How to Store Potatoes So They Last Longer

summarySome signs that uncooked potatoes have spoiled include dark spots on the skin, a soft or mushy texture, and foul odor. Cooked potatoes may have mold but can also spoil without any noticeable signs.

How Long Do Potatoes Last?

Potatoes were originally grown by native peoples of the Andes mountains in South America. Today, thousands of varieties are cultivated worldwide ( 1 , 2 , 3 ).

Though you may have noticed that potatoes tend to keep a long time, you may wonder precisely how long they last before spoiling.

This article tells you how long potatoes last — and how to tell whether they’re safe to eat.

The length of time that potatoes stay fresh depends on several factors, including how they’re stored and whether they’ve been cooked.

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In general, uncooked potatoes can last anywhere from 1 week to a few months. Cooler temperatures, such as those afforded by a pantry or root cellar, allow them to keep longer than at room temperature.

Once cooked, potatoes last up to 4 days in the refrigerator and 1 year in the freezer, though the quality of cooked mashed potatoes suffers with freezing (4, 5).

The chart below details shelf lives for various types of potatoes, including sweet, russet, Yukon Gold, red, and purple varieties.

summary

Uncooked potatoes stay fresh for a few weeks up to a few months. Once cooked, potatoes last for another 3–4 days when refrigerated or for up to 1 year when frozen.

Even if you keep shelf life in mind, you should still check potatoes for telltale signs of spoilage.

Whole fresh potatoes

Raw potatoes should be firm to the touch with tight skin that’s free of large bruises, black spots, or other blemishes.

If a potato has become soft or mushy, you should throw it out.

Though it’s normal for potatoes to smell earthy or nutty, a musty or moldy odor is a hallmark of spoilage.

Sometimes, a potato might have a blemish or bad spot on the inside that you can’t see from the outside. A strong smell coming from an otherwise fresh-looking potato is a warning that the inside may have rotted or started to mold.

You should always dispose of foul-smelling potatoes.

What about sprouted potatoes?

Sprouts are a sign of imminent spoilage in potatoes.

Sprouts form from potatoes’ “eyes,” which are merely small bumps or indentions where the tubers stem and sprout new plants.

Although sprouts may look unappealing, recently sprouted potatoes are still safe to eat as long as you remove the sprouts. You can do so by simply snapping them off with your fingers.

You shouldn’t eat the sprouts because they contain solanine, chaconine, and other toxic glycoalkaloids. These compounds can have serious side effects, including neurological and digestive symptoms like headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea ( 6 , 7, 8 , 9 ).

These toxins may also exist in any part of the potato that has a greenish tint. Therefore, it’s best to cut away any green parts on the skin or flesh to avoid getting sick (10).

If your potatoes have sprouts, it’s best to eat them soon. As sprouts grow, they suck sugars and nutrients from the plant, causing it to shrivel, shrink, and lose its crunch ( 11 ).

Cooked potatoes

It’s not always as easy to tell when cooked potatoes have gone bad.

In some cases, cooked potatoes have a strong odor or visible mold that indicates spoilage. Yet, in other cases, this food may harbor harmful bacteria without any noticeable signs.

Especially once cooked, potatoes are a high-risk food for bacteria that can cause food poisoning. That’s because they hold a lot of moisture, are slightly acidic, and contain some protein ( 12 , 13 , 14 ).

Therefore, it’s best to eat them within 4 days of cooking and always reheat them to 165°F (74°C) to kill any bacteria that may have formed (4).

summary

Some signs that uncooked potatoes have spoiled include dark spots on the skin, a soft or mushy texture, and foul odor. Cooked potatoes may have mold but can also spoil without any noticeable signs.

Cooked potatoes carry a high risk of food poisoning.

After a few days, they may begin to harbor pathogens and bacteria that could result in illnesses, such as salmonella, listeria, botulism, and staphylococcal food poisoning.

If you have a foodborne illness, you might experience some of the following symptoms ( 14 ):

• fever
• stomach cramps
• muscle aches
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea

In severe cases, these symptoms could result in dehydration, hospitalization, and even death.

Thus, you should throw out any cooked potatoes that are older than 4 days.

Additionally, if you ever spot mold on cooked potatoes, you should dispose of them immediately. Mold may appear as fuzz or a few dark spots that are brown, black, red, white, or bluish gray.

summary

Potatoes sometimes cause food poisoning. To avoid getting sick, be sure to eat cooked potatoes within 4 days and immediately throw away any potatoes that show signs of mold.

Paying close attention to storage conditions can help potatoes last longer.

