Store your spuds correctly, and they should stay fresh for several months.
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How to Store Potatoes
When it comes to proper potato storage, there are several factors to consider: light, temperature, airflow, and the produce they should not be stored with. The best place to store potatoes at home is in a dark pantry or basement, if you have one. In these locations, potatoes will last for several months, according to
Ann Ziata, chef and cooking teacher at the
Institute of Culinary Education.
Light
A dark spot, like a pantry or basement, means potatoes will not be exposed to light. Light will make the skin of potatoes turn green, says Ziata. Green parts of potatoes will taste bitter and are unsafe to eat, so discard any potatoes with green areas that are widespread or extend deeper than the skin, she says. (If the green areas are small and don't go beneath the skin, you can remove them and safely eat remaining potato, she says.)
Temperature
Temperature is also an important factor, as the tubers keep best in environments between 45 to 50 degrees. But if they're stored at a too-cool temperature (below 42 degrees), the starch in the potatoes will convert to sugar, negatively affecting taste and cooking performance, says Jamey Higham, president of the
Idaho Potato Commission. On the other hand, if they're stored above 55 degrees, potatoes will quickly dehydrate, which can potentially cause them to sprout.
