How Long Do Sweet Potatoes Last and How to Store Them | Glad® (2024)

FAQs

How Long Do Sweet Potatoes Last and How to Store Them | Glad®? ›

Stored on the counter, raw sweet potatoes generally last up to two weeks. When stored in a cool, dark, dry area (similar to a root cellar), sweet potatoes can last about a month. Maximize their shelf life by storing them at a cool temperature.

To help your sweet potatoes last longer it's important to avoid washing them before storing. Sweet potatoes last the longest when stored in a dark place for up to 6 months. Do not keep your sweet potatoes near other vegetables as they can cause other foods to ripen more quickly.

You really shouldn't store sweet potatoes in the fridge if you plan to eat them within a month or so, as refrigeration can bring on an unpleasant taste and a hard center. They technically will last longer if they're refrigerated, but they just won't taste great.

The simple answer is yes! Sweet potatoes can be frozen raw, baked, boiled, or even mashed. However, keep in mind that raw frozen sweet potatoes are likely to get freezer burn, so try to cook them in some way first.

Sweet potatoes can maintain excellent quality for up to a year in proper storage conditions. The ideal storage conditions for sweet potato are the same as for winter squash; moderately warm (55-60F) at 60-75% relative humidity.

Once cut, sweet potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two to four days. Can I freeze raw sweet potatoes? We don't recommend it! Freezing uncooked potatoes will change their taste and texture, causing them to become mealy.

Traditional methods recommend storing sweet potatoes in some sand, but you can also use a box or perforated plastic bag in the right temperatures and conditions. Curing is crucial to storing sweet potatoes for winter successfully. Harvest the potatoes in a dry period if possible.

These Veggies Like It Cool and Dry

They will last longest at 50 to 60°F and 60 to 70 percent humidity. (Again, storage times are for ideal conditions.) A vinyl-coated wire laundry cart tucked into a dark basem*nt room provides perfect storage for sweet potatoes.

If your sweet potato is soft in spots, smells rotten, or oozes a mysterious liquid, that potato should be discarded. Another sign that sweet potatoes have taken a turn for the worse is if they start growing stalky purplish sprouts.

If your sweet potato is oozing, soft and squishy, discolored, smelly, or have a bunch of sprouts, it's time to toss. If there are only a few sprouts and the sweet potato is still firm you can cut the sprouted portion off, cook and eat right away, or you can plant it!

Do whole sweet potatoes go bad? ›

If you're wondering how long sweet potatoes last, the answer depends on how you store them and if they're raw or cooked. Raw sweet potatoes can last anywhere from a day (if cut) to a month (whole). Cooked sweet potatoes will keep from spoiling for a few days up to six months (if frozen).

Allow the mashed sweet potatoes to cool completely, then transfer them (in serving size portions) to zip-top bags or other freezer-safe containers. For added protection, wrap in at least one layer of foil. Freeze flat for up to six months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze raw sweet potatoes? It's not recommended to freeze raw sweet potato fries or cubes. They won't hold up well in the freezer and they won't cook correctly in recipes. Blanching or cooking sweet potatoes fully is the way to go.

Sweet potatoes are usually stored in nonrefrigerated commercial or farm warehouses. This method of storing offers the primary advantage of orderly marketing several months after harvesting. After they are harvested, sweet potatoes should be cured.

Instead, keep your sweet potatoes in a paper bag or basket in a kitchen cabinet, pantry, or basem*nt. Choose a cabinet that's not near the heat of your oven. A spot closer to the floor will be cooler. Sweet potatoes prefer a temperature between 50 and 60 degrees.

The key is to keep sweet potatoes somewhere that's cool and dry, and never exposing them to moisture. You may want to look into getting some paper bags or a breathable food storage container to store your sweet potatoes separately, since placing them near other fruits and vegetables could cause them to ripen quickly.

Cool Storage is Optimal for Sweet Potatoes

As a general rule, you'll want to store your root veggies in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Maybe this is why the basem*nt is so great. They'll need some sort of air circulation. Nothing fancy.

With all those amazing ways to eat sweet potatoes, you'll want to stock up in the fall when prices are lowest. You can then slice, dice, bake, or mash what you won't eat immediately and freeze the sweet potatoes for up to 12 months.

You should avoid storing sweet potatoes in the refrigerator says Richard, explaining that refrigerator storage "will produce a hard center and unpleasant taste." If you choose to store sweet potatoes on your countertop, keep an eye on them because Richard notes that storing the tubers in the sunlight can cause them to ...

How to store sweet potatoes for winter indoors? ›

In addition to being extremely nutritious and versatile, unwashed sweet potatoes can also keep for months if stored properly. This is where so many of us go wrong. Like other root vegetables and tubers, sweet potatoes are best stored in a cool, dry, dark place.

Cured sweet potatoes kept in a root cellar or basem*nt can last up to six months. If you don't have a root cellar, sweet potatoes will last up to two weeks on the counter or up to a year in the freezer.

Keep Potatoes in a Cool and Dry Environment

As previously explained, potatoes should be placed in a cardboard box, mesh bag, or basket to ensure good ventilation. Store your potatoes in a cool, dark place (45 to 50 F is the ideal temperature range), such as your pantry or unheated basem*nt.