A Sunday roast is one of the most quintessentially British activitities there is. However, there are many things that can go wrong while you’re cooking.
Maybe your potatoes don’t crisp up, or the meat overcooks. One of the things that can go wrong before you even put the oven is to do with how you’ve stored your ingredients. If you haven’t got your potatoes and onions stored properly then when you go to reach for them they could have sprouted and been ruined before you even begin.
These two ingredients are frequently bought together, they are nearly always stored together as well – usually in a dark kitchen cupboard.
Although this is a popular way to store them, onions and potatoes should actually never be kept together.
Sarah Day, Storage Expert at Pay Less for Storage said: “The problem is that onions release gases which cause potatoes to sprout and spoil long before they otherwise would. Once a potato begins to go soft and sprout, it can quickly become inedible and ready for the bin.
“You should really be storing these two staples separately. Not only will this save you money, but it will also cut down significantly on food waste.”
Rather than lumping them together onions should be stored unpeeled in a mesh or paper bag to stop moisture collecting. Avoid storing them in the fridge, as they will become soft and mouldy. If properly stored, onions should last for up to a month.
When it comes to your potatoes they need to be stored in a cool, dark and well ventilated spot. Don’t wash them before storage, wash them before you use them.
Avoid storing potatoes in plastic containers, as these trap moisture, causing them to sweat and eventually rot. If stored correctly they should last up to five weeks.
