How to Store Potatoes: Shelf Life, Sprouting & Spoilage Signs
Keep your spuds fresh for months with this storage guide. Learn why the fridge is bad for raw potatoes and how to safely store cooked ones.
Spoilage Signs
- ⚠️ odor: musty or earthy off smell
- ⚠️ texture: soft mushy
- ⚠️ appearance: visible mold
- ⚠️ appearance: sprouting
- ⚠️ color: green skin solanine
Is it spoiled?
Check specific signs of spoilage for Potatoes
Expiration Calculator
Calculate exact shelf life based on purchase date
Shelf Life Guide
| Type | State | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Potatoes | fresh | 4 weeks - 2 months | 1-2 weeks | 10-12 months |
| Instant Potatoes | fresh | 10 months - 1 years | Not Recommended | Not Recommended |
| Instant Potatoes | opened | 6-12 months | Not Recommended | Not Recommended |
Data Source: USDA FoodKeeper App
Storage guidelines are based on research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Cornell University.
Potato Storage Guide: How to Keep Potatoes Fresh for Months
Potatoes are a hardy vegetable, but they are surprisingly picky about their environment. Store them correctly, and they last for months. Store them wrong, and you’ll end up with a bag of mushy, sprouting disappointments.
Shelf Life at a Glance
- Raw Potatoes (Pantry/Cool Dark Place): Lasts 1–2 months.
- Raw Potatoes (Refrigerator): Lasts 1–2 weeks (Not recommended).
- Cooked/Mashed Potatoes (Refrigerator): Lasts 3–5 days.
- Cooked Potatoes (Freezer): Best within 10–12 months.
The Golden Rule: Cool, Dark, and Dry
The ideal home for a potato is a cool, dark pantry or cellar (around 45°F–50°F).
- Why not the fridge? Cold temperatures convert the potato’s starch into sugar. This ruins the flavor (making them overly sweet) and causes them to turn dark brown when fried.
- Why not the counter? Light exposure causes potatoes to turn green and produce solanine, a natural toxin.
Green Potatoes & Solanine Safety
If you see a potato turning green, it’s producing solanine.
- Small Green Spots: You can peel away the green skin and flesh until it looks normal. The rest is safe to eat.
- Deep Green/Bitter: If the potato is green throughout or tastes bitter after cooking, do not eat it. Solanine can cause nausea and headaches.
Storing Cooked & Cut Potatoes
While raw potatoes hate the fridge, cooked potatoes require it.
- Mashed/Roasted: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Cut Raw Potatoes: If you peeled too many, submerge the extra raw potatoes in a bowl of cold water and keep them in the fridge. They will last 24 hours without turning brown.
Can You Freeze Potatoes?
- Raw: NO. The water content expands and ruptures the cell walls, leading to a mushy mess when thawed.
- Cooked: YES. Mashed potatoes freeze excellently. Roasted potatoes can be frozen but may lose some crispness.
- Pro Tip: To freeze “fries,” blanch cut potatoes in boiling water for 3 minutes, cool, dry, and then freeze.
Sprouting: Safe or Toss?
- Tiny Sprouts: Safe. Just knock them off with your thumb or a peeler. The potato is still firm and good to eat.
- Long Sprouts & Shriveled Skin: If the potato is soft, wrinkled, and has long sprouts, it has lost its nutrients and texture. Compost it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to store potatoes to prevent them from sprouting?
Keep them in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place (45-50°F is ideal). Keep them away from onions, which release gases that accelerate sprouting.
Do potatoes expire? Signs of a bad potato.
Yes. If a potato is soft, mushy, has a foul smell, or has large sprouts and green skin, it should be discarded.
Can you freeze raw potatoes?
No. Raw potatoes become grainy and watery when frozen. You must partially cook (blanch) them before freezing.
How long do mashed potatoes last in the fridge?
Cooked and mashed potatoes last 3–5 days in the refrigerator. They freeze well for up to 10–12 months.