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Storing potatoes in the fridge.

(39 Posts)
DorisD Tue 07-Jul-26 20:08:26

I usually buy potatoes loose from greengrocers or farm shop, keep them in the paper bag and store in a cupboard.
This week I needed extra so bought a bag from M&S. I was surprised to see that the storage instructions were to refrigerate them. I have never done this.
How do you all store your spuds?

JenniRen Wed 22-Jul-26 15:07:01

We have a potato sack made of hessian, however the potatoes sprout very quickly in it so now I store them in the bottom veg drawer in the fridge.

JaneJudge Wed 22-Jul-26 14:49:04

i put baby potatoes in the fridge but normal ones are kept in a thick brown paper bag

TerriBull Wed 22-Jul-26 14:42:25

I certainly wouldn't put Marmite in the fridge or peanut butter, but I do put jam in the fridge.

MT62 Wed 22-Jul-26 14:40:24

I do, but I don’t think you are suppose to because of a certain chemical in the potatoes.
I bought hessian sacks during Covid & stored them in the cupboard, but I couldn’t do with that earthy smell.

TerriBull Wed 22-Jul-26 14:34:11

I do put them in the fridge, I know that's not ideal. I don't like a sweet potato, unless they are a sweet potato, distinct from a bog standard one. In the winter I'll put them in the garage. Right now having bought some almost pristine, not a naural state for a potato to be in, not a trace of mud, my M&S Maris Pipers are in the fridge given the warm weather.

PaulWelch Wed 22-Jul-26 13:50:45

I usually store potatoes in a cool, dark place with good airflow. It seems to help them stay fresh longer and reduce sprouting. Storage can vary depending on the weather and the type of potatoes, so it's interesting to see the different methods people use.

twiglet77 Mon 20-Jul-26 13:39:04

I put baby new potatoes and Jerseys in the fridge, out of the plastic bag and into brown paper, but regular potatoes go in a black cotton bag hung in the darkest, coolest spot in the house.

nanna8 Mon 20-Jul-26 13:38:32

I have never thought to refrigerate them and mine quite often sprout. Then I plant them out - I have had a few lovely fresh ones that way !

Witzend Mon 20-Jul-26 13:35:09

Given the heatwave, while away for 9 days I have left a big bag of ‘old’ potatoes in the fridge.

David49 Sun 12-Jul-26 08:31:43

Low temperatures will make potatoes sweeter over a few weeks a few days so won't make any difference.

Always take them out of plastic, most potatoes are sold washed, this makes them more prone to disease and rotting, so should always be used within a week or two.

Leaving potatoes in plastic in these high temperatures they will go off quickly.

Calendargirl Sun 12-Jul-26 07:04:49

Greyduster

Please don’t be condescending. That wasn’t necessary - I was merely making a point. You could have passed over it.

If you mean me, I wasn’t being condescending.

I was agreeing, yes, that’s why you don’t keep it in the fridge, goes too hard.

And why I mentioned earlier it was one thing you kept ‘out’ of the fridge.

confused

Gwyllt Sat 11-Jul-26 18:29:10

I presume those potatoes you buy and taste sweet have been stored at low temperatures for goodness knows how long

Greyduster Sat 11-Jul-26 16:45:58

Please don’t be condescending. That wasn’t necessary - I was merely making a point. You could have passed over it.

EmilyHarburn Sat 11-Jul-26 14:15:12

I keep my potatoes and onions in the fridge If they are in plastic bags I cut the bags open before I put them in the bottom clear drawer.

Calendargirl Fri 10-Jul-26 06:55:41

We put new potatoes from the supermarket in the fridge, in a brown paper bag, not the plastic ones they come in.

If we buy or are given a quantity of new potatoes, DH ‘buries’ them in a big pot, in soil. We keep digging them out as required, keeps them fresher.

In winter, the big paper sacks of ‘old’ potatoes are kept in the garage, shielded from the light.

Calendargirl Fri 10-Jul-26 06:51:55

Greyduster

Marmite is often more difficult to spread when it has been in the fridge.

Which is why it says not to put in fridge.

BlueBelle Fri 10-Jul-26 06:50:08

Never ever have I put a potato in the fridge why would I ? Neither would I dream of putting marmite in a fridge ?

Happypie Fri 10-Jul-26 05:07:41

I’ve been storing potatoes in the fridge for twenty plus years, but only throughout the summer months. They last a very long time and stops them from sprouting. The texture and flavour don’t change.

Estrellita Thu 09-Jul-26 18:06:01

I always keep my spuds in the fridge. I find that they last longer that way.

Rocketstop2 Thu 09-Jul-26 16:13:34

In a cloth 'Potato bag' bought online and then in a dark cupboard. The exception to this is small bags of new potatoes or Jerseys which I do keep in the fridge.

Greyduster Thu 09-Jul-26 16:13:01

Marmite is often more difficult to spread when it has been in the fridge.

Greciangirl Thu 09-Jul-26 15:07:37

I bought some Jersey Royals and on reading the information on the plastic bag, it stated Keep in Fridge.
Which is what I now do and find they last much longer.

Haven’t noticed any difference in taste, but I must say Jersey Royals are not what they used to be, taste wise.

Unripe bananas wrapped in a paper bag and kept in fridge for a few days seem to last longer as well.

AuntieE Thu 09-Jul-26 14:53:52

In a wooden box with a lid in my cool, dark cellar.

DorisD Wed 08-Jul-26 14:50:25

Thanks everyone. As Calendargirl says, lots of things say to keep in the fridge. Probably manufacturer being on the safe side.
I will try potatoes in the fridge to see if it makes any difference.

Calendargirl Wed 08-Jul-26 13:24:33

Let’s face it, nearly everything is meant to be kept ‘in the fridge’ nowadays.

Jars of Colmans mustard are supposed to be refrigerated after opening. Well, mine aren’t, they live in the food cupboard.

Just checked Marmite though, and it says ‘Do NOT refrigerate’.