If a cool storage cellar is not available, many choose the refrigerator as a place to store potatoes. Is that a good idea, or are there viable alternatives available? What storage conditions do potatoes need for optimal shelf life?

Potatoes are better not kept in the refrigerator

Storage conditions for potatoes

It has to be cool, dark, dry and airy: Then the potatoes retain their good taste and can be kept for months.
In this case, cool means that temperatures between 4 °C and 10 °C are optimal for potatoes. At higher temperatures, they germinate and wither, at lower temperatures, they change their taste negatively. Potatoes grow in the dark and they should also be stored in the dark; otherwise they turn green and form the toxic solanine. To avoid mold, both the storage room and the storage container should be well ventilated. Potatoes are in good hands in an air-permeable jute sack (€10.99) or a wooden box.

Disadvantages of storing potatoes in the refrigerator

Only one of the important storage conditions for potatoes is fulfilled in the refrigerator: they are kept in the dark, but at very low temperatures and without adequate ventilation. So it can easily happen that the potatoes grow mold because it is too damp for them in the crisper. In addition, the temperature in most refrigerators cannot be regulated sufficiently to ensure a constant temperature above 4 °C. At temperatures below this, the tubers convert their starches into sugars, making them taste very unpleasant.

Alternatives to storage in the refrigerator

  • Cellar/cellar zone: An optimal temperature for storing potatoes is in a so-called cellor or the cellar zone of the refrigerator, which some high-quality products have. Unfortunately, sufficient air circulation is not guaranteed there, which is why you should take special care that you only store well-dried potatoes in it. Check regularly for mold growth.
  • Balcony: You can store potatoes on the balcony or terrace all year round in a wooden box insulated with straw. The straw evens out temperature fluctuations and prevents the penetration of frost in winter.
  • Pantry: Potatoes don't last for months in an unheated pantry, but they do last for weeks. Good ventilation can be guaranteed there, but the storage temperatures are too high for potatoes. To inhibit germination and protect the potatoes from light, cover them with a burlap sack or paper.

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