A lifestyle guru has shared a series of simple storage hacks including one to prevent potatoes from sprouting and keep them fresh – and all you need is a particular fruit
A lifestyle expert has revealed a series of crucial fruit and veg hacks, including one that will prevent your potatoes from sprouting prematurely.
TikTok user @lifetips669 shared a clip outlining a range of useful tips, which are sure to maximise your grocery shopping. “Vegetable vendors will never tell you these food storage tips,” they began.
Detailing their spud storage technique, they explained: “Potatoes bought in bulk go bad. Potatoes and apples are good friends. Storing them together prevents sprouting.” It appears there’s a science behind the method, as pairing the two slows down their ripening process.
Tasting Table says apples produce ethylene, a natural gas, exposure to which “can slow down or halt potatoes’ sprouting process”. The site also advises against storing potatoes in a warm environment, recommending instead a “cool, dry and dark” location.
However, don’t pop them in the fridge as the cold can “trigger the potato’s starches to transform into sugars, which can become carcinogenic when cooked”. And be warned – as ethylene from apples can in fact have the reverse effect on other foods – particularly onions, melons, broccoli, and peaches. Their high sensitivity to ethylene can accelerate their ripening process, making them unfit for consumption sooner.
In another clever hack, @lifetips669 suggests popping shrimp into an empty mineral water bottle and topping it up with tap water. “Tighten the cap and freeze it,” they advise. “This way it stays fresh for a year.”
The savvy account also recommends submerging broccoli in water to keep it fresher for longer and claims that storing onions in stockings can make them “last a long time”.
Like potatoes, @lifetips669 notes that bananas bought in bulk tend to go mouldy faster. They suggest that wrapping a bag around the stem will keep them “still perfect” for when you’re ready to enjoy them.
Grateful TikTok users have been quick to express their thanks, with one commenting: “Wow I’m so encouraged and happy, thanks a lot for this info.” Another added: “Wow additional knowledge. Thanks for sharing the tips.”
