Here’s where you should store potatoes to keep them fresh

From classic roast potatoes to chips and mash, they can be used to create a tasty side for any meal.

Many people will have them stored away in a cupboard for a long time and when they go to use them, they might have turned green and started to sprout.

If you want to keep your potatoes fresher for longer, there are ways you can store them to avoid them rotting.

How can I keep potatoes fresher for longer?

Marandia Wright has shared a video on YouTube about an old-fashioned technique to store potatoes.

She said: “Those of you who have grown potatoes know that, when you dig your potatoes up out of the dirt, 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 mentioned how store-bought potatoes often will not last for longer than a few weeks because they are stored in a plastic bag.

The bag sweats them and gets them wet, which causes them to start rotting that will spread.

She went on to say the solution can be used for any kind of potatoes and all you need is a box and some dirt.

When you get home, you simply take them out of the bag and leave them somewhere to dry out.

You then take your cardboard box and grab some soil from your garden to leave out to dry completely.

You just need enough soil to coat each potato.

Marandia says you should keep each potato apart when putting them in the box by using a sheet of newspaper to separate each layer.

If you don’t have enough newspaper, you can use a layer of soil to keep the potatoes apart.

By keeping the potatoes surrounded by soil, they will stay fresh for months.

Should I store potatoes in the fridge or in a cupboard?

Many people struggle with deciding which foods are best kept in the fridge and which can be stored in a dry cupboard.

Kate Merker, the Chief Food Director for Good Housekeeping, says you should not put potatoes in the fridge.

Potatoes like cool, dry, and dark places but colder spots will make them deteriorate quicker.

She said: “In my experience, if potatoes are left in the fridge for an extended period of time, they can be come soft, mealy, and lose their flavour and discolour faster when cooking.”

Kate suggests you can also store them in a mesh bag or in a wire basket to allow for proper circulation and avoid moisture building up.

There are also certain cupboards you should avoid storing the potatoes in such as under the sink.

You should also keep them away from cupboards next to your oven or any other appliance that produces a lot of heat.

If you want to store them in a cupboard with other foods, keep them away from garlic and onions, as these vegetables retain a lot of moisture.

Will you be storing your potatoes in this way from now on? Let us know in the comments.