Help! How do I store potatoes?

Red_Doe

I think temperature might have something to do with it..too warm maybe? Also, if you go through the tatties, knock the sprouts off, and check them every now and again, keep doing that, should help a little.

babyshoes

I was also wondering if the houses are too warm these days? It may also be that the potatoes have been stored for a while before they get to the supermarket to regulate supply, so have a shorter shelf life than they would have had in past years. We don't use a lot of fresh potatoes and store ours in the fridge, which seems to keep them useable for ages. Not useful for a huge batch, but perhaps try storing a few in the fridge to use up last?

You can freeze prepared potato. I have sucessfully frozen home made mash in the past (before adding extras like butter etc.) - it goes a bit watery at first when microwaved, but a good stir and more microwaving solves that problem. I also see no reason why you couldn't freeze blanched chips / wedges. Again, you don't want to store them ALL this way, but perhaps a solution for about half of them, and try to use up the fresh lot first?

Barneysmom

I think that as a lot more spuds are grown these days, maybe they're force-grown with fertilizers, the land is overplanted and overused.

I think they're just plain inferior.

The ones dad growns . he stores on top of wardrobes, in his shed, anywhere mom will let him. And they keep all winter.
He never uses chemicals on them at all, and roptates the land every year.


I'm finding the same with my carrots, they bend before they've even left the shop these days.
I'm growing some in a pot but it's a slow process and nowhere near enough to keep us and the dogs in carrots. So I buy less more often.

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks all - it's good to know "I'm not alone".

DM also grows loads and has no problems with hers so I think it may be something to do with how they're grown commercially and also maybe heat in houses (again, not a huge amount I can do about that - no heating on here either!).

I'll try to squeeze one of the bags in the fridge drawer and hope they last a bit longer that way!

I wonder if keeping them in the garage in the "blackout" sack would help? I'll stick 1/2 dozen in there and see what happens!

SilverBird_2

I've always found that potatoes keep best when stored in a paper sack and a cool, airy place. (When the weather's cold, don't let the frost get at them.) Look through the potatoes when you get them home and remove any that are soft/green/black/sprouting etc. Check through them a couple of times during the week and pick out any that might spoil the rest if left in the sack. I never keep potatoes in a plastic bag or sack as the moisture tends to spoil them. HTH.

scaredy_cat

if you remember when veg was bought from a grocer, carrots, potatoes, celery, they all had the dirt still on them. the dirt helps in storing them. i reckon that as they are washed now, this is part of what makes them go off and green so soon.

sandraroffey

i buy mine in 56 pound bags from a wholesaler and they keep for ever. BUUUUT they still have the dirt on them. makes them keep longer. the green is, i think, caused by the light somehow getting to them.

rising_from_the_ashes

You both may have something there!

DM cleans the clods of earth off hers but they are by no means clean.

I've just emptied the soil out of my pea growing containers - I was wondering if rolling the potatoes in that may help but guess as they've already been properly washed it won't make a difference.

Mrs_Chip

I think the washing of veg does them no good at all, even the flavour is not so good for me. So I might try to find a trad bag of spuds at a farm shop and see how they go.

My mum worked on farms all her life, we always had bags of 'misshapes' - the potatoes that were too big for going into bags. It was my job to put them in the oven so my dad could have one for his supper when he got in from the pub - they were HUGE like carpet slippers, but the smell and the taste was wonderful - lovely crisp skins that tasted all earthy - potatoes never taste like that now

zippychick

This thread has loads of previous discussion which should help

Is it safe to eat green potatoes may also be useful & how do i stop potatoes going green

Ill merge this later on

Zip