Potato is one of the most popular foods all over the world. We consume it cooked, fried, roasted, and in many other kinds.
Naturally, potato expiration is a great point of concern for everyone.
For learning how long it takes until tubers become off, we have prepared this article with a bunch of handy tips and useful info regarding this issue.
Potato Shelf Life
Storage Nuances And Tips
Storing potatoes under proper conditions is a guarantee of their long life at our homes.
Some might not know but not all sorts of this root crop must be stored the same way. What is good for ordinary potatoes can be harmful to fingerlings.
To make sure that you store potatoes correctly, check out these basic points one needs to remember to extend its lifespan to its maximum.
How long do raw potatoes last?
Everything depends on its sort but normally the average storage term lasts between two and five weeks when using a pantry.
How long do potatoes last in the fridge?
Refrigerated potatoes will have a significantly prolonged lifespan, of course, if we mean raw root crops. Usually, it consists of two to four months.
Do all potatoes have equal shelf-life duration?
No. Raw root crops have different lifespan depending on what sort of potato it is.
Also, you could probably pay attention many times that originally fresh potatoes turned greyish and soft after some time of keeping them at home. Why does it happen?
Potato is the sort of root crop that likes airflow and shade. For this reason, always store it away from the straight sunlight, in a cool (45-55 F) and dry place with good airflow.
The tank for storage must also be properly ventilated.
The easiest thing that one can do is to place the root crops into a perforated paper bag or a carton box with some small holes for air exposure. Choose the coolest area in the kitchen or store them in a dry part of the basement if you live in a house.
Refrigerator, unlike the widespread belief, is a bit too cool for potatoes which will make them become brown sooner than they should be.
And never store potatoes in plastic packets since they don’t have enough air and the root crops will spoil very soon.
Do Root Crops Become Off? Reasons And Signs
Just like any veggies, potatoes also turn bad. The occasion is obvious: improper storage which includes both the storage conditions and the tank the root crops are held into.
How to tell if a potato is bad?
Actually, one doesn’t have to be an experienced farmer to see the difference between the fresh and slightly or too stale root crops.
- When potatoes have gone bad, you will see the growths on the surface of the root crops
- Discoloration can also take place
- Spoiled root crops become much softer and wither
- Mold is another sign of spoilage
Some think that green sprouts are also the symptom of spoilage but it is not true. Since potato is alive after picking, it continues growing and, if we expose it to straight lighting for quite a long period of time, the sprouts will appear. Just cut them off and use the root crops as usual.
What Makes Potatoes Spoil?
To protect potato from rotting, one needs to know what exactly causes destruction and spoilage.
So, first of all, no lighting is allowed.
Also, avoid moisture and never wet the root crops, otherwise, they will get rotten.
The lack of ventilation is another enemy.
And the last but not least, the too hot or too cold surroundings will also harm the root crops and make them rotten quicker.
Do All Sorts Of Potatoes Expire The Same Fast?
Some people wonder whether all sorts of potatoes last the same period of time.
Maybe, the answer will be disappointing but they don’t.
White and sweet potatoes are the most long-lasting and will remain consumable for five weeks. Yukon gold potatoes, pink potatoes, and fingerlings all last for two or three weeks – all in a pantry.
As for the fridge, the white sort can be kept for four months, and the sweet sort, the same as all the others, will remain usable for three months.
How to Prolong Potato Lifespan
Of course, sooner or later someone will ask whether these root crops can be exposed to frost.
Unfortunately, raw root crops won’t survive the freezing camera. However, cooked, baked, mashed and french fries will perfectly withstand it!
How long can you store prepared potatoes frozen?
All kinds of potatoes listed above can remain frozen for six to eight months easily.
How to Store Various Kinds Of Cooked Potatoes
When it comes to storing potatoes, we know that room temperature, dark place, and cool air are the irreplaceable requirements for their long life.
However, if we need to stock some cooked potatoes, many of us get confused. We are simply not sure whether keeping prepared veggies differ from storing them raw!
Let’s see and learn how it is best to deal with different kinds of prepared root crops at home.
- Mashed potatoes
For keeping leftover mashed potatoes, find a large ziplock packet, and fill it with puree balls (use ice cream scooper for that). Remember to leave nearly 1.2 inch between each ball. When the packet is full, toss it to the freezer. If you have any gravy, freeze it separately in ice tray. It works the same for a new dish.
Whenever you need to prepare food, just defrost new potato balls by cooking them in a microwave.
