Potato storage advice: Keep potatoes away from onions to prevent spoilage

To prevent premature sprouting and spoilage, potatoes should be stored separately from onions. While both items share similar environmental preferences, storing them together can lead to issues: onions release gases that trigger potato sprouting, while moisture from potatoes can cause onions to soften and rot.

Experts from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recommend keeping potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry location, away from heat sources like stoves or sinks. Potatoes should be kept in breathable containers, such as mesh bags, paper bags, or cardboard boxes with holes, rather than closed plastic bags which trap moisture.

Regarding consumption, potatoes that are firm and have only small sprouts can be eaten if the sprouts and surrounding areas are thoroughly removed. However, potatoes that are heavily sprouted, green, soft, or wrinkled should be discarded. These conditions indicate an increased concentration of glycoalkaloids, such as solanine and chaconine, which can cause nausea and digestive distress.