How to store potatoes without sprouting
Potatoes are a common ingredient in home kitchens, but if stored improperly, they can easily sprout. Sprouted potatoes will produce toxic solanine, which affects food safety. So, how do you store potatoes correctly to avoid sprouting? The following are scientific methods and practical tips on potato storage that have been hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. Reasons why potatoes sprout
The main reasons for potato germination are the effects of light, temperature and humidity. The following are the key factors that affect potato sprouting:
| factors | influence |
|---|---|
| light | Light will cause the potato skin to turn green and accelerate germination |
| temperature | High temperature (above 10℃) will accelerate potato germination |
| Humidity | If the humidity is too high, the potatoes will easily rot; if the humidity is too low, the potatoes will easily lose water. |
| ventilation | Poor ventilation can easily accumulate ethylene gas and promote germination. |
2. The correct way to store potatoes
According to expert advice and netizen practice, the following methods can effectively delay potato sprouting:
| method | Operation steps |
|---|---|
| Store away from light | Place potatoes in a black plastic bag or cardboard box out of direct sunlight |
| Low temperature storage | The temperature is controlled at 4-8℃ (such as the cold storage layer of the refrigerator), but cannot be frozen |
| Dry and ventilated | Keep the storage environment dry and add a small amount of desiccant to absorb moisture. |
| Put together with Apple | The ethylene released by apples can inhibit potato sprouting, but it needs to be checked regularly |
| Hierarchical storage | Separate potatoes with newspapers or paper bags to reduce squeezing and moisture build-up |
3. Common misunderstandings and precautions
When storing potatoes, many people tend to fall into the following misunderstandings:
| Misunderstanding | Correct approach |
|---|---|
| Put directly in the refrigerator | It needs to be wrapped in a breathable bag to prevent condensation from causing rot. |
| Live with onions | Onions release gas to speed up potato sprouting and should be stored separately |
| Store after washing | Washing with water will destroy the protective layer of the epidermis and increase the risk of rot. |
4. Tips for long-term storage
If you need to preserve potatoes for a long time, you can try the following methods:
| Skills | Description |
|---|---|
| sand burial method | Bury potatoes in dry sand to simulate underground storage environment |
| vacuum seal | Refrigerated after vacuuming, the storage time can be extended to 2 months |
| cooked frozen | Boil potatoes and freeze them, perfect for making dishes like mashed potatoes |
5. How to handle sprouted potatoes
If the potatoes have sprouted slightly, you can take the following steps:
| germination degree | Treatment method |
|---|---|
| Buds are smaller | Thoroughly remove the sprout eyes and surrounding tissue, heat them thoroughly before eating |
| The buds are over 2cm long | Not recommended for consumption, can be used for planting purposes |
| Skin turns green | Trim off the green part and cook the remaining part thoroughly |
Through the above methods, you can effectively extend the storage time of potatoes, avoid waste and ensure food safety. It is recommended to control the quantity every time you buy potatoes and give priority to potatoes that have been stored for a longer period of time to reduce the risk of sprouting.
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