How to store potatoes: useful tips and tricks
Potatoes are a healthy and versatile food which, if consumed intelligently, can become an integral part of our diet. Economical and substantial, it has always represented a widely consumed food, adaptable to different types of dishes and recipes, guaranteeing sustenance and taste at the same time.
Another quality they boast is that they can be kept for a long time, provided that certain rules and good rules are respected, to prevent them from spoiling, sprouting or darkening and can no longer be used in the kitchen.
Before proceeding with the useful advice on these tubers, we remind you of the importance of integrating some basic foods into your diet to ensure the well-being of our body, such as those you see in this video.
Two essential factors for a correct preservation of potatoes
There are two conditions to pay attention to when storing raw potatoes:
- the temperature
- the light
As for the first aspect, it is good to know that potatoes must be stored in a cool place, but not too cold, with a temperature between 4 and 12 ° C. In fact, if you exceed 12 ° C, it will almost certainly cause it to germinate. However, they must not stay too cold either: for this reason it is not recommended to put them in the refrigerator, because in contact with too low temperatures, the starch tends to turn into sugar, making them too sweet and altering their color, with the presence of dark spots. An ideal place can be the cellar or even a "kitchen door not exposed to the sun and that you open not too often."
However, this does not apply in the hottest months of summer, when storage in the refrigerator is required, as long as you choose to put them in the lowest drawer, generally dedicated to fruit and vegetables, where the temperature does not drop below. below 6 ° C
It is also good that they are kept away from light, since over-exposure to sunlight and prolonged contact with light can cause them to alter, causing them to turn green.
Remember then that it is important to keep them in the classic retina in which they are sold or in a paper bag that is not totally closed: in fact, they must be ventilated. As already mentioned, they must be in a dark and cool place, without humidity.
Be careful to check them often over time, because if some are damaged, it will be necessary to eliminate them to prevent them from contaminating those that are still intact and well preserved.
How to prevent potatoes from sprouting, rotting or turning green
- To prevent them from germinating, they must be kept at a temperature between 6 and 8 ° C.
- They rot if they are kept in an environment that is too hot and with the presence of humidity.
- Instead, they turn green if they get too much light.
- Often there is the case in which they are healthy on the outside but dark on the inside; this happens if they are kept at low temperatures: in fact, potatoes should never be kept in places with a temperature below 4 ° C.
How to store cooked potatoes
After cooking them, you can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days, as long as they have the skin and are wrapped in plastic wrap.
It is also possible to put them in the freezer, after cooking. To do this, it is important to follow this procedure: peel them, wash them, cut them into small pieces and boil them for about a minute in salted water, following this, just drain them, dab them with a clean cloth and place them in the freezer in closed bags, having the foresight to let the air out.
How to store potatoes peeled potatoes
If they are already peeled, it will be necessary to wash them, cut them into thin slices, dip them in water and add a pinch of salt and a drop of vinegar. This will last up to three or four days.
How to store boiled potatoes
In this case, they must be cooled, placed in an airtight container inside the fridge, where they can remain for a maximum of two days, because they would subsequently have an acid taste.
How to store frozen potatoes
As we have already said before, it is possible to freeze a potato: perhaps if you happen to peel too many and you realize that you cannot use them for your recipes of the day. In this case, all you have to do is cook them and place them in the freezer when they are cooked.
Store the fried potatoes
In case you want to freeze the fried potatoes, just pass them in flour, preferably rice and corn, fry them for no more than two or three minutes, let them drain and dry them on a paper towel.
When they are cooked, they are then placed in the appropriate fridge bags and put in the freezer.
Little tricks for perfect tasting potatoes
Avoid leaving them in the open air once they have been cut and peeled. If you really can't proceed immediately, be careful to put them in a basin of cold water with a pinch of salt, trying to cook them as soon as possible.
Another little trick is to avoid placing them near particular fruits, such as bananas, apples and pears, because they are responsible for the production of a substance, ethylene, which speeds up ripening, facilitating the appearance of sprouts on the peel.
