Learn how long potatoes last and how to tell if your potatoes have gone bad.
Plus, glean tips for how to store potatoes so they stay fresh as long as possible.
And the shelf life of whole potatoes can vary, depending on how they are stored after purchase.
Getty Images / Brian Hagiwara
But there is one simple, surefire method for storing potatoes so they’ll last for weeks.
Read on to find out more.
How Long Do Potatoes Last?
So, you may want to avoid the fridge and freezer when it comes to storing raw potatoes.
To avoid a sweeter flavor and discoloration,blanchpotatoes before refrigerating or freezing.
Blanching will also cut down on cooking time after the potatoes have thawed and come to room temperature.
(Learn how to freeze potatoes to save time and money.)
You know to toss those sad little tubers out.
Here are four more, slightly less obvious signs of spoilage.
Mold
It may go without saying, but you do not want to eat moldy potatoes.
Potatoes with mold will have black fuzz, sometimes appearing as small black spots, on the skin.
Ingesting mold can make you sick,according to the USDA, most often experienced asmild food poisoning.
Foul Smell
Don’t let a potato’s appearance deceive you.
Sometimes, the freshest-looking ones may have gone bad.
Use your nose to spot the differences between fresh and spoiled potatoes.
The greenish hue suggests the presence of nontoxic chlorophyll, due to the tubers being exposed to light.
That color also indicates an excess concentration ofsolanine, a naturally occurring glycoalkaloid.
Still, your safest bet is to discard these potatoes entirely.
What If My Potatoes Are Bruised?
When you peel a potato, you may find darkened or black areas.
We’re accustomed to cutting them out and continuing with our cooking preparations.
That is totally fine.
The amount of bruise is directly related to the fall.
It can appear beneath the surface of the skin, or penetrate deep into the tuber.
The damage does not appear immediately, but becomes noticeable after one or two days in storage.
Since the skin is not broken, the damage may not be found until the potato is cut."
Check on your stored potatoes regularly to spot any signs of spoilage.
Rotten spuds could ruin your batch of fresh potatoes when they are not removed.
Eating large quantities of acrylamide may increasecancer risk.
Pantry storage is by far the easiest and best way to go for potatoes.
Wash your potatoes when you are ready to prep them for cooking.
Use all your senses when choosing potatoes.
Steer clear from those that are moldy, with sprouts, greenish or emitting strange odors.
Potatoes should smell fresh and earthy, just like potatoes.
