Winter can be a dreary time of year but it means many of us can cook our favourite stews, casseroles and other hearty comfort dishes to warm ourselves up during the cold weather.
Potatoes are a staple of most of these classic winter warmer recipes but they can easily become rotten, mushy, sprout or even turn green if not stored properly in the kitchen.
Cynthia Ryan, a cook and founder of Simply by Cynthia, has shared that she believes most people are storing potatoes in the “wrong” place as they should never be put in the fridge.
She said: “Never, ever store raw potatoes in the refrigerator. The colder temperatures in the fridge converts the starch to sugar, and alters the taste and texture.
“Instead, store raw spuds in a dark, cool-ish and well-ventilated area. I have hanging mesh bags in a utility room closet for this purpose.”
Potatoes should never be stored in cold temperatures as it will affect their texture, and cause them to begin going mushy or soft.
You may think that storing them on the countertop will keep them fresh, but potatoes need to be kept away from both sunlight or artificial light as it can cause them to begin producing chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll will cause potatoes to sprout, and turn green and can lead to potatoes producing a toxic compound called solanine.
Instead, keep potatoes at room temperature but store them in a drawer, cupboard or pantry if you have one in your kitchen.
It is best not to store them underneath tables or in counters that do not have doors as there is a risk of attracting pests such as fruit flies or even mice.
Cynthia said: “Stored correctly, potatoes can ‘keep’ for months, although I don’t recommend buying so many that this should be the case.”
Once you have found the perfect spot for your potatoes make sure to store them in a container with plenty of airflow to keep them dry.
It tends to be best to store potatoes in a mesh bag, basket or even a paper bag. Just make sure to take them out of any plastic packaging as it can cause moisture to build up and they will begin to rot.
Finally, make sure to keep potatoes far away from where you store onions, as it will cause both vegetables to spoil at a faster rate.
Cynthia said: “Don’t store your ‘storage’ onions next to or with potatoes. The potatoes give off moisture and gases which will cause the onions to spoil faster.”
Onions also produce a growth hormone called ethylene gas, which helps produce ripen so it becomes more flavourful and tastier to eat.
Potatoes are sensitive to ethylene gas and are more likely to go bad, but if stored separately they are more likely to stay fresh and sprout-free for longer.