- Potato salad
Potato salad needs to be chilled for preserving it. Since this kind of food is rather demanding, we need to be careful. Wrong temperature or package can influence its lifespan. Also, leaving it at room conditions is not the best idea.
However, keeping this food is very easy. Sort it into airtight tanks and refrigerate. Like that, the salad will last for 3-5 days easily. It’s not recommended to put it to freezer since its temperature will cause water to separate making food spoil.
- Fried potatoes
Always wrap fried potatoes with the plastic cover to prevent them from drying in the fridge, and then put them into the plastic tank or packet. In this case, your food will last for up tp 5 days and will taste like new.
- Baked/roasted potatoes
If the root crops were cooked in aluminum foil, remove it before chilling them to prevent food contamination. Store potatoes tightly closed since they easily pick new odors and can spoil. When kept properly, baked root crops will stay good for 3-5 days.
These hints are simple to learn but they will allow extending your potato foods’ lifespan for days.
Frequently Inquired Questions
Since we have gone through the most essential issues regarding potato storage, let’s see what else people want to know about this root crop for better storage.
When do root crops turn spoiled?
Any sort of potato will turn spoiled if it’s kept under improper conditions e.g. too humid or too cold environment, deficit of air or straight light.
How long do russet potatoes last?
This sort of potato will stay edible for three to five weeks in a pantry and for up to four months refrigerated.
How long do red potatoes last?
This sort remains consumable for three weeks in a pantry or three months refrigerated.
How long are potatoes good for in the pantry?
It hangs upon what sort of it we mean. Normally, the average duration of storage is between two and five weeks.
Now you know how long each sort of potatoes lasts and what can be done to prolong its lifespan and keep the root crops fresh and edible to their longest.
Since the storage requirements are simple, remember to use them anytime you purchase fresh potatoes on the market or in a store and avoid buying too much, otherwise, some spoilage can take place because you won’t be able to use all the amount of it in time.
Buy, store and use reasonably!
Frequently Asked Questions
⭐ I sometimes see long potatoes being sold. Why do they look like this? Is anything wrong with them?
Long potatoes are the same safe to eat as the round-shaped root crops. It doesn’t mean they are bad or filled with chemicals. Some sorts of this root crop initially have this shape.
⭐ Is it safe to consume mashed potatoes or cooked potatoes if they spent several hours at room temperature?
If you’ve left or forgotten cooked potatoes in the room without chilling the dish, especially on hot days, we would not recommend you to eat it since the food might already start spoiling. It is best to toss it to the garbage bin and prepare a new dish instead.
⭐ Is it ok to stock potato salad in the freezer?
In fact, the salad made of potatoes (or the one that contains this root crop) can stand the freezer, especially if it’s kept in the airtight container. However, note that when storing potato salad this way, its consistency will change after defrosting. You may find some water in it which is normal due to the dressing. Just drain it and eat the food safely.
⭐ What is the maximum of room temperature that is fine for storing potatoes?
The best temperature in the room for storing potatoes must be less than 10 C. For even better and longer keeping, as well as in order to prevent any quality decrease, hold the temperature at the perfect 2-4 degrees in a room where the vegetables are kept. Otherwise, sprouts may grow and root crops may become not safe to eat.
⭐ Shall I wash potatoes before I refrigerate them?
To refrigerate potatoes, it is recommended to leave them unrinsed with the dust on their skins. It will make them last longer since when water gets in contact with the skin of the root crop, sprouts will grow and the quality of the vegetables will degrade.
⭐ Is it allowed to keep potatoes together with fruits and/or vegetables?
Keeping potatoes with fruits and other veggies (especially onions) is not recommended. Since some fruits (e.g. apples) exude ethylene gas, it can cause green spots and other signs of spoilage on the root crops. The best option would be o keep all the content of the fridge separately from potatoes, in a separate container, for instance.
⭐ Can potatoes be put to the top shelf in the fridge?
Neither the top shelf nor any other place in the fridge is not perfect for potatoes to stock. Cold turns the potatoes’ starch into sugar way faster making the root crops become gritty. Instead, find a dark and cool spot in the room and leave potatoes there. It will prevent spoilage and your root crops will last longer at the proper temperature.
⭐ Why do green spots appear on new potatoes?
One can find green marks on new root crops if those were exposed to excess light or cold/heat. Peel that green off before cooking since it may contain toxic alkaloid.
⭐ Are dark marks on potatoes harmful?
Dark bruises only show that root crops were handled carelessly. They are absolutely harmless to cook! However, before cooking, peel or cut them off.
