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Tips to Keep Potatoes Fresh and Prevent Sprouting

Potatoes are a kitchen essential — versatile, affordable, and delicious. But if you’ve ever reached into your pantry only to find your potatoes sprouting eyes or going soft, you know how frustrating it can be.

Fortunately, with a few smart storage tips, you can keep your potatoes fresh longer and prevent them from sprouting prematurely. Here’s how to make your spuds last!

🥔 Why Do Potatoes Sprout?

Potatoes naturally begin to sprout when exposed to light, moisture, or warm temperatures. The “eyes” develop into sprouts as part of the plant’s natural growth cycle, especially if stored for too long or in improper conditions.

Sprouting not only affects texture and taste — it also reduces the potato’s nutritional value and shelf life.

✅ Top Tips to Keep Potatoes Fresh and Sprout-Free

1. Store in a Cool, Dark Place

Keep potatoes in a cool (but not cold), dark, and well-ventilated space. Ideal temperature: 45–55°F (7–13°C).

A pantry, basement, or cupboard away from appliances works well.
Avoid the refrigerator — it’s too cold and turns the starches into sugar, affecting flavor.

2. Use a Breathable Container

Skip the plastic bags! Instead, store potatoes in:

A paper bag
A mesh or burlap sack
A basket or cardboard box

These allow air circulation and reduce moisture buildup, which helps prevent rot and sprouting.

3. Keep Away From Onions

Storing potatoes and onions together is a big no-no. Onions release gases that speed up potato sprouting and spoilage.

Tip: Store them in separate cabinets or containers for maximum freshness.

4. Add an Apple

Here’s a clever trick: Place an apple in with your potatoes. Apples release a small amount of ethylene gas that slows down sprouting (the opposite of what they do with some fruits!).

Just don’t go overboard — one apple per sack is enough.

5. Check Them Regularly

Inspect your potato stash once a week:

Remove sprouting or soft potatoes immediately so they don’t affect the rest.
Use slightly sprouted potatoes first (cut out the sprouts before cooking).

6. Keep Them Dry

Moisture speeds up decay and promotes mold growth. If your potatoes come home wet or sweaty (especially from plastic packaging), dry them off thoroughly before storing.

7. Don’t Wash Before Storing

Washing removes the potato’s natural protective layer. Only wash them right before you plan to cook them.