Given that warm temperatures and moisture encourage sprouting, and exposure to light increases the rate at which glycoalkaloid toxins form, you shouldn’t store raw potatoes on the counter or in the open ( 15 ).

Rather, keep in them in a cool, dark, dry place, such as a pantry, cellar, cupboard, or cabinet that keeps out sunlight.

In addition, uncooked potatoes are best left in a container — such as a box, open bowl, or perforated bag — that allows air to circulate around the tubers. They should never be sealed in airtight bags or containers.

Although cool temperatures are ideal for potato storage, fresh potatoes should never be kept in the refrigerator or freezer. Doing so could result in browning and softening, a higher sugar content, and even an increase in acrylamides.

Acrylamides are compounds sometimes formed in starchy foods after they’ve been cooked at high temperatures — think french fries or potato chips — and are classified as probable or likely carcinogens by some organizations ( 16 , 17 ).

When possible, keep your potatoes separate from other types of produce. This will minimize their exposure to ethylene gases that might accelerate sprouting or spoilage (18).

As a rule of thumb, cooked potatoes should be refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or below, while frozen potatoes should be kept at 0°F (-18°C).

summary

It’s best to store raw potatoes in a cool, dark place that allows air circulation. Cooked potatoes should be kept at 40°F (4°C) or below when refrigerated and 0°F (-18°C) or below when frozen.

Potatoes are a starchy root vegetable known partly for their long shelf life.

Yet, how long they last depends on how they’re stored and cooked.

If stored in a cool, dark, dry place, raw potatoes can last for several months. But once cooked, they should be eaten or frozen within a few days to prevent foodborne illness.

Be sure to throw away potatoes that have a strong odor or mold growth.

Last medically reviewed on March 26, 2020

How we reviewed this article:

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

How to Store Potatoes So They Last Longer

Here’s how long potatoes last if you store them correctly. Plus, how to tell if they’ve gone bad.

Melanie Fincher is a Birmingham, Alabama–based food writer who covers everything from cooking techniques to gadget reviews. She has nearly 7 years experience writing news and lifestyle content.

Updated on March 19, 2022

Unlike other produce, potatoes can last a relatively long time before showing signs of spoilage. But unfortunately, they’re still perishable. And there are a lot of questions surrounding when you should toss them.

Should you throw away potatoes that have sprouted? Can you still eat potatoes if you cut the sprouts off? We’ll answer all of these questions and more.

Learn how to store potatoes, and how long they last so you can cook all your favorite potato dishes while they’re still fresh.

How Long Do Potatoes Last at Room Temperature?

When stored in a cool, dark place, (warmer than the fridge but colder than the average temperature of your kitchen) whole, uncooked potatoes can last up to two months. At room temperature, on the counter, for example, potatoes will last up to two weeks.

Undoubtedly, the best way to store whole, uncooked potatoes is outside of the fridge. Storing potatoes in the fridge will cause the starch to turn to sugar, giving them a sweet flavor that you don’t want from your potatoes. More on that in a moment.

How to Store Potatoes at Room Temperature

If you have an unheated basement, a cool pantry, or a garage that doesn’t fluctuate too greatly between hot and cold, that’s an ideal home for your spuds — ranging from 45 to 55 degrees F (7 to 13 degrees C). Otherwise, you’re probably going to have to stick with regular ol’ room temperature.

To best store, keep them loosely covered in a paper bag, mesh bag, or cardboard box to provide good air circulation. Be sure to keep them away from your onions, which may be stored nearby, as the moisture from potatoes will cause the onions to spoil faster.

How Long Do Potatoes Last in the Refrigerator?

While we already established that the fridge is not the best place to store potatoes, sometimes you have no other option. Lack of pantry space or hot or humid conditions are all reasons you might want to store your potatoes in the refrigerator.

If you do choose to refrigerate your potatoes for whatever reason, the potatoes will last for three to four weeks, but as mentioned, they may develop a sweeter taste when cooked.

How to Keep Prepped Potatoes in the Refrigerator

A helpful shortcut in some cases, potatoes can be peeled and/or cut ahead of time. Raw potatoes that have been cut should be stored in a bowl of cold water and refrigerated. They’ll be good for the next 24 hours.

And finally, cooked potatoes will last three to four days in the fridge, as is the case with most leftovers.

How Long Do Potatoes Last in the Freezer?

While cooked potatoes do well in the freezer, raw potatoes do not, so it’s best to cook them before freezing. When stored in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, cooked potatoes will last 10 to 12 months in the freezer. Frozen mashed potatoes are best to use within a month or two.

