Taking to the Yummy Stuff Facebook page, Ann Russell asked group members for advice on how to store potatoes as she struggles with them “sprouting after a few days.”
A clever trick many members suggested to extend the shelf life of potatoes was to store them with apples.
Jason Richards wrote: “Potatoes should be taken out of the plastic bag they came in and stored in a dry, dark place. Put an apple in with the potatoes as it produces ethylene gas, which flows down the potatoes from sprouting.
“You just have to keep your eye on it, or the apple may start to rot and cause your potatoes to start rotting.”
Tom Presher commented: “Put an apple in the potato bin. Why it works, I can’t tell you, but it does.”
Hilda Avedissian said, “Put an apple in with them. It delays the sprouting process.”
Mary Preeman wrote: “I put mine in a paper bag on the counter. They were still good after five months. I stopped keeping track after that.
Kathi Rodgers urged, “Keep them separated from your onions. Onions release a gas that will cause potatoes to sprout and go bad way faster.”
So why do apples prevent potatoes from sprouting fast? Well, apples produce a natural gas known as ethylene, and exposure to ethylene can slow down or halt the process.
However, while the presence of ethylene has been shown to slow down the rate at which potatoes ripen, when it comes to other produce, it can actually speed up the process and cause them to quickly go bad.