Potatoes are a kitchen staple as they are perfect for mashing, roasting, or a quick baked dinner, but it can be frustrating when they spoil too soon. It may seem obvious to store all your vegetables together but this can actually cause spuds to begin rotting or going mouldy.
Stephen Jones, a cook and founder of The Reluctant Gourmet has explained that although potatoes and onions pair well in recipes, storing them side by side is a big mistake. He said: “Many people store onions and potatoes together out of habit or convenience, but this common practice can shorten their shelf life and lead to faster spoilage.
“While both vegetables prefer cool, dry, and dark environments, placing them side by side in the pantry creates conditions that accelerate decay.”
Why should you not store potatoes next to onions?
Potatoes are highly sensitive to ethylene gas, a natural substance certain foods release to ripen them and enhance their flavour.
Fruit like bananas or avocados tends to release the most ethylene gas, but onions also produce a little, and it is enough to speed up sprouting and spoilage.
Both potatoes and onions release a lot of moisture as they sit, and when stored together, they can create a humid environment that leads to mould and rot.
It is really common to store potatoes and onions together since they’re both hardy vegetables, and many people assume they belong in the same spot.
However, it is better to move them apart, and it will significantly reduce your food waste and even save you some money over time.
How should you properly store potatoes?
Instead, it is better to store potatoes somewhere cool, dark, and airy. You need to keep them away from both heat and sunlight.
Light triggers the production of chlorophyll in potatoes, which turns them green and can cause the potato to begin producing a natural toxin called solanine, which can make you ill.
Heat can also make potatoes unsafe to eat as it encourages more bacteria, so keep them away from ovens and microwaves until you are ready to cook them.
The best place to store potatoes is in a basket placed in a cupboard, pantry, or drawer in your kitchen.
Make sure not to put potatoes in a closed container or plastic bag, as they can trap too much moisture and make potatoes likely to begin going mouldy.
If you store potatoes properly and keep them away from onions, they will stay fresh for weeks, but some hardier types, like baking tatties, can stay tasty for up to three months.