Cooks are preparing stews, soups, and casseroles as summer winds down. Popular comfort cuisine including potatoes.
But how do you prevent these multipurpose crops from sprouting early? Organic Cottonmart storage expert Karen Lamar reveals a typical storage mistake: putting potatoes on the kitchen counter with other veggies.
"Onions and potatoes age better than most. Why not store them together? That may not work because onions release ethylene gas, which sprouts potatoes."
The Express reports that onions, garlic, and tomatoes generate ethylene, a plant hormone that helps ripen, making them poor companions for potatoes if you want to avoid early sprouting and damp-induced mildew.
Lamar recommends storing potatoes in a dark drawer or cabinet to keep them fresh. She advises against light: "Keep potatoes out of the sun. Too much light can green tubers by fooling them into generating chlorophyll."
With those tips, your favorite potatoes can outlast their shelf life and stay delicious when the cold hit. "Green potatoes are bitter and high in neurotoxic solanine. Such potatoes should be avoided."
"To avoid stock blooming and decaying, avoid high moisture areas. The answer? A dry, dark basement, cellar, pantry, or hidden cooking nook."
"To avoid stock blooming and decaying, avoid high moisture areas. The answer? A dry, dark basement, cellar, pantry, or hidden cooking nook."
Open paper bags, mesh sacks, or fabric totes protect potatoes from moisture, preventing moldy makeovers or premature sprouting. A well-cared-for potato can last two to three months longer, reducing food waste and saving money on groceries.