Storage conditions for potatoes
It has to be cool, dark, dry and airy: then potatoes keep 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 shrivel, at lower temperatures they change their taste negatively. Potatoes grow in the dark and should also be stored in the dark; otherwise they turn green and form the poisonous solanine. To avoid mold, both the storage room and the storage container should be well ventilated. In an air-permeable Burlap sack(€ 14.29 at Amazon *) or a wooden box, potatoes are in good hands.
also read
- Storing potatoes: This is how the tubers last all winter
- Pickling potatoes - recipe and instructions
- Potatoes - when is harvest time?
Cons of storing potatoes in the refrigerator
In the refrigerator, only one of the important storage conditions for potatoes is met: 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 the vegetable drawer is too moist for them. 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 starch into sugar, which makes them taste very unpleasant.
Alternatives to storage in the refrigerator
- Cellar compartment / cellar zone: The optimal temperature for storing potatoes is in a so-called cellar compartment or the cellar zone of the refrigerator, which has some high-quality products. Unfortunately, adequate air circulation is not guaranteed there, which is why you should make sure that you only keep well-dried potatoes in it. Check regularly for mold growth.
- Balcony: In a wooden box insulated with straw, you can store potatoes on the balcony or terrace all year round. The straw compensates for temperature fluctuations and prevents frost from penetrating in winter.
- Larder: Potatoes don't last for months in an unheated pantry, but they can 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.
The garden journal freshness-ABC
How can fruit & vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh as long as possible?
The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:
- as free PDF file to print out on your own
