11 Ways To Help Potatoes Last Longer Before Cooking Them

Potatoes are a root vegetable that can last more than a month without ever going into your refrigerator. This frees up space in your fridge, and it means you can easily have a pile of fresh potatoes in your pantry at all times. To ensure that each time you reach for raw potatoes they are fresh and not withered or moldy, you must ensure you are storing them properly.

To help your potatoes last longer in your kitchen pantry before cooking them, you must always store them in a cool and dry place. Don’t pre-wash your potatoes, and avoid storing them in the refrigerator. Cover them with a breathable material like a paper bag or a cloth. Choose potato varieties that last a long time, and only select the freshest potatoes.

Potatoes rarely go bad quickly, but you can extend their lifespan in many ways. If you are cooking for one, or buying potatoes in bulk, then you should know all the tricks to help your potatoes stay fresh longer. Below is a list of 11 easy and effective ways to ensure your potatoes live a longer life in your kitchen pantry.

11 Easy Ways To Keep Your Potatoes Fresh For Longer

1. Keep Potatoes Out Of The Sun

One way to help give your raw potatoes a longer shelf life is to keep them away from direct sunlight. There are a few reasons sunlight is bad for your potatoes. First, sunlight can cause your potatoes to turn that unappealing green color. Not only does this make your potatoes look gross, but it also makes them bitter and unpleasant to eat, and even dangerous.

Furthermore, sunlight can dry out and heat your potatoes. This can cause them to mature fast, or shrivel up. Always store your potatoes in a dark place. If your pantry isn’t dark, then consider storing them in the cellar or somewhere with no direct light.

2. Avoid Exposing Potatoes To Moisture

It’s also crucial you keep your potatoes away from moisture. This means you must keep them out of humid rooms in your house, or use a dehumidifier to keep your home at a pleasant humidity. 

If your home isn’t climate-controlled and you live in a wet climate, then ensure your potatoes are in a location that is drier than others. Make sure there is plenty of airflow as well, as this will prevent wet air from sticking around.

3. Keep Them Covered With Something Breathable

It’s also a good idea to keep your potatoes covered, even if they are in a closed pantry. Keeping them covered will help keep critters away and will also keep them clean. Covering your potatoes with something breathable has the added benefit of blocking sunlight while also allowing air in. Potatoes give off moisture over time, so if you cover them in plastic, this will cause water to collect, and in turn your potatoes may grow moldy.

4. Store At Cool Temperatures

Potatoes don’t like the heat, especially after they have been pulled from the ground. You should aim to keep your potatoes between the magic temperatures of 42 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you store your potatoes in temperatures colder than 42 degrees, the starch can turn to sugar, which will certainly affect the taste of your potatoes.

If you store your potatoes much warmer than 55 degrees, they may begin to sprout, and they can wilt and shrivel up faster than normal.

5. Don’t Keep Them Near Other Vegetables Or Fruits

You may be tempted to store potatoes with other vegetables, or perhaps near fruits like bananas that are also left out of the fridge. This, however, would be a bad idea. Many fruits and vegetables can cause potatoes to ripen rapidly, which in turn can cause them to go bad faster.

Bananas, for example, contain ethylene, which causes foods to rapidly ripen. Have a container in your pantry that is dedicated only to potatoes to avoid this potential issue.

6. Avoid Storing In The Refrigerator

You might think that the fridge is a perfect place for potatoes, since it’s cool and dark, but it is best to store potatoes out of your fridge if you can help it. As mentioned previously, potatoes don’t react well to temperatures below 42 degrees. 

In addition to the starches turning to sugar, your potatoes can also form acrylamide. This is a compound that has been linked to certain cancers. The fridge can also be a moist place, which can cause your potatoes to ‘grow eyes’ or sprout, and even turn them to mush.

7. Choose Potato Varieties Known For Longevity

Another way to ensure your potatoes stay fresh for a long time is to choose potato varieties known to last. There are thousands of potato varieties around the world, and naturally, some potatoes last longer than others. 

Potatoes with thin skin tend to be bad options, with the exception of fingerlings and red potatoes, which have a high moisture content and can last a long time. Below are four popular potato varieties that are known for their longevity and are available in most grocery stores.

• Yukon Gold
• Russet 
• Fingerlings
• Red Potatoes

8. Inspect Potatoes Before Buying Them

If you want your potatoes to last a long time, you need to ensure you don’t have any duds. It is entirely possible to grab a bag of potatoes, and at least one of them is already rotting on the inside. Rot can quickly spread, and ruin the whole bag.

This is why you must inspect your potatoes before buying them. Feel each potato and make sure it is at the correct level of firmness. You can also smell the bag. If you smell anything funky, choose a different bag.

9. Discard Potatoes That Prematurely Start To Turn 

In addition to checking potatoes before you purchase them, it’s also a good habit to inspect them periodically in your pantry. Each time you pull out some potatoes, check them all. Make sure they are all firm, are not discolored, and are not sprouting.

If you have a potato that is soft, mushy, or discolored, then get rid of it. One bad potato can eventually ruin the whole batch. Quickly discarding the problem potato eliminates the issue and will keep the other potatoes fresh longer.

10. Don’t Wash Your Potatoes When You Buy Them

Potatoes can be dirty. After all, they live in the dirt. It might seem like a good idea to immediately wash them once you return from the grocery store. While unwashed potatoes might not seem like a great idea in your kitchen pantry, it is much better than washing them.

Washing potatoes exposes them to a lot of unnecessary moisture. Since your potatoes want to release moisture, and not gain it, your washed potatoes can turn moldy or mushy. Instead of washing your potatoes right away, only wash them right before you are prepared to eat them, just like you would do fresh berries.

11. Shop In Stores With Fresh Potatoes

Lastly, it’s important to understand that just because you recently purchased potatoes at a grocery store, it doesn't mean they are fresh. Many stores, especially discount grocery stores, sell potatoes that have already been sitting out for weeks, and probably are not in ideal condition.

It can be tempting to choose the absolute cheapest potatoes, but if you aren’t going to use them quickly, you should resist this urge. Instead, spend a a little more and buy potatoes from a reliable grocery store. This may cost a bit on the front end, but you are less likely to throw any potatoes away.

Wrapping Up How To Help Your Potatoes Last Longer

Potatoes are known for their longevity. If you buy the right potatoes and keep them in the right conditions, they can last months before they start to turn bad. If you want your potatoes to last this long, you must store them in an ideal environment. Potatoes should be kept in a cool, dry place out of the sun, and covered with a breathable cloth to get plenty of airflow. Avoid storing your potatoes in the fridge, and only wash them right before you cook them.

Related Guides:

• Why Do My Berries Get Moldy So Fast (And How To Fix)
• These Types Of Cheese Last The Longest In The Fridge
• 7 Ways To Preserve Your Garlic Harvest And Ways To Use It Up