While potatoes remain near the top of our shopping lists, we face a race against time to keep them fresh and ready to eat, but an expert has claimed adding one everyday ingredient to their skins will make them last longer
Whether you’re preparing a Sunday roast or enjoying a simple baked potato for lunch, time and again we find ourselves reaching into our fridges for the beloved vegetable.
But sadly, we’re often greeted by the annoying sight of them turning soft with shoots beginning to emerge, leaving us with no choice but to head straight to the bin.
However, new guidance has remarkably suggested there might be a method to keep the tasty food fresh for an entire year before it begins deteriorating.
Whilst people frequently find themselves racing against the clock to ensure they have consumed all their potatoes before they go off, one innovative preservation technique could reduce this pressure.
YouTuber Tracy Tips reckons that a straightforward four-step approach means we could maintain the raw vegetable fresh and ready to consume for up to a year following purchase.
Initially, Tracy explains that we require a cardboard box, then we must place dry paper, like kitchen towel, at the base of the container. Completing this stage ensures that any “excess moisture is absorbed”, whilst also preventing the potato’s skin from becoming damaged.
The next step requires layering the potatoes on top of each other with kitchen towel placed between them, before it’s time to “sprinkle a layer of baking powder over the surface of the potatoes”.
Detailing the reasoning behind adding the kitchen ingredient, she said: “Using baking soda helps absorb moisture effectively and limits sprouting.”
Once the box is full, she advises adding another layer of tissue paper, closing the lid and storing the vegetables in a place away from direct sunlight and humidity until it’s time to eat them.
While Tracy offered her tips for prolonging the life of potatoes, their shelf life can vary significantly depending on how they are stored, and whether they are cooked or not.
Healthline suggests that uncooked potatoes can last anywhere from one week to several months, while frozen cooked potatoes can be kept for up to a year.
There are certain signs to look out for to determine if a raw potato has gone off, such as becoming soft to the touch.
On the other hand, a fresh potato should be hard with tight skin, and free from any significant markings or bruises.
Over the course of a year, Love Food Hate Waste say that households across the UK bin nearly half a million tonnes of vegetables and salad, and a quarter of a million tonnes of fresh fruit on top of that. In total this comes to a staggering £2.1billion worth of veg and fruit binned due to it not being used in time.