Wondering how to store potatoes at home? Whether raw or cooked, short-term or long-term, fridge or freezing, you'll find all the information here to keep your spuds for longer.
Potatoes are a great crop for your garden because you can harvest them as you need them so you can enjoy fresh potatoes for several weeks each year. However, you’ll want to harvest your potatoes and store them before they freeze in the ground.
Many gardeners like growing potatoes because they are relatively easy to store for the winter. Although they can be canned or frozen, you don’t have to if you store them properly.
When stored properly, potatoes can last up to seven or eight months without being processed.
If you're just getting started, check out how to grow potatoes at home. Be sure to find out all about the different types of potatoes.
Jump to:
- How to store potatoes
- How long will potatoes last?
- Can you eat sprouted potatoes?
- How to store cooked potatoes
- How long will cooked potatoes last in the fridge?
- Freezing mashed potatoes
- Freezing cooked potatoes
- How to store peeled or cut potatoes
- Potato Storage Tips
- Storing freshly harvested potatoes
- 💬 Comments
How to store potatoes
Keep your potatoes in a place that is cool, dark, and airy. Exposure to light or moisture can make the skin rot, or the potatoes sprout.
Do check over your potatoes before storing and use any ones with broken skin, sprouting or bruising first, since they won't store as long and can shorten the lives of the other potatoes.
Don’t keep potatoes in the refrigerator.
Don't store them in a cupboard next to the oven.
Don't wash potatoes before storing, as moisture can cause them to rot.
Keep potatoes fresh for longer in a cloth bag, burlap sack, or wrapped in a cotton tea towel.
A great place is to store your potatoes in a cotton bag in a cupboard away from a heat source. This allows them to stay dry, dark, and cool - optimum conditions for storing potatoes.
Store your spuds away from strong-smelling foods, such as onions and garlic.
TIP: You can sew two cotton or linen tea towels together to form a potato bag, or use a pillowcase.
How long will potatoes last?
If stored correctly in a cool, dry, dark, and ventilated place, your potatoes should last for several months.
Check them regularly and discard any that are green or rotting.
Can you eat sprouted potatoes?
If your potatoes start to sprout (grow roots out of the eyes - not as gross as it sounds!), then yes, they are still safe to eat.
Cut out the sprout and 'eyes' of the potato where the sprout grew and discard them. Then cook up the potato.
If there are a lot of sprouts, then it is best to discard the potato.
When potatoes sprout, they are simply trying to grow. When the air temperature and darkness are optimum, they will try to grow - even if that's in a cupboard!
To avoid wastage, check your stored potatoes regularly, and use up any that are starting to sprout first.
How to store cooked potatoes
If you have leftover cooked potatoes, whether mashed, baked or chunks, you can store them in the fridge.
Allow the cooked potatoes to cool completely, and then refrigerate them within 2 hours.
You can then reheat them in an air fryer, pan, oven, or microwave depending on the dish.
How long will cooked potatoes last in the fridge?
Cooked potatoes will last up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
Freezing mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes can be frozen. Simply let it cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or container. I like to split it into portions so it doesn't go to waste.
Then, freeze for up to three months.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or in the microwave and heat through before serving.
Freezing cooked potatoes
Cooked potatoes can be frozen. Use this method for cooked potato chunks or baked potatoes.
Allow them to cool completely, then place onto a baking sheet (not touching) and freeze on the tray until solid. Then, transfer to a freezer-safe ziploc bag, or sealable container, to store them for up to 3 months.
We love using this method, since then you can take out as many potatoes as you need and reheat them.
You can thaw the potatoes in the fridge overnight, or in the microwave. Then reheat in a pan, oven, microwave or air fryer until hot all the way through.
How to store peeled or cut potatoes
To store cut or peeled potatoes, wash them, then peel or cut them as desired for your recipe.
To store them, add the potatoes to a bowl or container and cover them with cold water. Cover with a lid and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Potato Storage Tips
- Don’t store potatoes in the fridge because this can cause your potatoes to shrivel and dry out.
- Don’t store your potatoes with apples because apples can emit ethylene gas that will make the potatoes spoil during storage.
- When harvested and stored properly, most potatoes will last for several months.
- Red potatoes don’t last as long as other varieties.
- The thicker the skin, the longer the potato will last.
- Most potatoes will last for about six to eight months when stored in a cool and dark location.
- If you store potatoes above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they will only last about three months.
Storing freshly harvested potatoes
Drying Potatoes
After you harvest your potato crop, let them dry in the garden for about an hour.
This helps the soil dry out so it falls off easier. You can use a soft brush to remove soil, but don’t get them wet.
The skin of the potato is soft during harvesting, so be careful not to disrupt it or break it. This skin helps seal in moisture so the potato can be stored longer.
Then place the potatoes on a screen so they can dry for about an hour. If you store them longer, put them in a dark, dry place.
Short Term Storage
Let the potatoes sit for one or two weeks in a dark and dry area with high humidity after you harvest them before you store them. This helps any imperfections in the skin heal so the potato doesn’t rot during storage. This also helps the skin get tougher, which helps the potatoes last longer in storage.
If you see deep cuts or areas that don't have skin, set those potatoes aside and plan to use them right away.
Longer-Term Storage
If you want to store your potatoes for longer than a few weeks, move them to a cool and dark area. The area should be between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but be careful that your potatoes won’t freeze.
Only store firm potatoes that don’t have any soft spots. Keep an eye on your potatoes. If you see any sprouts, you can take them off by hand.
Potatoes are a fairly easy crop to grow, even for beginners.
They give you weeks of fresh potatoes, and you can save them for months if stored properly.
It’s important to give your potatoes time to cure and dry to harden the skin and then store them between 35 and 40 degrees for long-term storage.
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Make the most of your crop with these potato recipes.
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