Storing potatoes accurately can prolong their life-span by months.
Number of potatoes displayed at out there at a retail market. (Picture: CampPhoto through Getty Pictures)
Whether or not you take pleasure in them boiled, mashed, roasted, minimize into wedges or sliced, potatoes are a staple of the British kitchen, and storing them accurately ensures they keep brisker for longer. Left within the plastic baggage, potatoes can start to sprout and switch inexperienced earlier than you have had the possibility to make use of them.
Fortunately, that is simply averted by following some easy meals storage recommendation. The Meals Requirements Company’s steerage recommends maintaining potatoes within the fridge or a cool, dry place. Beforehand, specialists warned in opposition to refrigerating potatoes as a result of well being issues, with research linking chilly storage to elevated ranges of Acrylamide, a compound related to the chance of most cancers.
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Nonetheless, you will now discover a useful chilled image on potato packaging, confirming that the fridge is a wonderfully appropriate place for them as soon as bought.
The identical ideas apply for fridge storage: give potatoes sufficient house to keep away from bruising and preserve them away from moisture-heavy produce.
A contributor to the Cash Saving Professional Discussion board suggests utilizing two separate salad containers within the fridge — one for potatoes and different root greens, and one other for peppers, tomatoes, lemon, limes and extra delicate greens.
They famous: “I take them out of any plastic baggage or wrapping and put a layer of kitchen roll within the backside to soak up any wetness.” A second discussion board member shared: “I retailer mine within the fridge in a paper bag they usually final a bit longer than within the plastic bag they arrive in.”
Conserving them in a cool, dry spot is equally as helpful for longer-term storage, in line with a meals professional at The Kitchn. “In case you have a darkish, cool closet away from the warmth of the kitchen, retailer them there”, they mentioned.
Your pantry or a kitchen cabinet will do the job as properly, so long as the temperature stays persistently under 10C. Wherever you select to maintain your potatoes, make sure that they’re saved properly away from cookers and heating vents.
Taking spuds out of plastic baggage and transferring them to a basket or breathable cotton sack is at all times one of the best method.
It is also necessary to make sure they’re completely dry earlier than placing them away for any size of time. “Damp potatoes will rot or sprout quicker”, warns The Kitchn.
Tesco factors out {that a} darkish setting is finest for storing potatoes, as publicity to gentle triggers photosynthesis and sprouting.
Potatoes will sprout shortly if not saved accurately (Picture: Getty)
Tesco added: “It is also essential that potatoes are saved away from different recent produce, notably onions, as they launch ethylene gasoline. Which means that your fruits and veggies will ripen each other too shortly, so your potatoes must be saved individually to cease this.”
In keeping with Tesco, “curing” wholesome, unsprouted potatoes can extend their lifespan for six months.
Find out how to treatment potatoes
Choose massive potatoes with thick pores and skin. Examine that they don’t have any notable puncture marks, delicate spots, mould, blemishes, or shovel injury. Take away any mud by brushing it off, however keep away from washing the potatoes when you arrive dwelling. Including moisture promotes sprouting.
Organize the potatoes on a darkish sheet of newspaper, ensuring they don’t seem to be touching each other, permitting air to flow into freely. Depart the potatoes on this place for a fortnight.
Hold the potatoes in a well-ventilated, cool, dry location under 10C. Examine them each few weeks to verify there are no sprouted or spoiled spuds amongst the batch.
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