Storing potatoes seems like a pretty simple task, but it is surprisingly important to get it right if you want them to last longer and taste fresher. A popular method that often gets recommended is using a paper bags. But is that the best way?
Let’s dive into the specifics of storing potatoes, the benefits of using paper bags, and some alternative methods to help you decide the best storage option.
Should You Use Paper Bag?
Paper bags are another suggested one for potato storage, given that they breathe pretty well. Let’s see why paper bags work so effectively and what they can do to prevent common issues about potato storage.
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1. Breathability and Air Circulation
The paper bags allows for breathability, which lets air pass through and breathe a bit; this is what protects it from excess moisture next to the potatoes. Continued moisture accumulation will be indicated by mold or rotting.
The plastic bag traps moisture and offers a damp environment; that is one of the worst conditions to which potatoes are exposed. Use of a paper bag for potatoes provides the right amount of air circulation for longer freshness.
2. Protection from Light
Light-blocking paper bags will also not let potatoes be exposed to light. If potatoes get exposed to light, it makes them green. Exposing potatoes to light provokes chlorophyll formation in them. Along with chlorophyll, there is a solanine which gets accumulated inside the potato.
When potatoes are placed in an area that blocks out the light, as is the case with paper bags, it minimizes the opportunity of light, so their quality will be kept and they won’t allow harmful materials to accumulate within.
3. Maintaining Cool Temperature
Even though a paper bag will not cool the potatoes, it does in a cool dry place like a pantry or cellar. Potatoes remain fresh for a longer period at temperatures between 45°F and 55°F, which is cooler than room temperature but warmer than refrigeration.
4. Cost-Effective and Environmentally Friendly
Paper bags are inexpensive, easily accessible, and green compared to most plastic types. If you want to store potatoes in a convenient, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly way, using a paper bag might be the best option for you.
How to Set Up Your Paper Bag Potato Storage Ideal Situation
If you opt for the paper bag approach, here is how you should set it up for the best potato storage:
· Choose a paper bag that is large enough for your potatoes without over stacking them. This can help in air circulation around the potatoes.
· Ensure it is dry and not moist, as damp paper tends to encourage mold growth.
· Tuck the top of the bag loosely so it receives some air but doesn’t get too much light
· Store in a cool place, dark, and also dry, like a pantry or a basement if that is possible.
Alternatives to Paper Bags for Storing Potatoes
If you do not have a paper bag, or just out of curiosity, you might be interested in alternatives. Here’s how they compare:
1. Storing Potatoes in a Cardboard Box
Cardboard boxes are like paper bags; however, a dark breathable atmosphere and stiffer compared to the former makes it secure, thus not bruising or squashing the potatoes. A perfect box should be perforated using tiny ventilation holes.
However, if you will be making use of a standard cardboard box, then you sometimes need to open it in terms of ventilation purposes.
2. Cloth or Burlap Sacks
Burlap or cloth sacks can be used, which has more air circulation than a paper bag, which might be useful in more wet climates. Most farmers tend to use burlap sacks for storing potatoes, as they are strong and ventilated.
3. Wooden Crates or Baskets
Wooden crates or baskets can be used if you will put more potatoes in a single space. These automatically have some ventilation, wherein you can put more potatoes at the same time, but do not protect from light so keep these items in a dark place.
4. Refrigeration
While it can be tempting to store potatoes in the fridge, the general recommendation is not to do so. Cold temperatures in a fridge cause the starches in potatoes to convert to sugars, then gives the potatoes an overwhelmingly sweet flavor.
The refrigerator is too cold for potatoes and can lead to other changes in texture, also making them grainy or mushy when cooked.
5. In the Open
Store in the open air on the countertop or in the fruit bowl. This will generally work for short-term purposes, but it is really not ideal for longer periods of storage. Open air increases the risk of the potatoes sprouting, going soft, and getting direct light.
How Long Do Potatoes Last in a Paper Bag?
Potatoes are good for use from between two to three weeks, depending on whether the type is thinly or thick-skinned. With the later, russets can store for as long as two months in paper bags with a cool, dark place, and the room dries.
Observe the potatoes every week. For any sign of rot or sprouting as well as softening remove the rotting potatoes since it means the others could also turn bad soon. Here’s how to help them last.
Tips for Lasting Long potatoes
Whichever storage method one chooses, there are a few additional things you might want to do in order to get the most out of your stored potatoes:
Check frequently: Check on your potatoes at least once a week and pull them out when they begin to sprout, or when they begin to turn soft or if you detect an odor of spoil coming from them.
Store separate from onions: Onions release gases which cause rapid sprouting and rotting of potatoes. Store separately in airtight bag or portion.
Do not wash before storing: Water from washing potatoes promotes rotting. If they are soiled, gently brush off the dirt but do not wash until you are ready to use them.
Conclusion:
So, do you store potatoes in a paper bag? The answer is yes! Paper bags give the best balance of air circulation and protection from direct light. Wholesale Custom Paper Bag Supplier is always available to assist your business.
They help in keeping potatoes fresh by offering just enough air circulation to keep them away from the direct light, which is two of the major factors against sprouting, greening, and spoilage.
It doesn’t have to be a paper bag only, burlap sack, cardboard box, and wooden crate work just fine, but it’s relatively inexpensive, practical, and effective. The right atmosphere can ensure that even this simple paper bag will do the trick for your potato, letting you get maximum use from those kitchen stalwarts.
This would really help when one requires some few spuds, and this will always work, using a paper bag that is going to keep the spuds so much longer in good quality as opposed to other material, giving a great taste when finally, being used in meals.
Next time, try going back home and come up with a bag; the rest of us taught here. Enjoy for a number of weeks by the new, fresher spuds.
