Millions of people are storing their potatoes in the wrong place

Potatoes are the most wasted food in British households but you can save money and stop throwing them away by learning how to store them properly and make them last longer

Over 5.8 million potatoes are discarded daily in British homes, making them the nation's most wasted food item. To save money and reduce waste, it's crucial to store potatoes correctly, as many people unknowingly keep them in the wrong place.

Money-saving guru and founder of The Frugal Girls, Heidi, advises that potatoes will last much longer if kept cool and away from kitchen appliances like ovens, microwaves, or air fryers. She suggests: "All you'll need are cool, dark and dry conditions, and you can drastically extend the life of your potatoes! Store potatoes in a cool cupboard, closet, basement, or root cellar. The warmer the temperature, the faster your potatoes will want to sprout."

While it might seem logical to refrigerate potatoes due to their preference for cool temperatures, Heidi warns against this common mistake, saying: "Even though potatoes love cool locations, you'll want to make sure you keep them OUT of your refrigerator. When potatoes are stored in the fridge, the starches in them can convert to sugar."

This conversion can lead to an overly sweet taste and a gritty texture, which is particularly undesirable for dishes like mashed potatoes. Heidi, an 'egg expert', warned: "When potatoes are exposed to too much light, a green hue can start to take over on the skin," reports the Express.

This change in colour indicates that the potato might become harmful to consume. Heidi recommended that we avoid potatoes turning green at all costs saying, "Thankfully, the lack of light will help avoid that, prolong the life of the potato, and reduce early sprouting."

To ensure optimum storage, potatoes should be removed from their original plastic packaging from supermarkets; this allows for avoiding excess moisture which leads to mould. For best results, Hedi suggests opting for a basket or paper bag as they encourage airflow stating: "As opposed to closed-off airtight containers or zipped-up plastic bags, open brown paper bags are a great way to store potatoes to allow for proper ventilation and air flow."

She added a helpful tip for even better preservation: "I like to punch holes in my bags with a paper hole punch first to allow for even better ventilation." The ideal method involves using punched paper bags or an open basket, both ensuring sufficient air circulation.

By keeping potatoes away from moisture, sunlight and extreme temperatures, they can last up to four weeks or even longer. This means you could save money on this hearty vegetable this autumn.