Potatoes They seem to be a durable vegetable, but their freshness depends largely on the conditions in which they are stored. In a place that is too warm, they start to sprout quickly, and in a humid place, they rot. When exposed to light, they turn green and after some time are unsuitable for consumption. That’s why it’s worth knowing how to take care of them, especially in autumn and winter, when we stock up more. How to store potatoes so that they stay hard for a long time and do not sprout? Learn the methods our grandparents used.
Potatoes germinate when the conditions are favorable, i.e. heat, light and moisture. The longer they are exposed to external factors, the faster they sprout and lose their hardness and nutritional value. It is worth bearing in mind that in this form they contain a higher concentration of solanine – a natural chemical compound that is harmless in small amounts, but can be toxic in excess.
Can you eat sprouted potatoes? You should be aware that solanine accumulates mainly in the sprouts and green parts of the tuber, so you should not eat potatoes with long sprouts or significant discoloration, as they may cause nausea, abdominal pain and other symptoms of poisoning. However, if the sprouts are short and the potato looks healthy, you can still save it – just cut off the affected areas and peel the skin coarsely. If you are not sure whether a vegetable is safe to eat, it is safer to throw it into the trash.
What to do when the potato is green? First of all, it is worth emphasizing that green changes indicate that the vegetable has been exposed to light for too long, which led to the production of chlorophyll – the natural pigment of plants. Although chlorophyll itself is harmless, its presence indicates that solanine may have accumulated in the potato.
If the green part of the potato is small, you can cut it roughly and use the rest of the tuber for cooking or baking. However, remember not to leave any green fragments after peeling. Potatoes that are very green over a large area are better to be thrown away because even after heat treatment, solanine does not decompose and can still be harmful.
To avoid this situation, store potatoes in a dark, cool place, away from light sources, for example in a pantry, basement or garage. Thanks to this, the tubers will retain their natural color, taste and nutritional value for a long time.
How to store potatoes to keep them hard for a long time? It is best to keep them in a cool, dark and airy place, where the temperature is between four and ten degrees Celsius. Too high a temperature causes the potatoes to sprout, while too low a temperature causes them to become unpleasant in taste. This is why it is not recommended to keep them in the refrigerator or near the heater.
Our grandparents often stored potatoes in basements or cool pantries, sometimes covering them with sand. This method protected the tubers against moisture and light. If you don’t have a basement, you can keep your potatoes in a perforated box, wicker basket or paper bag that allows air to circulate freely.
It is also worth remembering not to store potatoes together with onions, because they release substances that cause them to spoil. A good home trick is to put an apple in the container because the ethylene they produce slows down the germination of the tubers. Potatoes should be dry and undamaged, as moisture and damage promote rotting.
Sources: Smaker.pl
