topic Re: How to store potatoes? in Kitchen

How to store potatoes?

CherryHugs — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:12:31 GMT

I had been storing potatoes-- in a basket-- in a cabinet with doors. The doors have a look like open chicken wire ( it is a pretty cabinet lol)

BUT I was reading that its best to store potatoes in a well venelated place that is not too hot or cold. And not to store beneath sink.

Where I store them they dont stay fresh for very long and they start growing sprouts too.

Do you have any ideas of a place I could use since I dont have much space in the kitchen at all! Thank you!!

Re: How to store potatoes?

mousiegirl — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:16:15 GMT

@CherryHugs wrote:
I had been storing potatoes-- in a basket-- in a cabinet with doors. The doors have a look like open chicken wire ( it is a pretty cabinet lol)

BUT I was reading that its best to store potatoes in a well venelated place that is not too hot or cold. And not to store beneath sink.

Where I store them they dont stay fresh for very long and they start growing sprouts too.

Do you have any ideas of a place I could use since I dont have much space in the kitchen at all! Thank you!!

@CherryHugs They should be stored in a cool, dark place, as light turns them green and leads to sprouting.

Re: How to store potatoes?

Eileen in Virginia — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:17:12 GMT

I usually store mine in the fridge.

Re: How to store potatoes?

PinkyPetunia — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:26:12 GMT

This time of year potatoes and onions don't store for long. They sprout quickly. Don't buy too much now. I usually use my garage but its getting warmer in there now.

Re: How to store potatoes?

AuntG — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:30:21 GMT

Mine are in a lower cabinet in my kitchen, but I wish I had a cooler spot for them. I'd think the fridge might be too cold.

Re: How to store potatoes?

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:38:17 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
This time of year potatoes and onions don't store for long. They sprout quickly. Don't buy too much now. I usually use my garage but its getting warmer in there now.

@PinkyPetunia. Thanks, I didn't know this. I put them in the garage where it is always cool for the first time and in a day or two they started to sprout! I will do some research about storing potatoes.

Re: How to store potatoes?

fthunt — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:51:19 GMT

In grocery paperbags - potatoes - winter - in garage - hot weather in refrig. Bag onions same but mostly in frig. Read tips - paperbag should be reduced down in size for onions for good airflow and they never sprout unless stored way too long of time.

Re: How to store potatoes?

Carmie — Tue, 15 May 2018 13:26:34 GMT

There is just the two of us, but I buy potatoes in bulk and different varieties for different uses. I keep them in the basement where it is cool and dark and they last for months.

To keep from running down the basement everytime I need potatoes, onions or garlic, I have purchased bags to hang my root veggies in.

They work really well and everyone is fascinated when they see them..they are kinda cute and go with my decor.

i got mine from Zulily. Here is a stock picture of the product. I have seen other products made like this also that do the same thing.

Re: How to store potatoes?

Pook — Tue, 15 May 2018 13:37:00 GMT

I usually just buy what potatoes I will be using so don't have them sitting around but my sister swears by wrapping them in newspaper individually.

Re: How to store potatoes?

x Hedge — Tue, 15 May 2018 14:30:45 GMT

Refrigerator is too cold, but at 52°F, my basement is perfect right now. Use something that allows for air circulation, like a hanging wire basket.

I know a lot of produce release gasses as they ripen, and these gases speed up ripening of other things.

This happens between potatoes and onions!

The 'produce guy' said to store potatoes and onions away from each other because of this.

Re: How to store potatoes?

namaste000 — Tue, 15 May 2018 14:44:34 GMT

Here is a great website that I frequently refer to to see how to store and how long it is safe to keep foods.

www.stilltasty.com

Also learned recently that storing and shelf life of sweet potatoes is different that other potatoes. Never refrigerate sweet potatoes - it alters taste!

Re: How to store potatoes?

Desertdi — Tue, 15 May 2018 15:12:12 GMT

It's "only me" in the house.........so I only buy a potato when I'm in the mood for one (!!)

Re: How to store potatoes?

Free2be — Tue, 15 May 2018 18:18:13 GMT

I don't buy many potatoes at one time, a 5# bag at most; they stay fresh in a large basket in the garage where it is cool, low light, and they can spread out a bit from one another.

I bought a bag of Vidalia onions at Costco which are in the garage but I know I need to get some into the refrigerator and freeze the rest.

Re: How to store potatoes?

chickenbutt — Tue, 15 May 2018 18:20:48 GMT

I only buy what I'm going to use soon, as I don't cook that much anymore. But I just put mine on top of my washing machine. My laundry room is right off my kitchen and just before the garage, so it stays cooler in there than other parts of the house.

For several days or so that works well. If they are in the produce bag, I make sure the bag is gaping open at the top so they get air.

I think the basic 'cool, dark place' is always a good bet. As others here have mentioned, I would NOT ever put them in the refrigerator - at least until cooked.

Re: How to store potatoes?

jannabelle1 — Wed, 16 May 2018 00:48:42 GMT

I store a small bag of potatoes in the refrigerator. We don't have a basement, unfortunately, so that isn't an option. We love potatoes, but I only buy either a small bag, or 4 or 5 individual potatoes at a time. I've been storing them in the refrigerator veggie drawers for years and have never had a problem doing that. I take what I need out of the fridge an hour or two before I use them so they come closer to room temperature.

Re: How to store potatoes?

CherryHugs — Wed, 16 May 2018 12:11:35 GMT

Thank you for all suggestions. I have no laundry room or washer. No garage. No basement. Maybe I will start just buying what I will use up within a week.

Re: How to store potatoes?

Financialgrl — Wed, 16 May 2018 15:36:31 GMT

I have a combo bread box "tater/onion bin" and it too has the chicken wire doors on it where the onions and potatoes go. I do what someone above said - this time of the year I just don't buy a lot of potatoes.

I'm also not a big bread person so I come home, separate a loaf of bread in two and wrap half in nonstick Reynolds Wrap and put in a freezer Ziploc bag. Otherwise I'd be tossing away good food all the time.

Re: How to store potatoes?

SusieQ_2 — Wed, 16 May 2018 17:42:28 GMT

I agree with @jannabelle1 and a few of the others who keep potatoes in the refrigerator. I've done it for years, can't stand the thought of leaving them out somewhere, and they stay fresh for a very long time. I keep my sweet potatoes in there as well.

Just took one of each out a couple of days ago that I've had in there for weeks (2 or 3) and made fries on my air fryer. They were delicious!

Re: How to store potatoes?

Pooky1 — Thu, 17 May 2018 16:21:26 GMT

we have a bin in kitchen that we keep a bag of potatoes but when on sale buy one get one free and i usually will buy 4 bags. we put the extra bags in refrigerator and they keep well. they dont turn green of sprout in refrigerator. good luck.

Re: How to store potatoes?

RedTop — Thu, 17 May 2018 17:50:09 GMT

I’m 62 and have never in my life refrigerated my potatoes. I grew up on a farm and learned never to store potatoes and onions together.

I currently have 10 lbs of potatoes in my kitchen in an open bucket, and 30 lbs lying flat on the ramp in my garage. We often have as many as 150 lbs of potatoes in the dark corners of the garage, from fall thru May. May thru September I usually just buy a bag at a time, or store them on our basement steps where it is cool and dark.

My vidalia onions are in a dark corner of my unheated TV room.