Hessian Sack for Storing Potatoes & Vegetable Storage Bags – 3 Pack – Holds up to 25kg – 84cm x 50cm – Store Fruit & Root Crops – Great for Farmers & Allotment Growers

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Storing at temperatures slightly above refrigeration is a great way to extend shelf life and maintain vitamin C content. Summary

Now – before I go into specifics, I want to make a very important point: February potatoes are not July potatoes. And January potatoes are not August potatoes. As with most food that is kept for months on end, they fade from their stout and bold summer state to a state of… well, less luster. But that’s okay. Because March potatoes don’t need to be July potatoes. They just need to get us through till summer. No sprouting: Sprouts are one of the first indicators of spoilage, so avoid purchasing any that have already sprouted. Make sure the tubers are not touching each other to prevent any potential rot from spreading. Wrap in newspaper Just like with any food, potatoes must be kept away from moisture to avoid spoilage. This can be easily solved by securing plenty of air circulation, allowing the potatoes to breathe. PRO Tip: avoid using plastic bags of any sort as they can trap moisture, too! The exception to this are paper bags, which can be used in a pinch with the tops left open. Don’t Wash Potatoes Before StorageFor store-bought and cured homegrown potatoes, the next step is to put them into a receptacle for storage.

Take a look at the potatoes you’ve stored every so often. If a potato starts to rot it can spread this to others, so throw it out. Softness, shriveling and mold all indicate a potato should be removed from the store. Never wash potatoes before storage. Moisture can cause mould growth which will lead to spoilage. Just brush off the excess dirt. Inspect each one through other research that I have done on Root Cellars I have found that they recommend that you keep them at around 80% humidity or better and around 34 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit, I have done this for the past eight years and had very good success with keeping my potatoes . I was also informed that mixing apples and potatoes was not a good combination as the gases form one another will cause them to deteriorate faster. While washing off the dirt from your spuds may be tempting, remember not to expose potatoes to water if the goal is to store them for a longer period of time. Doing so avoids unnecessary moisture which can lead to spoilage. Remember, keeping your spuds dry creates a longer storage life. Store Away from Other Fresh ProduceFor those that will go into soups, stews and mashed potatoes, thaw the frozen cuts in the fridge first, about 7 to 8 hours, before cooking. And since these taters have already been par-cooked, remember to add them only near the end of the cooking time so as not to overcook them. Cold temperatures cause the potato starch to convert into sugar inside, making them too starchy and mealy. Keep them seperate Firm to the touch: Soft potatoes have already begun to degrade, so look for firm, bright qualities. If you bought your potatoes from the store, never keep them in the original plastic bag that they came in. Spuds should never be kept in plastic containers, especially sealed ones that trap humidity inside. Keep your potatoes away from sunshine or any direct light

When warmer than their ideal storage temperature, potatoes will start to sprout, but colder isn’t necessarily better either. In On Food and Cooking, Harold McGee explains that when kept at colder temperatures (i.e. your refrigerator), “their metabolism shifts in a complicated way that results in the breakdown of some starch to sugars.” This means potatoes stored in the refrigerator will taste sweeter over time, and when cooked they are more likely to come out an unappetizing shade of brown. Signs That Potatoes Have Gone Bad Then partially cook or blanch them– boiling, baking, or frying only until they’re crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.Remove any rotting potatoes (which, hopefully, you won’t have!). If there is any rotting potatoes (you’ll smell ‘em!) then just remove them and wipe up any extra moisture that’s leaked out onto other potatoes. For storage potatoes, moisture means certain death. So keep it dry, baby. Solanine creates a bitter taste and causes a burning sensation in the mouths or throats of people who are sensitive to it ( 6).

Instead, let’s assume that your potatoes have been gently harvested and cured, and now you need a place to put them that’s cool, dark, and safe from critters. After reading through the ideas below, you may find that you have more potato storage options than you think. Storing potatoes in a crate lined with straw Root Cellars and Basements I have often used deep holes dug in the garden for temporary potato storage, but it is not a long-term solution because the potatoes tend to develop skin issues that are rare when potatoes are kept in dry storage. I tried storing potatoes in a buried garbage can, which should have worked but did not. The potatoes inside stayed too damp and went gooey, which could have been due to many factors, including my own mistakes. Specialized Refrigeration However, many countries have mandatory guidelines that limit the amount of solanine in commercial potatoes to under 91 mg per pound (200 mg/kg), so this is not a common concern ( 8, 9). Tempted to put them into the refrigerator? Don’t. ‘Storage temperatures below 45ºF can cause sugar buildup or sweetening,’ say the experts at OSU Extension.Ideal storage areas are cool, dark places such as a kitchen cupboard, basement, cellar or garage. A warm, moist environment encourages sprouting, so make sure your chosen storage area has temperatures ranging from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. Avoid storing spuds inside the fridge