Here's how to store potatoes so they don't rot quickly

Potatoes are a good source of carbohydrates to supply energy to the body. Potatoes are often used as a side dish because they are easy to process into various dishes. To produce a good potato preparation, you should pay attention not only to the cooking process, but also to its storage. So, what is the right way to store potatoes to maintain their shelf life?

Store in dry place away from sunshine

Potatoes should be stored in a place that is not too cold, cool but dry, and has good air circulation. So, avoid storing potatoes in the refrigerator. Instead you can put potatoes in a special container in the kitchen.

The aim is to keep the natural taste of the potato from changing easily, as well as to delay the formation of sprouts on the potato skin as an early sign of spoilage. Storing potatoes at lower temperatures also helps maintain the vitamin C content in them.

In addition, another way to store potatoes that you should pay attention to is to keep potatoes away from sun exposure. A study published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, states that exposure to direct sunlight can produce a toxic chemical called solanine.

Apart from causing a bitter taste when eaten, solanine is classified as poisonous when consumed in large quantities.

Do not put it in a tightly closed container

As much as possible, avoid putting potato storage areas together with other fruits or vegetables, such as bananas, apples, onions, and tomatoes.

The reason is, these ripe fruits and vegetables will produce ethylene gas to help soften and increase the sugar levels in these food products. If stored in the same container, ripe fruits and vegetables can speed up the spoilage process of the potatoes.

On the other hand, you can store the potatoes in a paper bag or open container to ensure that the potatoes are well air-conditioned to prevent them from spoiling more quickly.

So, do not store potatoes in closed containers, such as plastic bags or food storage containers with tight lids. This condition can inhibit air circulation, which in turn triggers the growth of mold and bacteria on the potatoes.

The way to store peeled potatoes is not the same as fresh ones

You shouldn't wash fresh potatoes that are still covered with skin. Washing potatoes and their skins can actually create damp conditions that encourage mold and bacteria to grow.

Even if they look dirty and full of soil, let the potatoes stay in that condition until they are ready to be processed and cleaned.

Well, the rules are different for storing potatoes that have been peeled and cleaned of their skins. In this condition, it is usually easier for potatoes to blacken when exposed to free air.

This is triggered by the polyphenol oxidase content in the potato which reacts with oxygen, which can turn the potato flesh into brown or grayish color. To prevent this, you can soak the potatoes in a basin filled with water.

It's important to remember that this technique only works for potatoes that are going to be cooking on the same day. Because if left in the water for more than 24 hours, the potatoes will absorb large amounts of water so that it changes its natural taste.