How to Store Potatoes

How to store potatoes

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Proper storage of your potatoes is important in the longevity and optimal flavor of your potatoes.  Because these are fresh potatoes, how long they last will depend more on how they are stored. For this reason, many stores choose not to have a best by date or expiration date added to the packaging. If the potatoes are not soft or breaking down, you should be good to go. Keeping them this way should allow them to last for several weeks, depending on storage conditions.

Cool Dark Place

Store your potatoes in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place until use.  The optimum storage is 45-55 degrees F.  Avoid storing potatoes where the temperature may change frequently, such as next to appliances or under the sink, or in direct sunlight, such as countertops.

Do Not Refrigerate

Storing potatoes in the refrigerator allows the potatoes’ starches to break down into sugars, which may change the flavor of the potatoes. If you must refrigerate them, use them up within a few weeks to get the best flavor possible!

Avoid Washing

Avoid washing your potatoes until use.  Dampness while storing can promote early spoilage.

Do Not Freeze

Since potatoes are fresh produce, we recommend that you eat and enjoy them right away. If you do wish to freeze them, we recommend that you boil or roast them, let them cool and then freeze them. They will hold for a little while, although you will experience a bit of a watery consistency with them after thawing.

Greening and Sprouting

The greening you’re experiencing occurs when potatoes have been exposed to too much light, either natural or artificial (grocery store lighting), that gives the potatoes a sort of “sunburn.” While greening is a result of light exposure, the visible greening can be delayed. Potatoes exposed to light may be packaged and continue to green beyond our last inspection point. We make every effort to avoid this, however, sometimes it’s unavoidable. You can cut the green out of the potatoes and use the rest, but eating the green portion of the potato can give a very bitter flavor.

Occasionally potatoes get exposed to a warm temperature change, which causes them to “wake up” and sprout. They are still safe to eat – just pick them off and you should be good to go!

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