The keeping quality of modern-day potatoes
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340118)
Rockingham, Australia
October 19, 2023 1:10am CST
Isn't that a high-falutin' title? 
And the photo is of some butternut pumpkins/squash that I grew. I've only grown potatoes once or twice.
When I was young, my parents had a farm and ‘town day’ was always Friday. Every other day I’d go home on the school bus but on Fridays, I walked to the main street and was always allowed to have a chocolate-coated ice-cream which would cost 6d.
Mum would have to buy enough groceries to last the week. There were five in the family. She would buy a big bag of potatoes and onions plus various other vegetables. The potatoes would easily last the week but sometimes the ones I buy nowadays don’t really keep that well. We only buy a few at a time for that reason.
The ones my mother bought were mostly quite dirty so I don’t know if that had something to do with their keeping qualities. They were kept in the dark but the ones we buy are kept in the dark too.
I wonder if they really don’t keep as long or is it my rose-coloured glasses again?
And the photo is of some butternut pumpkins/squash that I grew. I've only grown potatoes once or twice.
When I was young, my parents had a farm and ‘town day’ was always Friday. Every other day I’d go home on the school bus but on Fridays, I walked to the main street and was always allowed to have a chocolate-coated ice-cream which would cost 6d.
Mum would have to buy enough groceries to last the week. There were five in the family. She would buy a big bag of potatoes and onions plus various other vegetables. The potatoes would easily last the week but sometimes the ones I buy nowadays don’t really keep that well. We only buy a few at a time for that reason.
The ones my mother bought were mostly quite dirty so I don’t know if that had something to do with their keeping qualities. They were kept in the dark but the ones we buy are kept in the dark too.
I wonder if they really don’t keep as long or is it my rose-coloured glasses again?26 people like this
29 responses
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
19 Oct 23
Do you keep your potatoes cool? If you're keeping them at room temp, they should last about a week or a week and a half. In a cool pantry or cellar, they'll last for months.
We grew a lot of our own produce and butchered our own chickens, pigs, steers and rabbits but mom still went grocery shopping once a month for things we didn't or couldn't produce on the farm.4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
22 Oct 23
@JudyEv If you have room, you could put the potatoes in the fridge. They'll last months in there.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct 23
@DaddyEvil Someone else said it's not a good idea. 
Maybe I'll read up a bit more about it but obviously you've done this and it worked.
Maybe I'll read up a bit more about it but obviously you've done this and it worked.1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51964)
• Philippines
19 Oct 23
the potatoes we bought from the market doesn't look like that. Not sure if we grow them either.
4 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (89883)
• Arvada, Colorado
19 Oct 23
I know the spuds I get are entirely rubbish compared to what I know..they don't keep and there is a lot lacking in quality. I am not sure what the problem is anymore.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (178771)
• United States
19 Oct 23
There is probably some transportation time which makes the potatoes old before you get them. You have some nice looking squash. Have a good day or evening!
2 people like this
@allknowing (136481)
• India
20 Oct 23
There is a compartment below one of the fridges where we keep s.potatoes, potatoes and onions They tend to sprout when the weather turns a bit cool.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136481)
• India
20 Oct 23
@JudyEv This compartment is attached to the fridge on the outside.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Oct 23
@allknowing Oh okay. That's different to ours.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68043)
• United States
21 Oct 23
I don’t think it’s your imagination. It seems like my last potato in the bag is more like a raisin than a potato (well, still the same color and size, but the skin is wrinkled).
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68043)
• United States
21 Oct 23
@JudyEv — it’s probably a consequence of “mass production” farming.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
19 Oct 23
the ones here 're sold not protected from light, lucky if'n they last more'n 3 days e'en if i put'em 'nto darkness. they scrub 'em too clean, that dirt from yer young'unhood protected 'em.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
22 Oct 23
@JudyEv 've tried those thingies, too. e'en mesh baskets thinkin' perhaps they needed some air flow. nope, still don't last more'n a few days once purchased. 'f course, back'n the day schtuff 'twas sourced more from local growers. per chance all this 'mportin' from elsewhere 'tis the culprit?
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct 23
@crazyhorseladycx A lot of our food comes from overseas. We should really be growing as much of our own stuff as we can but that's not what happens.
@RasmaSandra (79886)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Oct 23
We used to buy potatoes in large quantities and kept them in our cold cellar and they usually lasted us most of the winter,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79886)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Oct 23
@JudyEv maybe this can give you an idea
https://www.glad.com/food-protection/protection-pointers/how-to-store-potatoes/?utm
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Oct 23
@RasmaSandra Thanks for that link. I could easily put them into ziplock bags.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62529)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
20 Oct 23
Supposedly straight from the farm potatoes last longer because they dont have the perservatives and stuff that store bought ones.
Same with eggs, eggs straight from the butt can be kept on the counter for weeks and not go bad.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Oct 23
I might try keeping them in the fridge and see if that helps.
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 23
@thislittlepennyearns I'm tempted to buy one of those bags that you can grow potatoes in. There is a pocket on the side so you can harvest the spuds in due course.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62529)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
25 Oct 23
@JudyEv I did keep potatoes in the fridge but we use them to fast for me to keep them in the fridge. I want to plant our own whenever it is the right season to do so.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50258)
• United States
20 Oct 23
We have vegetables and fruits spoiling way to fast.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct 23
Straight from your own garden they might keep better. You don't know how long the shop ones have been in transit and/or storage. How nice to have home-grown potatoes.
@freelancermariagrace (28012)
• Philippines
20 Oct 23
Well, I noticed the same thing. The potatoes I have been buying recently are of not good quality 
. They do not last long, so I only get what I will consume for a few days.
. They do not last long, so I only get what I will consume for a few days.1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37565)
•
23 Oct 23
In cooler weather I keep my potatoes and onions in the garage. They last longer out there. But you are right, this year potatoes have been iffy in their quality.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37565)
•
24 Oct 23
@JudyEv
True, but it's frustrating and no one likes to waste money, even on potatoes! 
1 person likes this
