How long are potatoes good for?!


Question: How long are potatoes good for?
I bought a large bag of potatoes I think about a month or so ago (can't quite remember) and have only used 3 out of a bag of 20! How long are potatoes good for? I can't stand throwing that much food out, are they still good to eat? I'm only cooking for myself so they'll need to last me another month or so. Is it possible at all to get food poisoning from potatoes and how can I tell if they've gone bad?

Answers:

Properly stored they will last many months.

The need to be stored in a cool dark place preferably in a sacking bag but those multi layer paper-bags will do.

You are unlikely to get food poisoning if the turn green, and it is sunlight that makes them green.

The first sign to step up the speed to use them is when they start to sprout, and then they will soften up and finally shrink.

To use up a lot in a hurry make a big pot of potato soup, or par fry them like a chippie does, pat dry well and bag up for the freezer. (it is an easy way to have chips ready when you want to make some as they only take a few minutes to finish frying)



When potatoes go bad as in unsafe to eat you will know. They get black and ferment and it is very very obvious. When potatoes sprout, they are still okay to eat. Sometimes the skin shrivels a bit and they are still okay. Just peel first. Potatoes don't really spoil or go unsafe. It is normal for potatoes to have few grey bruises in them near the surface. If you want them to last longer keep dark cool and dry like in the fridge. You won't get food poisoning from a potato. Mine last 1-2 months.




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