If you’ve ever been frustrated by a bag of potatoes that spouted faster than you could use them, there’s a simple way to keep them fresh for longer
Everyone has their preferred variety of potato – from Maris Pipers and King Edwards to Desiree and Rooster spuds.
Being a potato enthusiast is easy, particularly when you realise that one of their greatest advantages is their lengthy shelf life.
Indeed, when kept correctly, these reliable tubers can remain fresh for months on end. Nevertheless, potatoes can still begin sprouting too early, particularly if they’re not kept correctly.
Posting on the Homemaking Tips Facebook page, one user sought advice on potato storage and received numerous suggestions, with one claiming their technique keeps potatoes fresh for five months, reports the Express.
Typically, it’s OK to eat a sprouted potato provided you get rid of the sprout before cooking.
However, it’s also wise to examine the potatoes’ general state for mould or green patches, which clearly indicate they’ve deteriorated.
Potatoes that feel soft, are wrinkling, or have an odd odour should be discarded.
You should also bin potatoes if they appear to be seeping liquid.
Quality potatoes ought to feel solid and have an earthy aroma, though that doesn’t guarantee they’ll always be perfect.
You can slice away any dark marks or green sections within a potato and still eat it safely.
Frustrated with her potatoes spoiling quickly, Sally Keller asked: “Is there a way to keep potatoes fresh longer? I can’t seem to keep mine fresh for longer than a week.”
Kater Gonzales replied: “I always refrigerate my potatoes as they always sprout whenever I keep them in the cupboards.”
Siabela Mathew remarked: “I put them inside the refrigerator, and they last forever.”
Dayna Newman concurred: “I keep mine in the refrigerator too and never had a problem.”
Carmen Leyva chimed in, “I always keep mine in the refrigerator. They lasted five months last time.”
Despite many advocating for storing potatoes in the fridge, some expressed doubts about the safety of this storage method.
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While previous advice suggested storing potatoes in a cool, dry and dark place, like a cupboard, food hygiene experts are now advising that “they should be kept in the fridge at below five degrees Celsius”, as per Love Food Hate Waste.
They further added: “Doing so keeps them fresh for three times as long, so you’ll have lots more time to cook up something delicious with them.”