Potatoes were originally grown by native peoples of the Andes mountains in South America.The chart below details shelf lives for various types of potatoes, including sweet, russet, Yukon Gold, red, and purple varieties.Though it’s normal for potatoes to smell earthy or nutty, a musty or moldy odor is a hallmark of spoilage.A strong smell coming from an otherwise fresh-looking potato is a warning that the inside may have rotted or started to mold.These compounds can have serious side effects, including neurological and digestive symptoms like headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea ( 6 , 7, 8 , 9 ).As sprouts grow, they suck sugars and nutrients from the plant, causing it to shrivel, shrink, and lose its crunch ( 11 ).In some cases, cooked potatoes have a strong odor or visible mold that indicates spoilage.summary Some signs that uncooked potatoes have spoiled include dark spots on the skin, a soft or mushy texture, and foul odor.After a few days, they may begin to harbor pathogens and bacteria that could result in illnesses, such as salmonella, listeria, botulism, and staphylococcal food poisoning.Mold may appear as fuzz or a few dark spots that are brown, black, red, white, or bluish gray.Given that warm temperatures and moisture encourage sprouting, and exposure to light increases the rate at which glycoalkaloid toxins form, you shouldn’t store raw potatoes on the counter or in the open ( 15 ).Rather, keep in them in a cool, dark, dry place, such as a pantry, cellar, cupboard, or cabinet that keeps out sunlight.In addition, uncooked potatoes are best left in a container — such as a box, open bowl, or perforated bag — that allows air to circulate around the tubers.Acrylamides are compounds sometimes formed in starchy foods after they’ve been cooked at high temperatures — think french fries or potato chips — and are classified as probable or likely carcinogens by some organizations ( 16 , 17 ).summary It’s best to store raw potatoes in a cool, dark place that allows air circulation. .
The Best Way to Store Potatoes So They Last Longer
Unlike other produce, potatoes can last a relatively long time before showing signs of spoilage.When stored in a cool, dark place, (warmer than the fridge but colder than the average temperature of your kitchen) whole, uncooked potatoes can last up to two months.Lack of pantry space or hot or humid conditions are all reasons you might want to store your potatoes in the refrigerator.A helpful shortcut in some cases, potatoes can be peeled and/or cut ahead of time.Raw potatoes that have been cut should be stored in a bowl of cold water and refrigerated.When stored in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, cooked potatoes will last 10 to 12 months in the freezer.Whether you are planning ahead, or just putting away extras for a rainy day, cooked potatoes usually fare nicely in the freezer.Many argue that potatoes are still safe to eat even after they've sprouted, so long as they don't show any signs of spoilage as described above.However, the National Capital Poison Center suggests tossing potatoes that have turned green or grown sprouts, to protect against any risk of potential toxicity.These are natural toxins, the lowest concentration of which is found in the white body of the potato.If eaten, you may experience symptoms of vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and confusion. .
How Long Does Potatoes Last? (Tips to Store for Long Time)
Unfortunately, potatoes can quickly go bad when stored inappropriately, and you can notice these process’ signs, including moldy and rotten spots on the surface.They are not harmful when starting to grow, but you shouldn’t use potatoes once they are longer than 5 inches (12.7 cm).It is a sign that potatoes have been stored for too long in inadequate conditions, which affects their quality.In most cases, it will last differently depending on the potato variety, sell-by date, the way of storing, humidity in the region where you live, and preparation method.You can also keep them in the dark pantry and kitchen cabinet for about 2 to 5 weeks before losing their firmness.There are a few visible signs of potatoes aging that you need to recognize and learn what will change their taste.Green spots you can notice on the potatoes surface contain toxic solanine.You can remove smaller areas in most cases, but you shouldn’t eat tubers with larger green changes.Unlike mass-produced supermarket potatoes, those grown on farms are not treated with chemicals, so the process of sprouting is not slowed down.As long as tubers are still a bit firm, it will be enough to remove sprouts and eyes before preparing a meal.Whole, uncooked potatoes stored in a cool, dark place like a basement can last about two months.The ideal temperature for storing potatoes is approximately 45 to 50 F (7 to 10 C), so you should keep them in a cold basement or pantry if possible.– In such conditions, potatoes will last about a month, but you will notice an unusual sweet taste of these tubers when cooked.– When you need to store raw potatoes for a maximum of 24 hours, you should cut them, put pieces in cold water, and keep them in the fridge.The only things you need are to find a proven recipe, prepare glass canning jars, and buy a pressure canner.Place potatoes into small pint jars, add salt and water with lemon juice and finish the pressure canning process as required.It may contain harmful pathogens like salmonella, staphylococci, clostridium botulinum, and listeria.Sometimes, you can see a few red, bluish-gray, brown, or black spots on cooked potatoes as a sign that mold has started growing.For example, cooked potatoes can last for months stored this way if you seal it tightly in an airtight container before freezing.In fact, you will spot the occurrence of tubers browning and softening, followed by a higher sugar percent.Too low temperatures will negatively affect their quality and make this food almost inedible.In fact, you will spot the occurrence of tubers browning and softening, followed by a higher sugar percent.If you occasionally cut the sprouts and green spots on the potatoes surface and regularly check them for mold, you can enjoy this delicious food for months.Even though cool places are the best option for storing potatoes, you should avoid freezing raw tubers. .
When Potatoes Go Bad: How to Store Potatoes
Storing your potatoes correctly also stops them from shriveling and losing water.If your pantry is too hot, or if you store potatoes for a long time, they will grow sprouts and might rot.For best results, store your potatoes in these conditions: At a temperature of 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. .
