Do Potatoes Go Bad?

Potatoes are one of the most popular foods today due to their mild but pleasant flavor, as well as their versatility in the kitchen, as they can be used to make purees, creams, salads, tortillas, croquettes, and doughs, not to mention that they can be fermented to make alcohol.

If you want to purchase potatoes to cook a certain recipe or just because you like them and include them in your daily diet, you need be aware of the duration and storage of these tubers. Fortunately, you can find all of that information in this article, so keep reading.

How to Store Potatoes

The potato has various advantages. It is a high-carbohydrate snack that provides us with a lot of energy. Furthermore, it contains 75% water and is a good source of potassium. It also contains plenty of vitamin C, vitamin B, folic acid, magnesium, and iron.

As you can see, potatoes are a food with several advantages and applications. However, these advantages can only be exploited if they are in excellent condition, which may be accomplished by carefully preserving them. You can assure that they will be kept in excellent shape for as long as possible this way.

When it comes to potato storage, there is no need to worry about carrying out any difficult technique. Everything you need to accomplish may be summed up in a list using the following guidelines:

Please do not wash them.

When you purchase potatoes, they are frequently filthy from being coated with dirt. It is best to wait until you are ready to use them before cleaning them. If they are unclean and causing you problems, brush them to eliminate as much dirt as possible. Please do not use water during cleaning. Its usage will merely hasten the degradation of the potato.

Keep them in a good place.

It should be mentioned that the best temperature for preserving the potatoes is 7 degrees Celsius; if you keep them in a location with lower temperatures over time, the potatoes will develop a somewhat sweet taste, which may interfere with the plans of a dish for which you were conserving the potatoes. Unless you don’t mind the little difference, you may store them in the fridge.

If, on the other hand, you value taste purity, room temperature is a possibility. However, we must highlight that if you take this route, bumps may form on your potatoes and you will have to chop them to eat them regularly.

To keep the potatoes at room temperature, place them in a cool place that is free from any source of moisture or heat and is shielded from direct sunlight. We propose that you utilize the pantry since it generally meets these demands sufficiently.

Refrigerate the leftovers

After you’ve cooked your potatoes, you may store them in the refrigerator. You must put them in an airtight container to safeguard them from any contaminating element that might harm them.

Can You Freeze Potatoes?

If you have come to purchase more potatoes than you can consume at the time, or if you have leftover potatoes that you prepared but don’t feel like eating right now, what you will need is to store the potatoes. Fortunately, you can do this in the long term if you freeze them.

It should be mentioned that there is a procedure to follow in order to freeze the potatoes. You cannot keep them as they are since they contain a lot of moisture and will become extremely mushy, damp, and even pasty. In short, the freezing procedure would damage its original texture.

To freeze the potatoes, you must first briefly boil them to remove any internal moisture. After that, allow them to cool before storing them in an airtight container or a freezer bag. Your potatoes will be ready for freezer after they have been wrapped.

How Long Does Potatoes Last

Potatoes have a somewhat long shelf life, so as long as you have followed all of the storage requirements, you need not be concerned if they have just been kept for a few of days. They are most likely in excellent shape.

It is important to note that raw and cooked potatoes do not have the same duration. When you make a meal using it, you normally combine it with additional ingredients to flavor or compliment it. These change the duration period, not to mention that when you cut and manipulate them, you change their natural texture and qualities, diminishing their length.

In terms of precise dates, a potato may be kept in excellent condition for around two weeks. It may be kept in the refrigerator for approximately two months. Cooked potatoes may be stored in the refrigerator for three days and frozen for up to six months.

How to Tell If Potatoes Is Bad

Even though potatoes are diverse and have a reasonably lengthy shelf life when compared to other vegetables, they will go bad with time; thus, you must be cautious and inspect them thoroughly to avoid harming yourself by eating food in poor condition.

Mold, dryness, unpleasant odor, soft, damp, or green spots are all symptoms to look for while inspecting your potatoes. If you find any of these indicators on your potatoes, chop them and utilize the remainder; however, if the whole potato is afflicted, throw it.

If you have examined your potatoes and discovered no signs that they are in poor condition, you need not be concerned; you can use them in the recipe you want to cook with them without anxiety.

Sources:

Does it go bad

Eat by date

Eating well