Now that summer is over, many people dream of making their favorite stew, soup or stew to warm themselves up when the cold weather starts.
Potatoes are a key ingredient in many of our favorite delicious dishes, but preventing them from sprouting before their time can be tricky if you don’t know how to store them properly.
Organic Cottonmart storage expert Karen Lamar has shared that one of the worst mistakes people make is storing potatoes on the kitchen counter near certain vegetables.
He said: “In long-term storage, onions and potatoes last longer than others. So why not just store them together in the same place? Well, that might not work because the onions release ethylene gas, which causes the potatoes to sprout.”
Potatoes should be stored away from onions, garlic and tomatoes, as they release a lot of ethylene gas, a plant growth hormone that helps them ripen to produce a tastier taste.
Not only do these vegetables cause potatoes to sprout prematurely, but they also have a high water content, which means they release a lot of moisture and the potatoes can mold,
Instead, the best place to store potatoes is in a dark, dry place, such as a kitchen cupboard or drawer, so they stay fresh for much longer.
Karen said: “It’s a good idea to keep potatoes out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Too much light can trigger greening and trick the tubers into producing chlorophyll.
“Greening makes the potatoes bitter and contains a lot of solanine – a neurotoxin. Such potatoes should be avoided.”
“It’s equally important to avoid places with a lot of moisture to keep the stock from sprouting and rotting. The solution? A dry, dark place like a basement, cellar, pantry or secluded kitchen nook.”
Once you’ve found the best place in the kitchen to keep your potatoes fresh, they need to be removed from any plastic wrap and stored in a breathable container to allow plenty of air.
Karen said: “Good ventilation is crucial to keeping potato storage fresher for longer. Lack of air flow can cause potatoes to collect moisture and spoil quickly due to the growth of mold and bacteria.
Storing potatoes in open paper bags, mesh bags, or cloth bags helps protect the vegetables from mold or sprouting.
If stored correctly, potatoes can stay fresh for two to three months longer than normal, which can help you reduce food waste and save money on your shopping.
