How To Keep Potatoes Fresh

Sprouting is a good thing—that is, when it comes to grains, nuts, and seeds.

When it’s the potatoes that start to grow those tiny green buds, well, then you’re out of luck.

Potatoes last a fairly long time on their own—a few weeks—but one simple trick can extend their lifespan to a solid six to eight weeks. Toss an apple in with your potatoes to make them last longer. Whether you store your potatoes in the bottom drawer of the fridge, or in a brown bag in a cool, dry cupboard, adding a whole apple in will help extend their shelf life.

Why does this work? When apples ripen, they give off ethylene—a plant hormone that makes some other fruits and vegetables ripen faster. Interestingly, though, ethylene actually stops potatoes from sprouting new buds. Who knew?

Photo credit: Alicia Cho