By Branston NPD team
We’re all looking for more ways to cut food waste, use up all our ingredients and make meals go further to save money. Storing your ingredients correctly to keep them in good condition means potentially spending less of your hard-earned cash replacing past-it produce.
If you’re wondering about the best way to store potatoes to make them last, look no further than our comprehensive guide. We have useful advice on storing potatoes in all their forms, from freshly peeled spuds ready for roasting to a bowl of leftover mashed potatoes. The expert team behind Seasonal Spuds are here to help and answer all your potato queries.
How to store potatoes
When stored correctly, uncooked potatoes can last for weeks at home before they start to get past their best.
Official guidance from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has advised that the best way to store potatoes is in the fridge. Storing them in the fridge helps them last more than three times as long as storing at room temperature, whilst also reducing food waste.
However, if storing your potatoes in a fridge is not possible, potatoes should be stored in a dark, cool, dry place, as exposing them to light can cause greening and moisture can lead to rot. Keep your potatoes in a net, paper bag or cotton bag with good air circulation to keep them fresher for longer. Dark kitchen cupboards, cellars and utility rooms work well.
We also recommend keeping your spuds well away from your onions, as onions produce ethylene gas which can make produce ripen faster. Potatoes also have high levels of moisture, which can cause onions to rot, so it’s best to keep these veggies apart before cooking.
Should potatoes be stored in the fridge?
In previous years, The Food Standards Agency had advised against storing potatoes in the fridge due the possibility of the cold affecting the natural sugars over time which could then lead to the formation of acrylamide upon roasting or frying at high temperatures. However, a WRAP study on potatoes and acrylamide has concluded that there are no adverse effects from storing your potatoes in the fridge. It is now advised that potatoes should be stored in the fridge to help them last longer, and reduce wastage.
How to store peeled potatoes
Prepping your roasties for Sunday dinner? If you’ve peeled your potatoes ahead of time, ready for cooking later, store them in a bowl of cold water in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Make sure your potatoes are fully submerged in the water to prevent discolouration.
How to stop peeled potatoes turning brown
To stop your potatoes turning brown until you’re ready to roast, make sure they’re fully submerged in a bowl of cold water and keep in the fridge to avoid oxidation. If you’re really worried about brown spuds, add a squeeze of lemon juice to your bowl of water before refrigerating.
How to store cooked potatoes
Cooked or boiled potatoes can be safely stored in the fridge in an airtight container and will keep for around 3-4 days. Cool down your cooked potatoes first before transferring them to the fridge. This is a great way to prepare salads or side dishes before a big event.
How to store mashed potatoes
Got a few dollops of extra mashed potatoes going spare? Transfer to a covered dish or a sealable container, cool and store in the fridge. It will keep for around 3-4 days. You can also freeze mash, believe it or not, but we recommend using it up fairly quickly as it can turn watery if stored for too long. To freeze your mash, transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container and cool before popping it in the freezer. Alternatively, you can place scoops of mash on a lined tray and freeze in dollops, before transferring to a freezer bag or sealable container.
Try our favourite easiest ever mashed potato recipe
Want some inspiration to use up your mash? Read our guide on easy leftover mashed potato recipe ideas and turn your unloved ingredients into something special.
Can you freeze potatoes?
Yes! In fact, preparing your potatoes ahead of time and freezing them until needed is a great time saver. You can freeze cooked or partially cooked potatoes, but we wouldn’t recommend freezing raw potatoes. Prepare boiled, parboiled or roasted potatoes by placing them on a tray, evenly spaced, and freeze until solid. Then you can transfer your potatoes to a freezer bag and keep until needed.
Give our herby roast potatoes a go for a twist on the classic roast dinner side dish.
Potato recipes
Try our range of tasty potato recipes for every occasion, from simple and filling family dinners to swanky dinner party mains to impress. All our tried-and-tested recipes make potato the star of every dish and feature wholesome, seasonal ingredients.
For more advice on how to cook, store and use potatoes, check out our main FAQ page for all the answers to your frequently asked questions.
