I lovingly stared at this orbs of starchy goodness – in all their beautiful shades of brown, red, purple, and yellow. Like a dull rainbow, the sat on the soil boasting of winter culinary potential.

The refrigerator is out, because temperatures below 40°F (4°C) trigger the conversion of starches to sugars in the stored spuds, which makes them darken when cooked. Even worse, what old timers called “sugared potatoes” form carcinogenic compounds when cooked at high temperatures. Let’s not go there. Not sure how to use your well-preserved potatoes? Never fear! You can freeze potatoes, or cook them up whenever the mood takes you. You’ve never really got too many potatoes, only limitless options for your next meal. Need some inspiration for how to use your spuds? Here are our top seven ways to use up leftover potatoes. While cooked and cooled potatoes have some health benefits, they should be eaten within three or four days to avoid spoilage and food poisoning ( 28). Summary In case you have time for extra food preparation, it is best if you can freeze chopped and blanched potatoes. As freezing raw potatoes imposes a health risk, make sure to pre-cook potatoes before storing them in the freezer.

Now – before I go into specifics, I want to make a very important point: February potatoes are not July potatoes. And January potatoes are not August potatoes. As with most food that is kept for months on end, they fade from their stout and bold summer state to a state of… well, less luster. But that’s okay. Because March potatoes don’t need to be July potatoes. They just need to get us through till summer.

If you grow your own and happen to get a particularly big harvest, it’s essential that you store them correctly so you can enjoy having fresh, tasty taters throughout the winter. Here are several ways to keep them lasting longer, fresher. Top Tips For Storing Potatoes At Home Make sure they’re dryFun fact: Potatoes don’t actually need soil to sprout—they just need favorable environmental conditions. So, if you keep your potatoes somewhere warm and they have access to moisture, they will joyously begin to spread their sprouts and grow. The more sprouts that grow, the more depleted their nutritional value becomes. Why do potatoes turn green? As for green potatoes, Dr. Chapman says that’s a sign that the spuds have been exposed to too much light and will give off a bitter flavor and can even be irritating to the digestive system. Tossing potatoes next to fresh produce such as apples, onions, bananas, and tomatoes may lead to sprouts. Because of the ethylene gas produced by these fresh produce, putting the potatoes nearby induces premature ripening that causes soft spots, tubers, and eventually causes them to spoil and rot. For Freezer Storage: Chop and Blanch Potatoes

Take a look at the potatoes you’ve stored every so often. If a potato starts to rot it can spread this to others, so throw it out. Softness, shriveling and mold all indicate a potato should be removed from the store. While the chlorophyll that turns skins green is harmless, sun exposure can produce large amounts of a toxic chemical called solanine.

To prepare for freezing, first scrub, peel, and cut your potatoes – depending on how you intend to use them. Then, store them in a paper bag or in an open bowl or basket. Something like The Pioneer Woman Potato Keeper with its rounded holes promote proper airflow is a perfect container. Just make sure they aren't too crowded—potatoes need air! Keep them in a cool, dry place away from light, like a dark corner of the kitchen or in a cabinet. Wherever you store them should be well ventilated. And, if possible, avoid storing them near other fruits (like bananas or onions) that can cause them to spoil faster. How do you store potatoes so they don't sprout? To store potatoes so they don’t sprout, keep them in a cool, dark and dry place. Make sure they’re not stored with onions, too, as that can cause them to sprout. Leaving potatoes to rest on the countertop might cause too much sun exposure, leading to excessive chlorophyll production which colors your potatoes green. The presence of a green color on potatoes speeds up spoilage. Apart from the green color, this may also lead to the potatoes growing sprouts which will make the potatoes inedible. But our expertise goes beyond potatoes. We also love sharing our knowledge and insights with you. That’s why we’ve gathered a talented group of writers who have crafted informative and engaging articles about everything potato-related. Whether you’re looking for mouthwatering recipes, tips on potato storage, or fun facts about different potato varieties, our team has you covered.