Potatoes last days longer when you store them in ‘cool’ spot - not the fridge

Potatoes are a cornerstone of many meals, and plenty can be done to them. Mashed, roasted, fried, boiled - you name it, it can probably be done to a potato.

But there’s a more effective way to store them that you’re likely not taking advantage of, and it can make them last much longer.

Food storage expert @creative_explained shared that there are many ways to “save money and reduce waste”, as nobody wants to be needlessly binning food items they spent good money on.

“Never put potatoes in the fridge”, he warned all the people who are in that habit. But why not? Well, he shared that “it’ll turn their starch into sugars”.

According to WebMD, “This can make your potatoes turn sweeter and darker during cooking”, which isn’t ideal. Instead, you need to “place them somewhere cool and dry and in a very dark spot”.

He demonstrated putting them into a bowl and then popping a tea towel over the top of them to keep them as cool as possible. A cupboard would be a good place to put them, as long as they’re not near other fruits and vegetables.

He also shared some other invaluable storage tips, including putting onions, garlic, and shallots “outside of the fridge in a dry and cool area”.

“Lettuce - wrap them in foil and stick them in the fridge”, he recommended, saying that “they’ll be fresh for 30 days”.

He also said that cucumbers will “get mushy in like three days” if put in the fridge, so as an alternative, you should “put them in a plastic bag, poke some holes, and place them in a cool spot in the kitchen”.

Ginger and lemons “do best in the fridge”, and tomatoes should be kept “on the kitchen counter”.

And when it comes to herbs, you want to “wet a paper towel” then roll them up in it.

Then, “place it in a zip lock bag and then in the fridge”.