Potatoes
But remember, potatoes, unlike a lot of other fresh vegetables, may have a sell by date if they are sold in a plastic bag.Because of this distinction, you may safely use potatoes to compliment your favorite meals even after the sell by date has lapsed.Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.Ideally, potatoes should be stored in a cellar, where they can remain for several months at a temperature of 45°F to 50°F.Keeping them at a higher temperature will cause them to shrink and sprout, especially if there is also low humidity.Keeping them at a lower temperature, like the fridge, will cause the potato starch to convert to sugar which makes a sweet taste but also causes them to darken very fast when frying.To further prevent sprouting, keep the potatoes in a brown paper bag along with a ripe apple which will emit ethylene gas and suppress the growth of potato cells and thus sprouts.Once prepared, potatoes should be stored in a tightly closed container to keep out moisture and other contaminants.In general, potatoes last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the dish. .
How to tell if potatoes are bad?
Maybe you are like me and have found some potatoes in the pantry that look like an alien- growing new roots, or even worse finding a mushy moldy lump.Well even though the mushy mold lump is one I wouldn’t question throwing out- what about the ones that have sprouted new roots?Raw potatoes should be blemish free, firm to the touch, and tight skin.If potatoes aren’t stored properly and have been exposed to light then they will often turn green due to the production of chlorophyll.Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, headache, dizziness, among other things.According to Science Direct “consumption of up to 5 g of green potato per kg of body weight per day does not appear to cause acute illness.” So, if you do eat some you will probably be ok.Red potatoes are bad if they are soft, mushy, smell moldy, and have shriveled or have long sprouts.They are higher in vitamin C and starch, both of which is slightly diminished when a potato is cooked.Raw potatoes will typically stay fresh for at room temperature for 1-2 weeks, or refrigerated for 2-3 months.In order to prevent moisture which leads to spoiled potatoes, it’s best to keep them in an open bowl, or bag, which will allow air flow.You will notice the bags potatoes come in when you buy 5-10 lbs are usually mesh or have holes in them.Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.5 from 1 vote Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 5 mins Total Time 5 mins Course Side Dish Cuisine American Servings 1 Ingredients 1x 2x 3x 1 potato Instructions Rinse potatoes under water making sure to scrub away any dirt.If the potato has long spouts, is soft, wrinkled, or has lots of dark spots get rid of it.Notes Good potatoes should be free of blemishes, firm, tight skin, and no sprouts, or green coloring. .
When Do Potatoes Go Bad? Here's What an Expert Says
According to food safety expert Jeff Nelken, potatoes can go bad after just one or two weeks if not stored properly.But the good news is that if you store them properly, you can extend their short little spud lives to four to six months."I recommend people put their potatoes in a bag to protect them from light before storing them in a dark, cool place," Nelken says.He also recommends storing them in a container with a lid so they aren't exposed to air, which can cause them to age faster.Nelken also points out that another bonus to buying canned or frozen potatoes is that they have a "best by" date, making it easier to know how long they will last.If your potatoes are already cooked, Nelken recommends storing them in a container with a lid in the fridge or freezer.In general, Nelken says knowing when potatoes go bad comes down to changes in appearance, texture, and smell—just like any other food. .
How long do potatoes last: Shelf life, Storage tips, more
Potatoes can pose health risks if a person consumes them after storing them incorrectly.Generally speaking, a raw potato can last from a few weeks up to several months, depending upon the temperature at which a person stores it.The table below provides a more detailed breakdown of the shelf life of potatoes, based on whether they are raw or not and the temperature at which someone stores them.It is unsafe to eat cooked potatoes when they are growing visible mold or have a foul smell.Food poisoning describes when someone becomes infected by foodborne viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi.As one study notes, potato sprouts contain high concentrations of solanine, a toxic chemical.Storage tips The key point to remember is that someone should store raw and cooked potatoes differently.The best way to store raw potatoes is to place them in a cool, dark, and relatively dry environment.It is worth noting that freezing some cooked potato products may reduce their quality.For example, the results of an older study from 2005 suggest that cooked mashed potatoes lose quality after freezing. .
Can Potatoes Go Bad?
Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables in the world, and at the same time, they raise dozens of questions.If you’re a young adult who just started to live on your own, you’re probably wondering how long do potatoes last and how should you store them.We also cover storage and shelf life, in case you’re looking for some tips and specifics on these topics.Potatoes don’t go bad when they sprout, but if you leave them growing for too long, it’s probably better to toss them out.Such tubers might be a bit difficult to peel, and they will definitely work better in mashed potatoes than fresh fries.And the truth is that the concentration of solanine in a potato is smallest in the tuber flesh ([WIKI]), so there’s really nothing to worry about.Just cut out the green skin and part of the potato and eat the rest ([ILL][SD]).In case you were wondering, the green tinge is a reaction to light exposure ([ILL]).So if you’ve bought potatoes that were perfectly normal, and they turned green while being stored, you need to up your potato-storage game (more on that later).The bacteria tend to spread fairly quickly, so it makes sense to give your potatoes a check every week and throw out the off ones.You should store potatoes in a cool and dark place, with good air circulation ([ILL]).But if you happen to have a basement that maintains a similar or slightly higher temperature, keep the potatoes there.Fridge temperature will convert starch into sugar, and it will result in off-tasting potatoes that turn brown during cooking ([ILL]).That means you’re basically left with storing the potatoes at room temperature, or maybe slightly below in a pantry.If you’re among the lucky ones who have access to a cold basement, your potatoes can sit there for up to 3 to 5 months, depending on the variety.If all you have available is a pantry or a dark cabinet in the kitchen, the potatoes should retain good quality for up to 2 weeks ([ILL][SD]).Some last longer, others a bit shorter, and if it’s hot and humid outside, potatoes won’t keep as long as in the winter. .
