Natural Elements Potato Bag with Blackout Lining, Potato Storage Bag, Hessian, 24 x 24 cm, Brown

Product Information

This temperature range is slightly warmer than refrigeration and can be found in cool cellars, basements, garages or sheds.

Not sure how to use your well-preserved potatoes? Never fear! You can freeze potatoes, or cook them up whenever the mood takes you. You’ve never really got too many potatoes, only limitless options for your next meal. Need some inspiration for how to use your spuds? Here are our top seven ways to use up leftover potatoes. Potatoes must be kept in a cool dark place, otherwise the light will cause them to photosynthesize and – you guessed it – sprout. Plus, the temperature must be below 10°C. So, if you want your spuds to stay in tip-top condition, we recommend popping them in a paper bag and stashing them away in a dark place of your choosing: a porch cupboard or garden shed are all great options, and there’s always the fridge (if you’ve got the space). How to keep potatoes from sproutingWhen exposed to freezing temperatures, the water inside potatoes expands and forms crystals that break down the cell wall structures. This makes them mushy and unusable when defrosted ( 13). Solanine is almost exclusively located in the peel and first 1/8th inch (3.2 mm) of the flesh. Paring the skin and underlying green flesh can remove most of it ( 5). Summary

Research showed that potatoes stored in cool temperatures maintained up to 90% of their vitamin C content for four months, while those stored in warmer room temperatures lost almost 20% of their vitamin C after one month ( 3, 4). Zero Waste. These potato storage bags are made out of eco-friendly materials that are also durable. You can wear them without any fear of damaging your health because they have a zipper that goes all the way to the top. The zipper does not open directly on the bag but goes through the material and into the middle of the bag and then out of the bag again. This is because the enzymes that cause browning are still active in the potato, even under freezing temperatures ( 14). Very low temperatures can cause “cold-induced sweetening.” This happens when some of the starch is converted to reducing sugars ( 10). You can prevent discoloration by covering peeled and cut slices with an inch or two of water and refrigerating them until you’re ready to use them ( 1).In fact, one study found that storing potatoes in cool temperatures more than quadrupled their shelf life, compared to storing them at room temperature ( 3). Storing potatoes in these conditions can help delay the formation of sprouts on the skin, one of the first signs of spoilage. Solanine creates a bitter taste and causes a burning sensation in the mouths or throats of people who are sensitive to it ( 6). When stored between 43–50°F (6–10°C), raw potatoes will keep for many months without spoiling ( 3).

Instead, let’s assume that your potatoes have been gently harvested and cured, and now you need a place to put them that’s cool, dark, and safe from critters. After reading through the ideas below, you may find that you have more potato storage options than you think. Storing potatoes in a crate lined with straw Root Cellars and Basements Studies show that vibrantly colored varieties contain much larger amounts of antioxidants than traditional white potatoes ( 30). Summary Storing at temperatures slightly above refrigeration is a great way to extend shelf life and maintain vitamin C content. Summary The refrigerator is out, because temperatures below 40°F (4°C) trigger the conversion of starches to sugars in the stored spuds, which makes them darken when cooked. Even worse, what old timers called “sugared potatoes” form carcinogenic compounds when cooked at high temperatures. Let’s not go there.No sprouting: Sprouts are one of the first indicators of spoilage, so avoid purchasing any that have already sprouted.

Resistant starch also promotes gut health, since gut bacteria ferment it and produce short chain fatty acids, which help keep the lining of your large intestine healthy and strong ( 25, 26, 27). While cooked and cooled potatoes have some health benefits, they should be eaten within three or four days to avoid spoilage and food poisoning ( 28). Summary

How to Peel Potatoes

It’s important not to wash the potatoes, as this adds moisture that can encourage them to sprout. Instead, get rid of most of the dirt by brushing it off. A fresh potato smells like the ground it’s grown in, but a potato that’s gone bad will smell mouldy and musty. How to use leftover potatoes