How to Store Cooked Potatoes in the Freezer

Whether you are planning ahead, or just putting away extras for a rainy day, cooked potatoes usually fare nicely in the freezer. Especially potatoes that are lower in starch, such as red potatoes and Yukon Golds. You can freeze higher-starch potatoes like russets or baking potatoes as well, but they can become grainy when you thaw and reheat them. Let the prepped potatoes cool, then freeze them in single or group servings. Refer to our guide on how to freeze and reheat mashed potatoes for more tips.

How to Tell if a Potato Is Bad or Spoiled

You’ll be able to tell if a potato has gone bad if it becomes soft or shrivels up. You may also notice a sour or musty smell, which indicates spoilage.

Green sprouts are not a sign of spoilage. However, they do indicate that nutrients are leaving the potato. This means their quality is beginning to deteriorate, but you don’t necessarily have to throw them out just yet. They may just need a trim.

Should You Throw Away Potatoes That Are Green or Sprouted?

It depends on who you ask. Many argue that potatoes are still safe to eat even after they’ve sprouted, so long as they don’t show any signs of spoilage as described above. Simply remove any sprouts or green spots before cooking them.

However, the National Capital Poison Center suggests tossing potatoes that have turned green or grown sprouts, to protect against any risk of potential toxicity. This is because potatoes contain what are called glycoalkaloids. These are natural toxins, the lowest concentration of which is found in the white body of the potato. The green skin, sprouts, and “eyes” contain the highest concentration of glycoalkaloids. If eaten, you may experience symptoms of vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and confusion.

Most would say peeling potatoes and removing the sprouts should protect against this. And you can take comfort in the fact that the bitter taste that comes with high levels of glycoalkaloids will give your taste buds a warning of the toxins. Whether or not you choose to toss them, always use caution when dealing with potatoes that have sprouted or turned green.

Related:

• 15 Simple Dinner Recipes That Start With Potatoes
• How to Make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make When Baking Potatoes

How to safely store and eat potatoes

Potatoes can pose health risks if a person consumes them after storing them incorrectly. But if a person stores potatoes correctly, they can safely keep for a long time.

Potatoes are starchy tubers, which grow beneath the soil surface.

These vegetables are good sources of some important vitamins and minerals.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture , half a cup of raw, diced potato contains 42.8 milligrams (mg) of phosphorus, 319 mg of potassium, and 14.8 mg of vitamin C.

As with any other vegetables, potatoes only last a certain amount of time before they begin to go off.

This article will look at the shelf life of potatoes and detail signs of spoilage. It will also explore the health risks of eating gone-off potatoes and will list some potato storage tips.

The shelf life of potatoes can vary depending on several factors, such as the temperature at which people keep them or whether they cooked the potatoes beforehand.

Generally speaking, a raw potato can last from a few weeks up to several months, depending upon the temperature at which a person stores it.

In the fridge, cooked potato can last for several days. In the freezer, it can last for up to a year.

The table below provides a more detailed breakdown of the shelf life of potatoes, based on whether they are raw or not and the temperature at which someone stores them.

The cooking technique does not make a difference to the shelf life of cooked potato.

It is worth noting that a meal containing potato may not always keep as long as the potato itself if it contains ingredients with a shorter shelf life.

There are several ways to tell whether a potato is unsuitable for consumption.

A raw, whole potato should be firm to the touch. If a potato is mushy or soft, then a person should throw it out.

Although it is normal for raw potatoes to have some blemishes, a foul odor accompanying blemishing also suggests that the potato is unsafe to eat. It is also unsafe to eat moldy potatoes.

Even when firm, odorless, and blemish-free, a raw potato may not be suitable for consumption.

For example, it is best not to eat a potato that has been growing sprouts for a long time.

A person can still eat a recently sprouted potato, but only after they remove the sprouts.

It is unsafe to eat cooked potatoes when they are growing visible mold or have a foul smell.

There are two main health risks associated with potatoes. The first is food poisoning from eating spoiled potatoes. The second is that potato sprouts can be toxic to humans.

Food poisoning describes when someone becomes infected by foodborne viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi.

Although the symptoms of food poisoning can vary with the nature of the infection, one study lists the following common symptoms of food poisoning:

People can also become unwell from eating unspoiled potato sprouts.

As one study notes, potato sprouts contain high concentrations of solanine, a toxic chemical. The same is true of potatoes that have been sprouting for a long time.

Symptoms of solanine poisoning are similar to the major symptoms of food poisoning:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• headache
• fever
• slow pulse or breathing

Anybody with these symptoms should contact a doctor.