5. Freeze your potatoes. If you want to preserve your potatoes to be cooked for up to a year, you can freeze them instead of simply storing them. However, you will need to peel and cook your potatoes before you do that. To freeze boiled potatoes, simply bring cut-up potatoes to a boil in a pot of water and cook them until they are nearly done. Drain your potatoes and submerge them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Drain your potatoes again and pat them dry to remove any excess moisture. Lay your potatoes out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and stick them in the freezer for twelve hours. Once your potatoes are frozen solid, you can put them in a large freezer bag with as much air sucked out of it as possible.

Potatoes continue to photosynthesize even after they have been picked from the plant. As they photosynthesize, they also release carbon dioxide and moisture which can cause the potatoes to spoil. Here are a few signs that your potatoes are past their prime.

1. 1. Skin blemishes: If you notice any discoloration like blemishes, soft spots, or nascent mold on the skin of your potatoes, they have gone bad. Potatoes will also begin to sprout buds on the surface of their skin as they build up sugar to germinate new plants. Many people choose not to eat potatoes that have sprouted, but you can safely remove the sprouts and cook the remaining potatoes.
2. 2. Wrinkled texture: Spuds that are past their prime may feel wrinkly and bendable instead of their usually firm texture.
3. 3. Green color: The many potato varieties come in a number of different colors—including red, purple, golden, or white—but green potatoes are not okay to eat. These potatoes taste bitter when they are ingested.

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