Potatoes will stay fresh for a year if stored in this unusual spot at home
There's nothing more frustrating than heading out to the supermarket each week, loading up on fresh produce only to throw so much of it away due to poor food storage. Not only does this lead to unnecessary food waste but it's also costly, especially when you're trying to spend less.
Proper storage techniques can significantly extend the life of your produce and save you money in the long run. Potatoes, in particular, can last far longer than most people think if they're stored correctly. According to an expert, potatoes can last up to a year if stored the right way.
And surprisingly it doesn't involve keeping them with other fruits or vegetables, the Express reports.
The tip comes from the YouTube channel Survival HT, which focuses on helping people make their food last as long as possible, whilst saving money and reducing waste. The expert hailed her method as 'so easy a toddler could do it,' and there's no need for any fancy equipment.
The trick works with any type of potato including sweet and only requires two basic items - a cardboard box and some dirt.
How to keep potatoes fresh for a year
The expert first explained why store bought potatoes don't last as long as home-grown ones, revealing that the plastic bag they come in is the main reason why spuds go bad.
Potatoes tend to 'sweat' when they are enclosed inside the plastic material which speeds up the rotting process. Additionally, packaged potatoes have already been washed, meaning they hold moisture and are more likely to go bad.
However, keeping potatoes fresh is easier than you think. You place your potatoes inside a cardboard box in a single layer, giving them a generous dusting of dirt on top of them.
Make sure that the dirt and your potatoes are completely dry first, as dry potatoes are the key to keeping them fresh. The dirt acts as a barrier against moisture stopping any dampness from spreading to the potatoes in the box.
Any potatoes with sprouts or bad spots shouldn't be store this way as they can affect the other potatoes and make the whole box go bad, so it is best to make sure you check each spud through before placing them in.
If you have a lot of potatoes to store, you can do multiple layers but just ensure there is extra dirt in between each row before you store them away.
Once done just close the box and store inside a cool dry place will a cupboard or drawer and your potatoes will stay good 'for a year.'
Just dust off the dirt whenever you want to use one. The expert added: "If you end up not eating them, you can always use them as seed potatoes and grow them again."
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