The best way to store potatoes for cooking use.
Potatoes are one of our greatest assets and are used in multiple types of meals, including meal kit delivery services. Due to their versatility, many households tend to keep a bag of potatoes on hand. But, it’s also common to find that they’ve been spoiled while you weren’t paying attention. If you have potatoes at home that have gone bad very quickly, you’re probably not storing them properly. Today, we’re going to discuss the best way to store potatoes for the long run.
The Enduring Love of Potatoes
You certainly can’t deny that America has a bit of an obsession with potatoes. French fries are perhaps the most popular side of any meal, which is why you can find them on the menu in places that serve burgers, tacos, pizza, and several other types of culinary choices.
Whether you like french fries, mashed potatoes, au gratin potatoes, baked potatoes, or any other form, it’s impossible to deny their popularity.
How to Properly Store Potatoes
With so many different uses to choose from, many people want to always have potatoes around for their upcoming meals. The problem is that when stored improperly, their shelf life is severely depleted. To help you achieve long-term storage, we’ve compiled some quick tips that will provide you with the best way to store potatoes:
Keep Them in a Dry Place
One of the main principles to keep your potatoes fresh and to be able to store them for a long time is to keep them in a dry place. Moisture is one of the biggest reasons potatoes go bad a lot sooner than you might think. This is why you want to avoid areas in your home such as a damp basement. Even the slightest amount of moisture can be detrimental to their shelf life.
Keep Them Out of the Light
Sunlight will speed up a potato’s ripening, eventually causing it to become overripe and green, which is why you don’t want to leave them sitting on a countertop or otherwise out in the open. If you want to keep them in the kitchen or nearby, store them in a drawer, closet, or basket. Anywhere that’s dark – and don’t forget dry, as well – will be fine, but don’t rely on storing them in a plastic bag for protection.
Make Sure They Have Proper “Airflow”
If you want to store your potatoes for as long as possible, then air circulation is key. You want to store them in a well-ventilated container, even if it’s the plastic bag that they came in. Storing them in a plastic bag isn’t ideal, as indicated above, but if it’s perforated, then this will at least provide proper circulation even though it won’t protect them from the elements.
Stop Them From Being Warm
Wherever you store your potatoes, not only does it need to be dry and dark, but you also want the spot to stay cool. The ideal storage temperature for potatoes is between approximately 35 to 50 degrees, with the low end being preferable. This means you want to avoid warm spots such as next to your oven, under the sink, or on top of your fridge.
Don’t Store Them with Onions
Potatoes and onions go great together in a variety of delicious meals, but not in storage. Onions release ethylene gas, which can cause potatoes to either sprout or spoil. The same goes with storing them with avocados, bananas, apples, and a variety of fresh fruits that also release the same type of gas.
Keep Them Out of the Fridge
It almost seems nonsensical that you wouldn’t want to keep your potatoes in the fridge. After all, a refrigerator is almost always dark and cold temperatures will meet a potato’s requirements. The problem is that the air in your fridge is dry, which will cause your potatoes to shrivel up and become inedible.
What to Do with Sprouted Potatoes
Anyone who has ever stored potatoes for any period of time has surely experienced sprouting. It can look kind of odd and they typically get thrown out automatically. However, although improper storage or the passage of time will cause potatoes to sprout, they may still be good to eat.
Check to make sure that the potato is still firm to the touch and not shriveled. As long as this is the case, you can cut off the sprouts and cook it up.
When Potatoes Have Gone Bad
Just like fruits and vegetables, it’s typically pretty easy to know when your potatoes have gone bad. Whether they’re sprouting or not, being soft to the touch means that they’re no longer edible. Potatoes can sometimes turn a little green when they’ve been exposed to sunlight, but whether they’re bad or not depends on the length of the exposure.
If you can cut off the green portions, then the rest can still be eaten. If you’re on the fence about it, though, you should probably air on the side of caution and pick up a new batch.
Contact Chef Ami for Meal Kit Delivery Services in Tampa
Meal kit delivery services are a great way to be exposed to new and exciting foods and tastes. With this type of subscription service, you choose how many meals you’d like to receive per week, and each one is often locally sourced from a farm or farmers market.
These meal kits feature a variety of foods, including many types of dishes that include potatoes as a main ingredient. When they’re are a part of a meal kit, the potatoes will be perfectly portioned and guaranteed fresh as they travel a short distance from farm to table.
Chef Ami can give you access to healthy meal kits that are convenient and delicious. If you have questions about our services or would be interested in using potatoes in your meal kits, give us a call at (813) 773-4719 today.
