Keep your potatoes away from one common ingredient and they'll stay fresh for months

As the chill of autumn sets in, many are reaching for potatoes to whip up hearty stews and soups. Yet, there’s nothing more irritating than discovering your spuds have spoiled prematurely. Despite what you might think, shoving them straight into the fridge upon returning from the shops isn't ideal.

In fact, most of us are clueless about the correct way to keep our potatoes fresh. Expert Cynthia Ryan, founder of Simply by Cynthia and a wiz in the kitchen, has revealed the correct way does not involve a fridge at all. “Never, ever store raw potatoes in the refrigerator," Cynthia said.



"The colder temperatures in the fridge convert the starch to sugar and alter the taste and texture. “Instead, store raw spuds in a dark, cool-ish and well-ventilated area. I have hanging mesh bags in a utility room closet for this purpose.

” It's vital to avoid leaving potatoes on the kitchen counter, too, as they're inclined to rot when in contact with sunlight and dampness in the air. When potatoes are exposed to light, they start turning green and churn out a nasty compound called solanine, which can make your spuds unbearably bitter, reports the Express . With kitchens tending to be very humid places after cooking, spuds can go mouldy at an alarmingly quick rate.

Instead, find a dark and dry place such as a cupboard or drawer in the kitchen. However, storing potatoes demands caution - they must stay clear of certain veggies like onions. Although a dynamic duo in cooking, if stored together they will soon begin to expire.

Cynthia said: “Don't store your 'storage' onions next to or with potatoes. The potatoes give off moisture and gases which will cause the onions to spoil faster. I know this because I've done it.

Those onions went into the compost pile." The kitchen expert explained that potatoes are highly sensitive to ethylene gas, and when stored next to onions, their shelf life significantly reduces, making them more prone to spoiling. To ensure both stay fresh for much longer, keep potatoes and onions stored in two separate containers apart from each other.

Cynthia suggested storing potatoes in an unsealed container, where plenty of air can get through to keep the potatoes dry, such as a basket or mesh bag. If kitchen storage space is limited, she recommends using BluApple refill packets as they absorb ethylene gas. Cynthia said: “I toss these refill packets into many of the refrigerator produce bags and bins.

Those absorb and trap the ripening gases. A foot or two between onion and potato bags, in a well-ventilated closet or other area, is sufficient to allow moisture from the potatoes to dissipate.” Properly stored potatoes can stay fresh for months, ensuring you always have spuds stocked in your kitchen for all your cosy autumn and winter recipes.

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