An insulated garage or shed might also work during the winter. Spread the potatoes out to minimize contact between them. ", "I have learned so much, thanks for this article! Then, store the potatoes in a cool, dry, dark place, like a pantry or your basement. Potatoes in the Root Storage Bin Some varieties store better than others, so be sure to seek out the ones that are known to be good keepers. Store uncooked potatoes in a cool, dark place with plenty of air circulation — not in the refrigerator. For more tips, including why you shouldn't store your potatoes in the fridge, read on! Aim to store no more potatoes than you can use during the fall and winter. Place them in a pot and cover them with water. Thanks for your very enlightening article! They just need to get us through till summer. Crops that are harvested at their prime – not before or after – store best. You need to layer the potatoes, separating the layers with pine straw, but it needs to be done inside a shed or basement to keep moisture and heat away. I'm going to be busy canning and freezing, "I have just grown potatoes for the first time and they have done really well. See. 3. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. In the Carolinas, this method is called a potato bank. If you picked the potatoes yourself, try layering them in wicker baskets or ventilated boxes. Just cut your potatoes up so there's an eye on each piece; allow them to harden off and then plant them in your garden. This article has been viewed 883,723 times. Thank you. ", "Using the right temperature for storage helped.". Let the potatoes sit this way undisturbed. They all produce a gas known as ethylene. Should potatoes also be stored away from light bulbs or other non-natural light? There's lots more to know about storing potatoes. Potatoes should be stored in a dark environment at about 45˚F to 50˚F (7˚C to 10˚C). After about two weeks, the potato skins will be thickened and dry. Refer to our guide on how to freeze and reheat mashed potatoes for more tips. Only perfect potatoes are suitable for long-term storage. The best thing for storing potatoes in is a hessian sack (burlap bag). We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This will reduce the discoloration (though it may not completely eliminate it). After blanching and freezing potatoes, is it normal for them to turn brown and black? I knew, in the back recesses of my, "Our new grocery store has great sale on potatoes, and with upcoming holidays I needed to know how to store them to, "Wanted to update any knowledge. Dig a hole large enough to bury the can up to the rim, leaving the lid exposed. If your potatoes are covered with dirt, let them dry out, then use a dry brush to remove any noticeable clumps. Tested. Here’s a quick breakdown on understanding the ‘Packed-On’ dates on our bags. Dig up the potatoes you have grown, selecting the potatoes from your healthiest disease-free plants for collecting your seed potatoes. Brush off any large clumps of dirt from the surface of the potato and store them according to the directions above (this will require you to lower the temperature slightly). ", "All of the articles were of great help. Isn't a fridge in that temperature range? ", last through Christmas. If you do put potatoes in the fridge, let them warm to room temperature gradually before cooking. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. The too-cold temperature turns the potato starch into sugar. It's especially important to keep your potatoes away from. How To Harvest, Cure & Store Potatoes Harvesting Potatoes. Potatoes keep very well here in the cold ground with the moisture from the dirt below. This article helped a lot, including the the Q&A section. Actually you want your refrigerator at 35° F. You might be surprised at how comfortable 40-50 is. The ideal storage environment is a dark, well-ventilated area with a temperature between 42 and 50 degrees.Store potatoes in an open container such as an open bag, a basket or a vegetable storage rack. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. What should I do? Don’t store potatoes and onions together. The cool, dry environment where onion bulbs store the longest lacks the humidity potatoes need. The relative humidity should be around 95% to prevent them from drying out. If you grow a variety of potatoes, use the thinner-skinned tubers first. Your potatoes won't have that advantage (though most gardeners would say that's no advantage at all). This will toughen up the skins on the potatoes. Of course, if you're a gardener, sprouted potatoes aren't a problem at all. Yes. Article is clear and concise. Latest Stories. An insulated garage or shed might also work during the winter. Keep all these tips in mind: If you grow your own potatoes, it's especially important to store them properly. Store your potatoes in a cool, humid, and dark place (45 to 50 F is the ideal temperature range). Three to four weeks prior to planting, put the potatoes in an area with brighter light, such as a sunny window or beneath grow lights. Very informative, thank you! ", is hot in summer, most of the year it is warm. My friend stores her onions in the garage inside old pantyhose, with a knot between each one. ", bitter taste. Onion Dry Storage. References Harvest potatoes that you wish to use next year as seed potatoes and brush off, don’t wash, any dirt. As with the answer to the fertiliser question, potato storage quickly gets into complicated territory. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c0\/Store-Potatoes-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Store-Potatoes-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c0\/Store-Potatoes-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1201619-v4-728px-Store-Potatoes-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"