By Yvonne

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 07:51

I wonder if anyone has any advice on the best way to store potatoes, as mine always seem to start going 'soft' after a week. I have them delivered as part of a local veg box scheme and they are washed or wrapped.

Replies

By gerry

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 07:58

Keep best unwashed, in the dark and in a paper or cloth sack.

By *Bramble

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 08:15

Putting them in the fridge makes them go soft and wrinkly, room temperature preferred, and keep them dark as Gerry says, but not in plastic.

By Yvonne

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 08:23

Thank you for your suggestions, at the moment I have been putting them in a brown paper bag and placed in built in basket in my kitchen unit which I thought was quite dark. I will try to them in a cloth sack and in a cupboard.

Just noticed in my original posting that I have missed out a key word. When I receive the potatoes they AREN'T washed or wrapped.

By jeni_hope

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 08:31

Hi Yvone, I find that my veg.box potatoes start to sprout pretty quickly. It's because they haven't been treated to stop them sprouting like supermarket ones have, I keep them in the brown paper bag in the kitchen cupboard, but a cooler place like a garage would be better. I don't find they go soft within a week though, maybe it depends on the variety. In the winter I keep them in the unheated spare room as it's cooler than the kitchen - still in the brown paper bag.

By gerry

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 08:35

Yvonne. good that they're unwashed. jeni_hope's right about reasons for sprouting, but you can still eat them OK.

By Red Hot

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 08:55

I have just resently bought one of these preserving bags from Lakeland, see link;
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!11972_11969
They are ment to prevent sprouting and mine seem to be doing a good job so far, and they are on 3 for 2 at the moment!
RH. XX

By squeaky

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 09:17

Chillie sent me a potato bag and it works beautifully. Will keep spuds fresh for weeks. I wonder what people did in the 'olde days'?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

By Merrie

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 09:43

I have a potato bag from Lakeland and it is good. keep it under the stairs where it is dark as well. Before that used a paper sack under the stairs. In the 'olde days' Squeaks people didn't buy so many potatoes all at once. I remember my mum shopping every other day for fresh veg. Many people had alotments too so dug them up fresh every day ... how yummy that must have been.
M x

By nenna

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 09:44

Only yesterday I was thinking of asking about the Lakeland potato bags and now the subject has been raised by someone else! What a coincidence! I find my potatoes sprout very quickly and I buy mine from the supermarket. I shall try the Lakeland bag idea and report back on how I find them.
In the "old days" houses weren't heated as they are now so I think veg. such as potatoes lasted longer, my mum used to buy them in the sack and keep them in the shed,old ones anyway. But people used to shop day by day , not once a week as they do now. Only the well-off had fridges, I was about 17 before my mum had a fridge.

By Yvonne

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 09:59

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I will try putting them in a bag and see how they go. My kitchen is very cool thanks to being too small for a radiator and having a stable door!! Looks like the sales at Lakeland are going to increase very soon.

By Francisca

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 10:17

I have always kept potatoes in whatever bag I buy them in and have never had a problem... they keep for weeks. I keep them in the cellar where it is dark and cool, maybe that is the reason but in another house I had them under the sink and never had a problem either. Washing might be the problem!

By gilldoteee

Re: Storing Potatoes
16 May 2008 19:10

it is said that keeping an apple in with the potatoes stops them sprouting.

By nanny ogg

Re: Storing Potatoes
17 May 2008 16:33

I asked my local green grocers for a couple of empty paper sacks, the ones their pots are in before they put them out on display, and they keep for ages, along with carrots etc.
xxxx

By wens1

Re: Storing Potatoes
18 May 2008 14:36

Hallo there. I found a wonderful potato bag in the betterware catalogue,which works well.It has a blackout lining and keeps the contents fresher, for longer and costs £5.99 (Code no 34554)