How long do potatoes last?

Raw potatoes keep 1 to 2 months in a cool, dark, dry place, and 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge. Sweet potatoes keep 2 to 3 weeks in the pantry. Cooked or mashed potatoes freeze for 10 to 12 months.

Food	Fridge	Freezer	Pantry
PotatoesFreezer time is for cooked or mashed potatoes.	1–2 weeksfrom purchase	10–12 months	1–2 monthsfrom purchase
Sweet potatoes	—	—	2–3 weeksfrom purchase

Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.

How to tell if potatoes have gone bad

Soft, wrinkled or shriveled potatoes, or ones that leak liquid.
A musty, moldy or rotten smell, often from a single bad potato in the bag. Remove it before it spreads.
Mold, or dark, sunken rotten patches.
Green skin and sprouts aren't spoilage, but they need care: see below.

How to store potatoes

Keep potatoes somewhere cool, dark, dry and airy: a cupboard, cellar or garage that doesn't freeze, ideally 7 to 10 °C (45 to 50 °F).
Store them in a paper bag, a cardboard box or a basket, not a sealed plastic bag, which traps moisture.
Keep them away from light, which turns them green, and away from onions, which make them sprout and spoil sooner.
Don't wash potatoes before storing them; brush off dirt just before cooking.
The fridge is fine for potatoes, though it can make them slightly sweeter. Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, are best kept out of it.

Can you freeze potatoes?

Not raw: they turn watery, gray and grainy. Cook them first. Mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, and blanched or par-cooked fries and wedges keep 10 to 12 months in the freezer. Freeze them in a sealed bag or container and reheat them straight from frozen.

Questions

Can you eat potatoes that have sprouted?

If the potato is still firm, cut off the sprouts and eyes generously and use it soon. If it's soft, wrinkled or has a lot of sprouts, throw it out. Sprouts contain solanine, a natural toxin.

Is it safe to eat green potatoes?

The green part shows the potato has been in the light and has more solanine. Peel or cut away all the green; if it's green throughout or tastes bitter, throw it out.

How long do cooked potatoes last?

3 to 4 days in the fridge, like other leftovers. Refrigerate them within 2 hours of cooking.

Add potatoes to ShelfLife when you buy a bag, and get a reminder before they start to sprout.

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