Potatoes are an indispensable staple food, yet storing them long term can be tricky. At optimal temperatures, potatoes remain crisp and firm while at too warm a temperature they rot and sprout quickly – so knowing how to store potatoes long term without root cellar storage is vitally important. While commercially produced potatoes may have been stored in refrigerated buildings before reaching your grocery store shelves, their transport still subject them to temperature variations as well as exposure to light – leading them to develop green sprouts on their outside which are both unappetising and toxic!
Potatoes should be stored in a cool and dark area where they won’t freeze but also won’t become too warm either. Finding such a spot may not always be easy in an average home; a basement, spare closet, crawl space or garage may all work fine as storage solutions. Refrigeration may work too but will expose them to dry air which may diminish some of their freshness and flavor.
Ideal storage temperatures for potatoes lie between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit; however, they will last longer when stored slightly warmer. Temperatures above 55 degrees can cause sprouting while temperatures below freezing can cause their skins to shrivel and break down, shortening their shelf life even more rapidly.
Before you store your potatoes for long-term storage, it’s wise to cure or dry them first in a cool, dark, and dry area for as long as possible. Doing this improves their storage potential by toughening up their skins against damage and cracks, making the potatoes more resistant. Curing or drying involves placing them in an inaccessible location for 7 to 10 days where there’s no sunlight; during this time period their skins will dry, wounds will heal, and protective coating will form to retain their moisture content and retain their moisture content.
Once your potatoes have finished curing, place them in a paper bag or cardboard box and store them for two weeks in a cool, dark and dry location before eating or using for cooking. Elba, Katahdin, Red Chieftain, Yukon Gold and Burbank Russet varieties have proven themselves as suitable long-term storage varieties.
When storing potatoes in plastic bags or containers, take steps to keep them as separate as possible so they do not sprout and rot. Aim for around one cup per bag; also make sure that there is adequate ventilation – mesh bags or potato-specific bags allow ventilation more effectively than general bags.