Help! How do I store potatoes?

Penelope_Penguin

Jadek wrote: »

I had a bit of a search but couldn't find anything that gave me a clear answer so I'm sorry if this gets asked a lot!

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing thread on storing tatties

Penny. x

artydoll

I keep extra plastic bags of potatoes in an outhouse which is frost free ,but they always seem wet when I get them out.
I do split the shop bought plastic bags they are in as soon as I store them ,but they always sweat.
What would be the ideal way to keep them ,they are also in the dark.

floyd

In an old cotton pillowcase in the dark and cool as it allows them to 'breathe'

artydoll

Thanks floyd, would never have thought of that ,is it best to keep them off the cold floor/ I have shelves.

katycocoa

I bought one of those black strong fabric shopping bags from Wilkinsons for about 50p and put all my spuds straight in there. The bag then lives on the floor in the pantry and the spuds last weeks.

SailorSam

I think even cutting open the plastic is a waste, they'll still always sweat. I have a porch which is aways cold and keep veg out there in a cardboard box with newspaper over it.
( I don't buy the newspaper, it's one of the freebies )

thriftlady_2

I'm sure this is why supermarket potatoes have such a short shelf life. It isn't the potatoes it's the plastic bags they are stored in.

I've had a 20 kilo paper sack of muddy spuds in my garage for a couple of months- no deterioration at all.

Apollonia

It's not just the plastic bag that causes problems but the supermarket spuds are always washed to remove the earth so they will be damp when you buy them.
Try taking them out of the plastic bag and leaving them out to dry off before storing in hessian/fabric/newspaper etc. Maybe just packing them in newspaper will absorb the moisture ?

gizmo111

I just take them out of the bag and leave loose in veg rack - they last a good few weeks, not as well as muddy ones do though.

Penelope_Penguin

I agree with thriftlady - it's not the potatoes, it's the bag they're stored in I keep mine in paper sack in the shed.

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing thread on how to store potatoes, to give you more ideas.

Penny. x