Help! How do I store potatoes?

HannahIOW

I've never tried this, but I do keep my potatoes in a cotton potato bag these days, I find I get an extra week out of them before they start sprouting.

A._Badger

Parva wrote: »

Hi all, this tip may have been mentioned here in the past but I couldn't see it so figured I would share for the benefit of those that haven't yet tried it.

I was told this trick by an elderly lady shopping next to me in a branch of Tesco, some ten years ago and I used to do it quite religiously until I read somewhere that it damaged the potato in some way and made it less nutritious. So I stopped, but reluctantly.

I wish I could find reliable chapter and verse because this year potatoes seem to be sprouting even earlier than they have in previous years. It used to be more of a problem as we got towards new spud season - now potatoes in January seem only to last a few days before they sprout.

sarahsarah

If I kept potatoes in the fridge I'd have no room for anything else, lol... my fridge is tiny!
I was thinking of getting a special potato bag from lakeland but in the meantime I tried putting them into a black cotton reusable shopping bag from the co-op, not had a single potato sprout so far!

Nicki

The Food STandards Agency strongly advises against keeping raw potatoes in the fridge as it increases considerably the amount of a potentially carcinogenic chemical when then cooked.

Sublime_2

I've been trying this for a while, but had to get a smaller fridge recently, and am gutted again about having to keep potaoes, etc in a cupboard.

Good advice to keep things in the fridge if/as long as poss. Lasts for ages that way. :T

A._Badger

Nicki wrote: »

The Food STandards Agency strongly advises against keeping raw potatoes in the fridge as it increases considerably the amount of a potentially carcinogenic chemical when then cooked.

Ah yes, acrylamide. That's the chemical that caused the 'toast causes cancer' scare a few years ago, when it was unveiled in a Sunday newspaper.

I wonder if there's a shred of truth in it?

bigmomma051204

i wouldnt have room for them in the fridge to be honest (and i had heard the thing about it making the carcenogenic thingies eeek!) but i found that they last SO much longer when i keep them in the garage. Our kitchen is relatively small and i reckon it was just too hot etc when the cooker was on and the warm made them sprout... so i put them in garage and its definitely a big improvement!! I guess a shed etc would do just as well if no garage I also take them out of the plastic packaging they come in and put them in a cardboard box which seems to help as well

V.Lucky

I always store in the fridge too since reading about it on here years ago.

I buy a 5kg bag of local potatoes from a local greengrocers for £1.79, and they last a good 3-4 weeks when stored this way.

Never heard about the cancer thing, but must go away and google it.

The potatoes never taste any different though.

Nicki

A._Badger wrote: »

Ah yes, acrylamide. That's the chemical that caused the 'toast causes cancer' scare a few years ago, when it was unveiled in a Sunday newspaper.

I wonder if there's a shred of truth in it?

No idea as I haven't personally done any lab tests, but if acrylamide causes cancer in animals, and exposure to it can be minimized by not keeping your spuds in the fridge, why would you want to take a needless risk on the off chance it is harmless to humans? The FSA isn't renowned for hysterical panic-mongering AFAIK. In fact isn't it more often criticized for downplaying risks rather than overhyping them?

Jevvers

Not decrying the FSA as it's usually v sensible but i am pondering the difference for a potato twixt being in the fridge and being in the cold ground in Feb. Surely much the same temp? But then Ive not read the scientific reports so it's only a pondering.