Potatoes
Quick answer: Raw, whole potatoes last 2-5 weeks in a cool, dark pantry (or about 1-2 weeks at warm room temperature). Cooked potatoes keep 3-4 days in the fridge and up to 12 months in the freezer.
A bag of potatoes feels like it should last forever, until you find a soft, sprouted mess at the back of the cabinet two weeks later. The good news: stored right, raw potatoes can hang around for up to five weeks without drama. The bad news: most kitchens are too warm and too bright for that. Here's exactly what to do.
Pantry
Refrigerator
Freezer
How to store potatoes
Keep raw potatoes in a cool, dark, dry spot with good airflow, a paper bag, mesh bag, wire basket, or cardboard box all work. The sweet spot is around 45-50°F. Keep them unwashed, out of the light, and away from onions, apples, and bananas, which can speed up sprouting. Cooked potatoes go straight into an airtight container in the fridge.
How to spot spoilage
Toss them if you see green skin, extensive sprouts (especially on a soft potato), mold, wet spots, or a rotten smell. A potato that's gone soft, squishy, or shriveled is past its prime. For cooked potatoes, a sour smell or any sliminess means it's done.
How to revive them
If a raw potato is only slightly shriveled but still firm all the way through, it's fine to use, just cook it soon and move it somewhere cooler and darker to slow further shrinkage. Truly soft, smelly, or moldy potatoes can't be saved.
Use it up before it spoils
- Roast a whole tray of wedges and freeze them in portions for quick weeknight sides.
- Make a big batch of mashed potatoes and freeze in individual scoops, they reheat surprisingly well.
- Cube and simmer into a loaded potato soup with whatever cheese and bacon bits you have on hand.
- Slice thin and layer into a skillet frittata with eggs and leftover vegetables.
- Boil and toss warm into a simple potato salad so nothing goes to waste before the week ends.
Recipes to try
Classic Potato Salad
allrecipes.com
A reliable crowd-pleaser that uses up a good pile of potatoes before they start going soft.
Crispy Oven Roasted Potatoes
food.com
High heat, minimal effort, great for potatoes that need to get used up tonight.
Mashed Potatoes
simplyrecipes.com
The move when you have a lot of potatoes and not a lot of time, make a big batch and freeze the rest.
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Best ways to preserve
- freeze
- can
- dehydrate
- pickle
Nutrition at a glance
Per 141.7 g (1 medium potato (about 5 oz))
| Calories | 109 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2.9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 24.8 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 1.2 g |
| Fat | 0.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 9 mg |
Source: USDA FoodData Central. Potatoes, flesh and skin, raw (SR Legacy)
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Frequently asked questions
Can you freeze raw potatoes?
Raw potatoes don't freeze well, the high water content turns them grainy and mushy when thawed. Freeze cooked potatoes instead: mashed, roasted, or blanched wedges all hold up for up to 12 months.
Do potatoes need to be refrigerated?
Raw potatoes are actually better off out of the fridge, cold temperatures can affect their texture and flavor. Store them in a cool, dark, well-ventilated spot instead. Cooked potatoes do need the fridge and should be eaten within 3-4 days.
How long do potatoes last after cutting?
Cut raw potatoes oxidize quickly and should be cooked right away or submerged in cold water and refrigerated for no more than a day. Cooked cut potatoes keep 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
How can you tell if potatoes have gone bad?
Look for green skin, extensive soft sprouts, mold, wet spots, or a rotten smell, any of those and it's time to toss. A slightly shriveled but still-firm potato is borderline; use it soon in a cooked dish.
Is it safe to eat potatoes that have sprouted?
Small sprouts on an otherwise firm, non-green potato can be cut off and the potato used. Extensive sprouting, especially on a soft or shriveled potato, is a sign it's past its prime and should be discarded.