Storing potatoes

GrammarGirl1991

Do you store your potatoes in the fridge or in a cool, dry place?

Stephen_Leak

Cool, dry and ideally dark place.

lcharm

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

Cool, dry and ideally dark place.

Why dark? They grow underground anyway

blueyellowred

They go green when exposed to light - the greener, the more toxic. As long as I could remember no-one in our family would be allowed to eat greenish potatoes-would go straight into animal feed on farm.
There is some blurb from Irish Food Safety Authority( and they should know about potatoes ):

Q. Why do potatoes go green?
Potatoes will often go green when they’re not stored properly and they're exposed to light. This is due to formation of chlorophyll (which is found in all green plants), however the green colour is a useful indicator that levels of certain toxins that are harmful to humans, known as glycoalkaloids, may be increased.
Q. Is there a risk from eating green potatoes?
Glycoalkaloids are a group of toxins that are naturally present in potatoes, with concentrations highest in the sprouts and peel of potatoes. The levels can also increase when potatoes are damaged or when potatoes are exposed to light for prolonged periods. If a potato has gone green it’s likely to contain higher levels of the toxins.
Whilst not acutely toxic in humans, there are a number of reports suggesting that ingestion of potatoes containing high levels of glycoalkaloids have led to poisoning incidents where the main symptoms displayed are irritation of the gut and also drowsiness. These symptoms have also been shown at high doses of glycoalkaloids in controlled experiments using human volunteers.
Available evidence suggests that there is not a link between exposure to elevated levels of glycoalkaloids from green potatoes and incidents of spina bifida or other malformations of the fetus.
Q. Can I eat green potatoes if I peel them?
Peeling of green potatoes will greatly reduce the levels of glycoalkaloids as they are localised just below the surface of the peel. However, if these potatoes taste bitter after peeling, then it’s best not to eat them.

Emuchops

Store in a hessian sack, with an apple, and they won't sprout.

Stephen_Leak

lcharm wrote: »

Why dark? They grow underground anyway

As above. And don't forget that the potato plant is a close relative of deadly nightshade!

katskorner

cool, dark and not the fridge. not tried the apple so thinking I am liking that idea. growing more soon too. pots not apples that is.

jamelie

If you can't get a hessian sack, a paper bag will do. We keep o urs in the under stairs cupboard - cool & dark - ideal

Edwardia

" If these potatoes taste bitter after peeling ".. raw potato eww

GrammarGirl1991

Thanks so much everyone - really helpful!

sahra

I used to keep mine in a potato sack but found they still sprouted, but now keep them in the fridge and they last way past the use by date and don't sprout