After the hardest work in gardening is done, the potato harvest comes. Potatoes are a strategic source that is a major source of carbohydrates and energy that we need our body to function throughout the day.
Once you have picked the potatoes we have a variety of ways we can prepare them, it all depends on our personal choice. The most popular ways to cook potatoes for cooking are french fries, mashed potatoes or homemade chips.
But after you finish the potato harvest that’s not all, you need to know how to properly store the potato harvest if you want to eat it in the coming months.
Today in this article we are going to show you 4 options to keep your potato harvest.
Root Cellar Storage
The first option we will present to you today is the proper storage of potatoes. Throwing potatoes into the cellar is not enough.
To properly store the potatoes you need to find a plastic or wooden crate in which to put the potatoes. You should put the plastic potato crate in a dry, dark and cool place such as a basement or garden that is not exposed to the sun during the day.
How To Sort and Cure Fresh Potatoes
Once you have finished harvesting the potatoes there is a selection of those potatoes that are suitable for storage. If you cut fresh potatoes while harvesting them you should be careful not to destroy their skin which protects them from rot.
You should not throw away such potatoes as there are several methods to save them. All you have to do is to clean them thoroughly from the dirt and leave them on paper in a dark place for up to two weeks.
With this process, the skin that protects the potatoes will be firm and will allow longer storage.
How to Store Cured Potatoes
Once you have done the potato healing process it is very important how you store them. These potatoes are stored in a cardboard box or paper bag and they would probably have ventilation holes. Our advice is to avoid storing these potatoes in plastic crates as they can retain moisture and destroy the potatoes.
Put the potatoes in a cardboard box or paper bag in a basement or room where the temperature is around 35 to 40 degrees F.
Once you have successfully stored the potatoes, it is advisable to inspect them for seven weeks to check that there is no destroyed potato.
Note: If you leave the potatoes that way, one potato that is destroyed can destroy the other potatoes in the carton.
Troubleshooting Stored Potatoes
Proper storage of potatoes will allow them to last less than 6 months. You can also read the important information you need to know about storing your harvested potatoes here.
- Keep your potatoes far away from apples and other fresh fruit, as the ethylene gas they put off can cause the potatoes to sprout or spoil.
- Potatoes often develop a sweet taste during storage because they are slowly converting starches to sugars. You can prevent this from impacting your food by bringing the potatoes out of storage a few days before cooking them so that the sugar reverts to starch.
- Potatoes develop green skin when exposed to light. Not only does this skin taste bitter, but it’s also toxic. Cut away any green parts before cooking.
- Don’t wash the potatoes until ready to use. Otherwise, you’re putting them at risk of creating habitat space for microbes that lead to rotting.
- Remove sprouts when you see them unless you plan to use them as seed potatoes.
Rebury Potatoes Outdoors
If your potato harvest does not want to last for a very long time then the second option we will show you is that you can bury them immediately after harvest.
All you have to do is dig big trenches in the ground and not bury the potatoes.
This way the potatoes can stand for the longest until autumn. If you leave more, it will rot.
Slice and Blanche Potatoes for Freezer Storage
If you want your potatoes to last longer then you can freeze them in the freezer.
As a third option today we will show you the steps you need to take to store your potatoes in the fridge.
First you have to wash the potatoes and then cut them into circles.
Once you have completed this procedure the next thing to do is to put them in a pot of water and put them on fire. This process should take 3-5 minutes after the water starts to boil.
After the spoonful of potatoes are done, we need to remove the potatoes and put them in a frosting bowl to stop the cooking process.
Once the potatoes have cooled down all you need to do is put them in a quality freezer bag.
Note: Whenever you want to take the potatoes out of the freezer, it is advisable to freeze them yourself rather than defrost them in the microwave.
Dehydrate for Potato Flakes
Also a process you can use to store your harvested potatoes is the process of making potato flakes.
In the following we will explain the whole process of making homemade potato flakes.
Begin by washing and peeling the potatoes before cooking them on the stove until a knife cuts through them easily.
Mushier is better!
Let the water cool and mash the potatoes right in the water. Use a stand mixer to blend until silky smooth or use an immersion blender to do so directly in the pot.
Next, carefully spoon your potato goo onto dehydrator sheets. The thinner the layers, the faster they will dry. Set the temperature for 140 degrees and check the potatoes’ progress after about twelve hours to see if there are any dried pieces.
The potatoes are done when they break rather than bend, but be patient; the entire process can take 36 hours or more.
Once dried, pulverize the pieces by putting them in a food processor, and store them in an airtight container.
You can bring them back to life by making mashed potatoes. Add one tablespoon of butter to 2/3 cups water and bring to a boil before turning off the heat and adding ¼ cup of milk and a 2/3 cup of flakes.
As the potatoes re-hydrate, you can add more butter or milk to taste.
As much fun as fresh potatoes are to eat, you’re sure to appreciate your efforts even more if you can keep enjoying your harvest in the middle of winter. Take the time to properly store and preserve your potatoes, and they might just last.