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 .
One of the next things we asked ourselves was should you keep potatoes in the fridge?
One source claimed Never store potatoes in the fridge. The too-cold temperature turns the potato starch into sugar. Check on your potatoes regularly and remove any that are soft, shriveled, or sprouted so they don’t cause more potatoes to go bad.
You CAN refrigerate potatoes if your home is too warm, like in the summer months. DO NOT refrigerate potatoes if you are planning to fry in oil. If you are boiling, steaming, baking, roasting potatoes, refrigeration is perfectly fine.
This is what our research found. “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.”.
Another query we ran across in our research was “Do potatoes need to be refrigerated after cooking?”.
Don’t Store Raw Potatoes in the Fridge or Freezer. While cool temperatures are ideal for potato storage, refrigeration and freezing are not. Very low temperatures can cause “cold-induced sweetening.” This happens when some of the starch is converted to reducing sugars (10).
Some sources claimed the cold makes the starch in potatoes turn into sugar more quickly, leaving you with a sweeter, tougher potato., and sad times. But more importantly, popping your potato into a fridge can be dangerous.
How do you store potatoes to extend their shelf life?
Knowing the best ways to store potatoes can extend their shelf life and reduce food waste . Store uncooked potatoes in a cool, dark place with plenty of air circulation — not in the refrigerator. Prevent cut and peeled slices from browning by covering them with water or vacuum sealing.
The next thing we wondered was: how long do vacuum packed potatoes last in the fridge?
The answer is that vacuum-packed potatoes will last up to one week in the refrigerator (21). Summary Raw potatoes turn brown or grey when exposed to air, so they should be cooked quickly or stored in water until ready to use. If keeping them longer than one day after prepping, remove from water, vacuum pack and store in the fridge.
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.
Can you freeze leftover cooked potatoes?
Leftover cooked potatoes can be stored in the freezer for up to one year. Store in airtight containers to preserve quality and defrost overnight in the refrigerator before using. Potatoes will last longest if they are fresh and healthy when purchased.
What happens to the starch in baked potatoes in the fridge?
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.”.