How to store potatoes in the refrigerator and is it possible to do so?
Sometimes when cooking, housewives notice that potatoes have a bitter or sweetish taste. The quality and taste of the vegetable largely depend on the storage method. And this is important not only in a warehouse or store, but also after purchase - at home. If there is no dedicated storage space, the inevitable question arises: can potatoes be stored in the refrigerator?
Features of potato storage
To prevent the tubers from rotting and sprouting, store them in a cool place., well ventilated, dark place. The optimal temperature is 3-6°C, air humidity is 85-95%.
At home the best place for storage would be the cellar. In an apartment, potatoes are stored in the hallway, pantry, entrance or balcony. If there are only a few potatoes, they are stored in the refrigerator.
Can potatoes be stored in the refrigerator?
Storing potatoes in the refrigerator is suitable if you purchase them in small quantities, 2-5 kg, and eat it in 5-10 days. If you need to store a large amount of potatoes for a long time, then this method will not work.
In addition to raw tubers, Both peeled and boiled potatoes are stored in the refrigerator.
Storing peeled potatoes
It is better to peel potatoes before cooking. it into food, as the peeled vegetable begins to darken. This occurs due to the oxidation of the enzymes it contains.
But if you have any peeled vegetables left, don’t rush to throw them away.Rinse them thoroughly with running water and place them in a container. Then pour cold, clean water into it until it completely covers all the potatoes. This way it will keep at room temperature for no more than 4 hours. By placing the container in the refrigerator, you will store the peeled potatoes for 24 hours. If you throw 2-3 slices of lemon into a container and change the water to fresh water once a day, the potatoes will remain fresh for 3-4 days.
Reference. Instead of lemon, some housewives recommend adding an aspirin tablet to the water, which keeps the potatoes fresh for three days.
The peeled tuber can be preserved without water.. To do this, wash it thoroughly and dry it with a towel. Then place it in a plastic bag and tie it so as to prevent air from entering. Store in the refrigerator. And if you grease the vegetables with vegetable oil, they will last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Storing boiled potatoes
How long do boiled potatoes last in the refrigerator? Boiled tuber is stored for 4 to 5 days. But it is better not to eat potatoes that have been stored for no more than two days. If it smells bad or becomes slippery, throw it away to avoid poisoning.
Mashed potatoes with added butter and milk can be stored for no more than two days.. Puree without additives can be stored for a day longer.
It can be useful:
Why can't potatoes be stored in the refrigerator for a long time?
The refrigerator is not suitable for storing potatoes in large quantities and for a long period of time.. The vegetable compartments hold a maximum of 10-12 kg; vegetables cannot be placed on other shelves. Storage for more than 5 days at temperatures below 2°C will cause the starch in the potatoes to begin to convert to glucose.The tubers will become sweet, and when they are cooked, carcinogenic substances will be released.
Also when storing a large amount of product for a long time, the tubers may begin to become soggy and sprout, and a musty smell will appear in the refrigerator, like in a vegetable warehouse.
How to properly store potatoes in the refrigerator
If you do decide that you will store raw potatoes in the refrigerator, what is the best way to do this? In this case tubers are stored in the lower vegetable compartments, in which the temperature is maintained at 3-6°C.
Tubers for storage must be dry, cleared of soil, without signs of spoilage or rot., without damage. It is not recommended to wash them. It is better to store potatoes in paper bags, or by covering the sides and bottom of the compartment with paper. The material will absorb excess moisture, and in a plastic bag it will quickly begin to become damp and rot.
Where is the best place to store potatoes in an apartment?
It is better to store potatoes in the cellar. But if it is not there, you can find an alternative option.
A storage box is installed on an insulated loggia or balcony, which you can buy or make yourself. Its design must maintain positive temperatures and air circulation. The walls and bottom of the box are made double, and the space between them is filled with sawdust or foam plastic.
The space between the walls must be at least 10 cm. The box is made of plywood or clapboard. To make it more moisture-resistant, the outer walls are painted or covered with plastic or pieces of linoleum. Cover the top with a lid. It can also be double.
If the balcony is not insulated, then you can heat the vegetables and maintain the temperature in the box using a lamp that is installed inside the box.By installing a thermal relay, the lamps will automatically turn on and off as the air temperature fluctuates.
To prevent the potatoes from turning green from the light of the lamps, cover them with a dark cloth on top. Before placing vegetables in the box, a wooden grid made of slats, the thickness of which is 20-30 cm, is placed on the bottom. Two air vents are installed on the sides. This circulates warm air inside the box.
If potatoes are stored in the pantry, then it is scattered into cardboard boxes, in the walls of which holes are made for ventilation. To protect vegetables from light, they are covered with a dark cloth or cardboard. In the same way, tubers are stored in the corridor or other cooler place in the apartment.
The optimal place for storage according to temperature conditions may be the hallway in the entrance. Large wooden boxes are installed there, screwed to the walls and floor, and locks are attached.
Interesting facts about potatoes:
Recommendations
Potatoes prepared for storage are carefully dried and sorted. The tubers must be intact, without signs of rot or sprouting. Do not store very small specimens.
With the right temperature conditions, the tubers can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time. But if they were washed before storage, then it is advisable to eat them within two weeks.
In no case do not store potatoes in the light: it will produce a toxic substance - solanine, which can cause poisoning of the body.
Tubers are stored worse in old refrigerators, since it is more difficult to maintain the temperature in them.
Do not store potatoes and carrots together. Carrots wither quickly and are best stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. To prevent rotting and sprouting, potatoes are stored with beets, which absorb excess moisture.
Advice. To prevent potatoes from sprouting in the refrigerator, you can put a few apples or dried mint leaves between the tubers. To prevent potatoes from rotting during storage, rowan or wormwood leaves are placed in boxes (2 kg per 100 kg of potatoes). If potatoes are lined with fern leaves in any storage location, this will increase their preservation.
Rotten tubers should not be eaten, wilted and wrinkled. Green peel Potatoes that are completely green must be carefully cut and discarded.
If you have a cottage with a cellar, then it is better to bring home potatoes in small batches so that they do not have time to spoil.
Conclusion
The quality and taste of potatoes depend largely on storage methods. The cellar is the best place to store vegetables. But for storing a small amount, a refrigerator is suitable, which maintains optimal temperature and humidity conditions.