How to preserve potatoes without them sprouting?

Why not store potatoes in the refrigerator?

Mashed, steamed, fried, baked au gratin… Both young and old love potatoes! No wonder they are one of our favourite vegetables. As a bonus, they are packed with health benefits: a wonderful source of carbohydrates (mainly starch), a cocktail of fibre, vitamins (B and C) and potassium. They are also low in salt (almost sodium-free) and gluten-free. And contrary to popular belief, they are not as high in calories as we think: only 80.5 kcal per 100 g, not much. In reality, it is mainly the way they are cooked and their seasoning that makes the difference. A gratin dauphinois or very greasy fries are necessarily heavier than a small steamed potato!

We suspect that you don’t lack any at home. But where do you keep your potatoes? In a suitable place in the basement or in the fridge? Alas, if you tend to store them in the fridge, it’s a bad habit. As nutritionists explain, when stored in an environment that is too cold, the starch will start to turn into sugar. Once you fry them or cook them at high temperatures, the sugar will facilitate the formation of certain toxic compounds. Which is not healthy for the body. Therefore, the ideal is to keep potatoes in a dry place at room temperature. Be careful, don’t even think about exposing them to the sun: this is the best way to develop solanine,   a substance that gives potatoes an unpleasant bitterness  . It can even be toxic if ingested in large quantities.   So, you’ve been warned, if you want to avoid diarrhea and nausea, keep your potatoes away from the sun!   

How to store potatoes in an apartment for several months?

Still not sure where to store your potatoes safely? Why not in the basement, in the pantry (if it’s not too cold) or simply in a kitchen cabinet?   These are the most suitable places. Always keep them away from light and choose a canvas bag instead of a plastic one!   Some people even tend to freeze them: this is not a good idea, because, as they contain a lot of water, defrosting will affect the texture, which will become more pasty and grainy. Oh yes, a question that often arises: should you rinse potatoes as soon as you buy them? Then no, this is not at all advisable. It would be wiser to wash them only when cooking, otherwise they risk rotting due to moisture and attracting a lot of bacteria. We also suggest that you never leave cut potatoes out in the open, otherwise they will spoil much faster.   If you don’t plan to cook them on site, keep them in a container filled with cold water and protect them from heat.

Good to know:   Are you also used to storing potatoes and onions together? Funny enough, most people do this without even knowing it’s a mistake. And rightly so, onions release ethylene gas, which softens potatoes and even speeds up germination. So, to avoid spoiling them and enjoy them for longer, get used to not having them next to each other anymore.

How to freeze potatoes without them turning black?

Can you freeze cooked potatoes?

While it’s not recommended to freeze raw potatoes, it’s okay to do so once they’re cooked. So don’t worry, if you’ve had eyes bigger than your stomach and can’t stand the waste, you can easily freeze leftovers in an airtight box or bag. The advantage of this practice is that once defrosted, cooked potatoes will retain their original flavor and texture.   Better yet, in some cases, it even adds a touch of crunch!

Rule of thumb to remember:   there is no need to defrost frozen potatoes before cooking them again. Whatever recipe you choose, they will be ready to use straight away.

How long can cooked potatoes be kept?

Yes, if the conditions are optimal, you should know that a raw potato (unpeeled) can be kept in the pantry from one week to several months, especially if the temperature is cool (around 10ºC). But, once cooked, if you keep it in the refrigerator it will only stay good for 3 or 4 days at most. On the other hand, if you put it in the freezer, it can last up to a year!

Types of potatoes and their uses