Store and keep potatoes correctly

Proper storage of potatoes can extend their famous shelf life. You can find out how to store potatoes correctly from us.

The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the most traditional vegetables in Germany and is grown in many gardens for self-sufficiency. A rich one Potato harvest naturally needs to be stored correctly so that you can continue to feed on it for a long time. We'll give you tips on how to store your freshly harvested potatoes.

Where should you store potatoes?

The starchy, tasty tubers can often be kept for months if stored correctly. In addition to the typical wooden boxes, air-permeable jute sacks or wicker baskets are also suitable for storing potatoes. The most important parameters for the successful storage of potatoes are temperature, light exposure and humidity.

Cool temperatures

Potatoes keep the longest in dark and cool places around 5 to 8 ° C. The metabolism inside the potato is greatly slowed down in this temperature range, so that the ingredients such as starch hardly change and the tuber remains edible for a long time. Ideally, potatoes should be stored in the cellar. But you can also store potatoes in the refrigerator if you don't have a cellar. However, you should not store potatoes outside, because the temperatures are too low in the cold months and can quickly lead to frost and cold damage. If the temperature rises again, the tissue becomes mushy and pathogens have an easy time of it. Good alternatives to the basement are a frost-free winter garden, a garage or the garden shed.

Darkened room

You should store your potatoes in the dark and definitely protect them from light. If the potatoes are stored too lightly, they turn green and form the poisonous alkaloid solanine as protection against eating, which can lead to stomach problems, headaches or vomiting. In addition, germination is promoted when exposed to light, but this is only done immediately before Planting the potatoes next spring is desired. Darkening can also be done by storing your potatoes in damp sand.

Store in a dry place

Although the potato itself consists largely of water, its skin should be completely dry when it is stored, because Potato diseases otherwise can spread quickly in the camp.

Note humidity

In contrast to the direct humidity of the tuber, the air humidity must be viewed differently. The optimal humidity for the potato is around 90% to prevent the tubers from losing water and wrinkling quickly. When storing in sand, care should be taken to ensure that the sand is well moist in order to minimize water loss.

Store apples and potatoes together?

Some fruits and vegetables - like apple (Malus x domestica) or tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) - secrete the gaseous plant hormone ethylene. This accelerates the ripening, but also the aging of sensitive vegetables and can therefore lead to premature spoilage of the tubers. You should therefore store apples separately from potatoes.

Tips for storing potatoes

If you want to store potatoes for as long as possible, it is advisable not to wash them before storing them. The tubers should generally lie loosely, not squashed and regularly checked for rot and other storage diseases. If any of the bulbs has a rotten or moldy patch, remove it from the others to avoid spreading.

How long can you store potatoes?

The shelf life of potatoes in storage depends not only on the storage conditions but also on the variety and harvesting method. Tubers damaged during harvest should be cooked and consumed within a few days. Above all New potatoes Due to their thin shell, they often cannot be stored for a long time, which is why they are better stored in the refrigerator for shorter periods of time. Late potatoes however, they form a thicker shell, which is why they can be stored for months.

Boil down the potatoes and preserve them

The unprocessed potato can be stored very well and for a long time. Alternatively, you can boil down potatoes. In addition to preserving in the form of potato salad, whole potatoes can also be pre-cooked and canned. Preserved potatoes are ready to eat and can be served as a quick side dish with quark or something similar. We explain step by step how to proceed with potatoes:

Boiling potatoes: instructions

1. Peel potatoes; possibly cut into cubes or mince as desired.
2. 15-20 min. boil in salted water.
3. Put on a separate pot with the “preserving stock”; to do this, simply add salt to the water and this over at least 10 minutes. bring to the boil at 100 ° C.
4. Pour off the potatoes and divide them into mason jars or mason jars; Leave about 2 cm free from the upper edge of the glass.
5. Pour the sauce over the potatoes until they are completely covered; here, too, maintain a distance of approximately 2 cm from the upper edge of the glass; then close the jars.
6. Boil the preserving jars in a boiling water bath (100 ° C) for about 90 minutes.
7. Let the glasses cool down.

Did you know that you don't necessarily have to plant potatoes in the bed? How one Grow potatoes in the pot can learn from this article.