How to Store Sweet Potatoes
If you're concerned that you won't be able to use all of your Muzzarelli Farms sweet potatoes before they start sprouting, here are some ways to store sweet potatoes for months, from best to worst.
Store Sweet Potatoes in a Cool, Dark Area
Duration: Up to 6 months
- Scrub sweet potatoes with a dry brush (no water, as the moisture can lead to rotting and even mold).
- Place sweet potatoes loosely in a paper bag, mesh bag or cardboard box to provide good air circulation (don't store in a closed plastic bag).
- Store in a dark area of a kitchen cabinet or basement (the darkness helps keep the sweet potatoes from turning green and bitter).
- The temperature where the sweet potatoes will be stored must be as close to 55 degrees as possible, so if you have a root cellar, wine cellar or wine fridge, this would be the perfect place. Make sure they're not located near a heat source such as an oven or sunny window.
- Once your sweet potatoes are stored, don't handle them a lot.
- Don't store sweet potatoes with other produce, as other produce can give off gases that make the potatoes sprout more quickly, and likewise the potatoes can cause other produce to ripen and spoil more quickly.
Store Sweet Potatoes in the Freezer
Duration: Up to 12 months
Find out how to store sweet potatoes in the freezer.
Store Sweet Potatoes in the Refrigerator
Duration: 3 to 4 weeks if raw, 3 or 4 days if cooked
Believe it or not, it's not a good idea to store sweet potatoes in the refrigerator, for several reasons. The temperature of a refrigerator is too cool, which can change the sweet potato's cell structure and make them hard in the middle. Refrigerating sweet potatoes can also change or diminish their flavor. And since ventilation is important when storing sweet potatoes, they shouldn't be stored in a closed drawer. However, if you don't have an area of your home that's 55 degrees, refrigerating your sweet potatoes may be the only option, as they'll last longer than keeping them at room temperature, but they also won't taste as good when it comes time to use them.
Store Sweet Potatoes on the Kitchen Counter
Duration: 2 weeks
If you plan on using sweet potatoes within the next week or so, they can be stored right on your kitchen counter at room temperature. But if you won't be using them within that timeframe, it's best to store them using one of the methods described above
