How to store potatoes properly to prevent them from sprouting, browning or turning green. Useful tips and tricks.
Potatoes are among the most popular and consumed foods in the world and, if stored properly, can last a long time, so much so that they can be harvested in the summer and consumed throughout the winter . Potatoes are generally purchased in canvas bags or harvested at different times of the year based on the variety and planting.
Potatoes , in fact, can be sown between October and open, up to sowing in May for those who live in mountain areas and in the far north of Italy. This makes you understand that these tubers are harvested for long periods of the year and, at the supermarket or in the garden, based on the geographical area and the variety, it is always possible to have new potatoes. Once purchased or harvested, how are potatoes stored ? Two important factors to respect to ensure good storage of potatoes are temperature and light. In this regard, we will now show you how to store potatoes without letting them sprout by following our instructions.
Ideal temperature
Potatoes must necessarily be stored in a cool place, with a temperature between 4° and 12° C: temperatures higher or lower than these can compromise their conservation .
Be careful in summer! At home, in this period, it is difficult to find areas with temperatures below 12 °C, so the only choice is to use the refrigerator unless you live in the open countryside, where you can take advantage of the freshness of the soil and straw to recreate the microclimate suitable for preserving potatoes.
If the temperature exceeds 12°C, the potatoes will tend to sprout .
Can you store potatoes in the fridge?
Yes, in fact, in summer this choice, for those who want to preserve potatoes at home, is almost obligatory. Potatoes can also go in the refrigerator but in the lowest drawer, dedicated to vegetables and where the temperature never drops below 6 ° C.
If the temperature is too low, in fact, the potatoes will tend to sweeten, causing them to brown when cooked.
Note: Never store potatoes in the refrigerator unless you have a high temperature vegetable drawer. American refrigerators have a drawer with a temperature of around 6 °C.
Potatoes with green skin
Anyone who tries to preserve potatoes by improvising as a farmer must deal with several plagues:
- sprouting potatoes
- Rotting potatoes
- potatoes turning green
- potatoes that look healthy on the outside but are turning brown on the inside
Potatoes rot when they are stored for too long at excessively high temperatures and in the presence of too much humidity.
Potatoes sprout when the temperature is compatible with their vegetative stage of sprouting, they will never sprout if kept at 6 – 8 °C.
They become dark inside if subjected to very low temperatures (less than 4 °C) and… the potato skin turns green if they receive too much light.
Potatoes should be stored in a dark environment: excessive light can cause the skin to change color, as the potato’s amyloplasts will tend to differentiate and make room for the photosynthetic chloroplasts with the presence of chlorophyll (green).
Before cooking, remove any green spots or sprouts that may have formed.
If you have a cellar, you can store potatoes in this environment but in the least humid area.
How to prevent potatoes from sprouting
The natural way to prevent potatoes from sprouting is to keep them at a temperature of around 6 -8 °C.
Those who do not want to save on the use of specific products can carry out an anti-sprouting treatment .
On Amazon you can find several powdered products to be gently distributed on potatoes to prevent them from sprouting. These anti-sprouting products can also be found at the most well-stocked agricultural consortia.
How to store cooked potatoes
Once cooked, potatoes can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator, with the peel and wrapped in cling film… the question many women ask is: can potatoes be frozen? Storing potatoes in the freezer is possible but only after cooking.
To preserve potatoes after cooking, here’s how to proceed:
- Peel, wash and cut the potatoes then boil them for about a minute in salted water.
- Once this is done, drain them and pat them dry with a clean tea towel before placing them in classic freezer bags.
When storing, remove any air. If you use vacuum storage, peeled potatoes can be stored for up to 12 months.
Can you freeze French fries?
If you want to preserve french fries, you can proceed with a pre-frying in boiling oil for a few minutes, then carefully pat them dry with kitchen paper and then freeze them. Ideally you should have a blast chiller, using the classic appliances you have at home (fan, cold air jets…) try to cool the pre-fried potatoes in the shortest time possible.
When you want to use them, you simply need to finish frying the potatoes without having to defrost them first, just like you would with those purchased at the supermarket.
