Potato is a nutritious food that is widely enjoyed around the world . Its popularity can be partly attributed to its wide availability as a staple food.
Being a vegetable crop, potatoes are perishable and in order to extend their shelf lives and prevent wastage they need to be stored properly.
The following are different ways of storing potatoes.
- Keep them in a cool place
Storing potatoes in a cool place helps slow their rate of sprouting and maintains their vitamin C content. The favourable storage temperatures are between 43-500F (6-100C).
Very low temperatures can cause “cold-induced sweetening.” This happens when some of the starch is converted to reducing sugars .Cold sweetening is when an enzyme, called invertase, causes changes in potato sugars during cold storage. When the raw potatoes are sliced and then fried in oil, the sugars react with free amino acids in the potato cell. This results in potatoes that are brown to black in color. They should also not be frozen, as they will become mushy and brown after defrosting.
- Keep Them Away From Light
Sunlight can cause potato skin to produce chlorophyll and turn an undesirable green color, this exposure can produce large amount of toxic chemical called solanine which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when consumed in high quantities
A picture of potatoes affected by Solanine
Photo courtesy of : https://www.foodprocessing-technology.com/news/germany-reduces-allowable-glycoalkaloid-limits-potatoes/
- Don’t Store Raw Potatoes in the Fridge or Freezer
Very low temperatures can cause “cold-induced sweetening.” This happens when some of the starch is converted to reducing sugars .Cold sweetening is when an enzyme, called invertase, causes changes in potato sugars during cold storage. … When the raw potatoes are sliced and then fried in oil, the sugars react with free amino acids in the potato cell. This results in potatoes that are brown to black, not exactly a selling point.
- Keep potatoes in an Open Bowl or Ventilated Bag
Potatoes need airflow to prevent the accumulation of moisture, which can lead to spoilage. The best way to allow free circulation of air is to store them in an open bowl or aerated bag.
Potatoes kept in a well-ventilated netted bag.
Photo courtesy of https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/potato-net-bags-15383538155.html
Regardless of the storage method, potatoes will last longer if they are fresh and healthy when purchased, so look for firm, smooth, blemish-free tubers with no signs of sprouting.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-store-potatoes
