YouTuber Marandia Wright has shared a surprisingly simple, traditional storage method that can keep potatoes fresh for up to a year, eliminating the need to throw away bags of mouldy spuds. The key, she explains, is to avoid plastic bags and instead use a cardboard box and dry dirt.
The Problem with Plastic Bags and Washed Potatoes
According to Wright, plastic bags are the worst place to store potatoes. "This thing sweats, it gets them wet, it starts them rotting and rot starts spreading," she says on her Survival HT channel. She also notes that shop-bought potatoes are often washed, removing the natural protective microbes. "When you harvest [potatoes] yourself you do not wash them. You leave them in the original dirt, the original microbes, the things that they grew with are going to help to protect and to preserve them."
The Simple Storage Solution
Wright's method requires no expensive equipment. "This works with any kind of potato," she says. "Even sweet potatoes, and all you need is a box and some dirt." The first step is to take potatoes out of the plastic bag immediately and let them dry. "Make sure there's no moisture on the skins," she advises. Then, collect dirt from your garden and dry it in strong sunlight for a day. Place a layer of potatoes in a cardboard box, cover with dry dirt or newspaper, and repeat. The separation prevents rot from spreading.
Long-Lasting Results
With this method, Wright claims potatoes can last up to a year. "You can put them in a cardboard box and just put them in a dark room. You can go and get them whenever you want them and they're good all the way through until the next growing season," she explains. The technique mimics how potatoes are stored after harvest, keeping them fresh without refrigeration.
