Potatoes will not be rotten or mushy for 4 weeks if stored in 1 unexpected kitchen area

Potatoes will stay fresh a lot longer when stored in the right place in the kitchen (Image: Getty)

No matter if you enjoy them boiled, mashed or roasted to perfection, potatoes are one the most versatile vegetables to have in your kitchen as long as they are stored properly. 

Potatoes should have a long shelf life but many people make the mistake of storing them in the wrong place, which can cause them to rot, sprout and even turn green. 

Liana Green, a cook and founder of Liana’s Kitchen, said you should always avoid keeping potatoes in the fridge or on the kitchen counter.

She said: “Cold temperatures cause the potato starch to convert into sugar inside, making them too starchy and mealy.”

Liana added: “Exposure to light causes them to turn green, making them bitter and quite toxic, so make sure those taters are kept in complete darkness."

Keep potatoes stored at room temperture and away from light (Image: Getty)

When potatoes are exposed to light they will begin developing solanine, a toxic compound that can make them turn green, taste bitter and cause digestive problems if large quantities are eaten. 

Storing potatoes in the fridge will make them have a gritty unpleasant texture but will also expose them to condensation, which can cause them to rot or go moudly. 

Potatoes are best stored somewhere dark in the kitchen at room temperature, such as inside a cupboard, drawer or pantry. 

Once you have found the perfect place to store potatoes it is important to ensure they keep dry and no moisture or humidity can touch your potatoes. 

Pack potatoes in a container with an open lid of breathable material as you need to allow air to circulate around them, as this will keep your spuds dry to avoid them spoiling before their time. 

Liana said: “A paper bag, hessian (burlap) sack, wooden crate, cardboard box and a bushel or wicker basket are ideal because they provide good ventilation. 

Potatoes are best stored far away from onions (Image: Getty)

“If you bought your potatoes from the store, never keep them in the original plastic bag that they came in. Spuds should never be kept in plastic containers, especially sealed ones that trap humidity inside.”

Potatoes also need to be stored far away from where you store your fruit and also away from onions, as both release a lot of ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone which causes things to ripen. 

When too much ethylene is released in an area it will cause all produce to begin spoiling before its time, and potatoes are more likely to rot as they are sensitive to this natural gas. 

Liana said: “Protecting your potatoes from unnecessary exposure to this gas would keep them fresher [for] longer.”