While we already established that the fridge is not the best place to store potatoes, sometimes you have no other option. Lack of pantry space, hot, or humid conditions are all reasons you might want to store your potatoes in the refrigerator.
So, do potatoes need to be refrigerated?
This is what we ran into. Raw potatoes that have been cut should be stored in a bowl of cold water and refrigerated. They’ll be good for the next 24 hours. And finally, cooked potatoes will last three to four days in the fridge, as is the case with all leftovers.
An answer is that according to the New Scientist, we shouldn’t be storing raw potatoes in the fridge because it can lead to the formation of acrylamide during cooking. At low temperatures, an enzyme breaks down the sugar sucrose into glucose and fructose, which can form acrylamide during cooking.
“When these are stored in the fridge, the starch in the potato is converted to sugar. When baked or fried, these sugars combine with the amino acid asparagine and produce the chemical acrylamide, which is thought to be harmful.” Raw potatoes should be stored in a cool, dry place – just not in the refrigerator .
Another common inquiry is “Does refrigerating potatoes make them sweeter?”.
Refrigerating potatoes will cause some of the starch to turn into sugar, resulting in a sweeter potato . However, refrigerating potatoes causes them to darken if fried in oil (french fries, potato chips).
Baking refrigerated potatoes could produce the chemical . Raw potatoes should be stored in a cool, dry place – just not in the refrigerator. This is a chemical used in industrial processes such as the production of paper, dyes and plastics.
What is the best way to store potatoes in the winter?
DO keep potatoes in plastic bag perforated with lots of little holes (the bag potatoes come in). Bag keeps humidity. Holes allow air circulation. DO keep potatoes in DARK place. Drape bag with kitchen towel to block light. DO NOT store potatoes where it could get warm , like under the sink, next to a big appliance.
While cooked potatoes do well in the freezer, raw potatoes do not, so it’s best to cook them before freezing. When stored in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, cooked potatoes will last 10 to 12 months in the freezer . Refer to our guide on how to freeze and reheat mashed potatoes for more tips.
One way to consider this is DO keep potatoes in DARK place . Drape bag with kitchen towel to block light DO NOT store potatoes where it could get warm, like under the sink, next to a big appliance. DO NOT wash potatoes until you are ready to cook them. What if my home is too warm?
How long do potatoes last?
When stored in a cool, dark place, whole, uncooked potatoes can last up to two months . But at room temperature they can go bad in as little as two weeks. So unless you have a cool basement, don’t count on keeping spuds for months. If you have to refrigerate your potatoes, they will last for three to four weeks .
An answer is that don’t overcook fried, baked, or roasted foods . Cook to a golden yellow color, not golden brown. Do not store potatoes in the fridge. Keep them in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated space. Soak potatoes that have been refrigerated in water for 30 minutes. Some of the sugars will leach out into the water.
What foods should not be kept in the fridge?
“The most important food not to keep in the fridge are potatoes … ” the Foods Standards Agency, says. “When these are stored in the fridge, the starch in the potato is converted to sugar. When baked or fried, these sugars combine with the amino acid asparagine and produce the chemical acrylamide, which is thought to be harmful.”.