How long can potatoes be stored in the refrigerator?

Many people stock up on potatoes for future use, and then the question arises about their safety. Can potatoes be stored in the refrigerator? Typically, it is placed in a dark, damp and cool place, such as a basement. At first glance, similar conditions exist in the refrigerator compartment. Yes, but only in the vegetable compartment. Here the potatoes will really feel good and will last quite a long time. But on the shelves the temperature is too low for it, it will soon begin to freeze, get wet and deteriorate. At low temperatures, potato starch breaks down and turns into simple sugars, which are not very healthy.

Under what conditions should potatoes be stored?

Recommendations for storing potatoes are specified in GOST 28372-93 “Fresh food potatoes. Storage Guide."

According to the document, the optimal conditions for storing potatoes are as follows:

• Tubers can be stored in boxes, bags, on pallets or in bulk.
• Potatoes breathe, releasing heat and carbon dioxide. Therefore, ventilation should be provided.
• Vegetables must be placed in a dark place where light does not penetrate.
• The recommended temperature for storing potatoes is 3–6 °C.
• Humidity level – 85–95%.

Are potatoes stored in the refrigerator? And no, and yes. First of all, you need a lot of space to store it. There is too little space in household refrigerators, and the appropriate temperature is maintained only in the vegetable compartment.In addition, there is no necessary ventilation inside the chamber. But in large rooms equipped with industrial refrigeration equipment, potatoes are stored perfectly. The warehouses provide the necessary air circulation, ventilation works, and the refrigerator allows you to maintain a stable temperature.

At home, the refrigerator is not the best place to store potatoes.

Storing potatoes in the refrigerator - pros

First of all, storing potatoes in the refrigerator is dictated by convenience. To prepare soup or mashed potatoes, you don’t need to go down to the cellar or basement every time.

Advantages of using a refrigerator:

• The temperature in the refrigerator is stable. There are no temperature changes like in rooms (especially in the kitchen).
• The inside of the chamber is dark and humid - this is exactly what the tubers need.
• When stored in the refrigerator, vegetables are always at hand.
• Here the potatoes will not wither or dry out in the hot summer, nor will they sprout in late winter.

It is best to store potatoes in a cellar or basement in wooden boxes with holes.

Facts against

Potatoes are a valuable crop. It supplies the body with nutrients and contains many vitamins and minerals. But when stored in the refrigerator, there is a high risk of loss of nutritional properties. This is why it is not recommended to store potatoes in it:

• The temperature in household refrigerators ranges from 0 to +6 degrees. At the same time, it is colder on the shelves than at the door or in the vegetable drawers. The starch contained in tubers breaks down into simple sugars already at 1 °C, which are harmful to human health. Potatoes with a high sugar content can be easily recognized by their sweet taste and crispness when cooked.
• There is no necessary air movement in the refrigerator.Accordingly, the tubers do not breathe, get wet and rot. The exception is equipment with a dynamic cooling system or Frost Free.
• Potatoes are too dirty for the refrigerator. The soil falls off it, so you need to use bags. But when stored in polyethylene, it, again, does not breathe and rots.
• A household refrigerator cannot hold a lot of potatoes. It will not be possible to store crops harvested for the winter in it. A maximum of 10–12 kg will fit into the vegetable compartment.

Carefully! If the tubers are wrinkled or blackened, they should not be eaten. Throw them away without regret. You should also get rid of any green potatoes. This color is given to it by the substance solanine, which can cause poisoning.

Rules for storing potatoes in the refrigerator

To prevent potatoes from spoiling ahead of time, you need to know some subtleties.

Storage rules:

• Store potatoes in the vegetable drawer. If your refrigerator model allows you to adjust the temperature, set it to 3–6 °C.
• Potatoes do not tolerate proximity to other vegetables, with the exception of beets. Do not put anything else in the compartment (carrots, onions, cabbage, etc.). You can add a green apple or a sprig of mint. They say that this way the potatoes don't spoil longer.
• Usually the tubers are quite dirty, so they are placed in a bag in the refrigerator. But a plastic bag won't do. The potatoes will suffocate in it and begin to rot. A paper bag should be used.
• Potatoes should only be stored dry. If you decide to wash it, be sure to dry it naturally.

If there is no suitable place to store vegetables, the right thing to do is to buy them as needed with a small supply.

Storage duration

The shelf life of fresh potatoes depends not only on the location and conditions, but also on the variety and proper preparation. Freshly dug potatoes must be kept warm for 10–14 days so that all damage is healed and they dry out. Next, rotting tubers are selected and the crop is placed in storage.

How long can potatoes be stored in the refrigerator if all conditions are met?

• Young, dug up in June - 3 weeks.
• Early, reaching maturity - 4–5 months.
• Middle and late – 5–7 months.

Special refrigeration chambers are produced for storing vegetables and fruits. You can find them in hardware stores. The price of such equipment is quite high - 50,000 rubles and more.

Storing peeled potatoes

Peeled potatoes, which are sold in vacuum in supermarkets, are treated with sodium salts of sulfurous acid for better preservation. Without compromising the integrity of the packaging, it can remain in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. If the packaging is opened, the product should be consumed within 2-3 days.

For potatoes that have been peeled at home, they can be stored in the refrigerator for about 24 hours. In this case, be sure to immerse the tubers in water. Don't cut them in advance; whole potatoes keep better and longer.

If after 24 hours the peeled potatoes have not been used, cut them into wedges and freeze. Subsequently, you can prepare any dishes from it. The workpiece is not defrosted, but immediately thrown into boiling water or into a frying pan.

Boiled potatoes

There are many potato dishes in Russian national cuisine: okroshka, pancakes, potato balls and others. Often they boil a lot of it at once, with a reserve.If there are any boiled potatoes left, you can store them in the cold for up to 2 days in a container with a tightly closed lid. Jacket potatoes are stored a little longer - 3 days, provided that the temperature on the shelf is about 3-4 °C.

So, you can store potatoes in the refrigerator. But you need to follow the storage rules. Place the vegetables in the lower compartment, after wrapping them in paper. Please note that small batches of potatoes will fit in there. It is best to use the refrigerator as temporary storage. You can take the potatoes out of the basement and place them in the refrigerator for 1 month in batches of 5-10 kg. This way it will always be at hand and will not deteriorate due to temperature changes in the room.