Potatoes can remain fresh for up to five months when kept in the refrigerator, according to advice shared by home cooks and backed by food hygiene experts and potato supplier Albert Bartlett.
While many people store potatoes in cupboards, a growing number of commenters on the Homemaking Tips Facebook page say refrigeration is the key to extending their shelf life. One user, Carmen Leyva, wrote: "I always keep mine in the refrigerator. They lasted five months last time."
Why the fridge works
Previous guidance recommended storing potatoes in a cool, dry and dark place, such as a cupboard. However, food hygiene experts now advise that "they should be kept in the fridge at below five degrees Celsius," according to Love Food Hate Waste.
The organisation added: "Doing so keeps them fresh for three times as long, so you'll have lots more time to cook up something delicious with them." Albert Bartlett, the UK's foremost potato supplier, agreed that "all potatoes should be stored in the fridge for freshness," noting that refrigeration can make them last up to three weeks longer than cupboard storage.
How to spot bad potatoes
Sprouted potatoes are entirely safe to eat provided the sprout is cut away before cooking, and any dark marks or green sections found inside can simply be removed. However, potatoes that feel soft, are beginning to shrivel, emit an unpleasant odour, or appear to be leaking liquid should be thrown away immediately, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Fresh potatoes ought to feel firm and carry an earthy scent, although they may still have imperfections. The advice follows a question from Sally Keller, who asked: "Is there a way to keep potatoes fresh longer? I can't seem to keep mine fresh for longer than a week." Other commenters, including Kater Gonzales, Siabela Mathew and Dayna Newman, all reported success with refrigerating their potatoes, with Newman saying she "never had a problem" with this method.
