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Daily Record
09-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Potatoes won't sprout and will 'last the longest' time if kept in one place
Storing potatoes here can significantly increase their shelf life, say experts The humble potato is a staple in households across the country thanks to their ability to be turned into a side dish in many different forms. Chip, boil, roast or mash them, they are a great, cheap and filling accompaniment to a meal. But how often have you reached into the cupboard to find they have sprouted, turned green or are soft and even wrinkly? Proper storage of the versatile tattie is essential if you want to extend their shelf life. Although sold in the non-refrigerated section in the supermarkets, spuds are generally kept in cool, dark drawers or cupboards but research has shown that they can actually be stored in the fridge. In fact, keeping them in the cold can make them edible for six months more. According to experts at Love Food Hate Waste, UK homes throw away nearly half a million tonnes of fresh vegetables and salads, as well as a quarter of a million tonnes of fresh fruit each year. This means a massive £2.1billion worth of produce thrown away simply because it isn't consumed in time. Historically, potatoes have been kept out of the fridge due to concerns about increased levels of acrylamide, a substance that forms in starchy foods and can potentially increase the risk of cancer, reports the Express. However, a comprehensive scientific study showed storing potatoes in the fridge "doesn't actually increase acrylamide potential" compared to the usual method of storing them at room temperature in a cupboard. This research on potato storage was overseen by the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment (COT) and reviewed by the FSA, so you can trust its findings. As a way to combat food waste, savvy consumers have been told to pay close attention to the Best Before dates and labelling on their potato products. And the organisation WRAP, behind the Love Food Hate Waste initiative, has shared startling findings from an investigation into the reliability of best-before dates and their part in causing needless food waste. WRAP's study points to evidence suggesting best-before dates may not be the best way to assess edibility, with items lasting appreciably longer if stored correctly "when they last much longer". Take potatoes as an example - when kept unrefrigerated in a kitchen cupboard, they are purportedly at their peak for 10 days as per packet instructions. However, it was only after 14 days that signs of deterioration could truly be observed. Even more astonishing is the revelation that when potatoes were refrigerated at four degrees, despite packaging advice of a mere 10-day shelf life, they remained in prime condition for well over twenty days past the best-before mark. By bypassing the use of best-before dates, the trial displayed that potatoes could survive even longer periods at room temperature and when stored coolly. Experts recommend the refrigerator as the "right place" for potato storage to maximise longevity "they'll last the longest". Under optimal storage conditions like a cool, dark space, potatoes can stay good to eat for a number of months. If refrigerated, this timeline may stretch up to three times as long, potentially exceeding six months. If you're aiming to extend the life of your spuds, it's recommended to take them out of any plastic packaging and pop them into a fabric bag. This method blocks light and lets the tatties breathe. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Expert's hack to store potatoes and stop 'premature sprouting' immediately
New potatoes have a relatively long shelf life when it comes to vegetables, but they're still liable to deteriorate in some ways - here's how to keep them fresh and tasty Potatoes boast a longer shelf life than many other vegetables, yet they are still susceptible to going off in various ways. Getting savvy with storage, particularly for the diminutive new potato variety, can be a game-changer for maintaining their sprightliness and zest. While a whole host of strategies are advocated by food expert to keep your potatoes taut, sprout-free, and meal-ready, some outshine the rest. If you're aiming to achieve optimum longevity for your spuds at home, zeroing in on a cool, dry location is an excellent starting point. A Food52 pundit elaborated: "The key is to store potatoes in a cool dry place, like in the cabinet of a pantry, in a paper bag or cardboard box." They expanded: "It's important to keep potatoes at the cool, ideal temperature (but not, surprisingly, the fridge) to prevent them from turning green, getting soft spots, or pre-maturely sprouting. Once this happens, it's a sign that they're past their peak." But fear not; we'll delve deeper into all these details shortly. First, let us acquaint you with the factors that hasten potatoes' ripeness and how to prime them for extended keeping. Seek out spots in the kitchen where the temperature hovers consistently around 10C, complemented by 90 to 95 percent humidity – though that might require some guesswork. Per the Food52 connoisseur, pretty much any space is better than the bare worktop, provided it is sequestered from sizzling gadgets and the glare of sunlight. They advised: "Keep them in a drawer, in a basket, in a closet, in a paper bag, or in a bamboo vegetable steamer - anywhere that's dark - and they should last for one to two weeks." This involves removing new potatoes from the plastic packaging they're often sold in, which isn't suited for storage due to a specific reason, reports the Express. The food preservation expert stated: "Potatoes are plants, after all. If they see sunlight, they will do their photosynthesis thing and turn green, and eventually wrinkle and rot." It's also vital to consider that potatoes will respond adversely to extreme temperatures, whether too chilly or overly warm. Be wary of placing them in the hottest areas of the kitchen, like near the stove, beneath the sink, or atop the refrigerator, yet also steer clear of refrigerating them. Although the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) concluded that it's safe to chill spuds in the fridge, culinary expert Harold McGee, author of On Food and Cooking, articulated why this might not be ideal. In his esteemed tome, he revealed that when potatoes are stowed in cooler climates such as the fridge, "their metabolism shifts in a complicated way that results in the breakdown of some starch to sugars." This alteration means that refrigerated potatoes may grow sweeter over time and come out with an unappetising brown hue when cooked.
