If you’ve ever opened your pantry with visions of golden, crispy fries only to find your bag of potatoes sprouting like a science experiment, you’re not alone. Potatoes are wonderfully versatile, affordable, and essential in so many kitchens — but keeping them fresh can feel like a losing battle. Fortunately, there’s an age-old trick that actually works, and it comes straight from the kind of grandma who somehow keeps everything in her pantry perfect.
The Problem With Sprouting Potatoes
Sprouting isn’t just inconvenient — it’s also a sign your potatoes are producing solanine, a natural compound that can cause bitterness and, in high amounts, digestive issues. While trimming away small sprouts is usually fine for cooking, heavy sprouting means the potato is past its prime.
If you buy potatoes in bulk (because who wants to run to the store every few days?), preventing sprouting becomes even more important. That’s where grandma’s wisdom steps in.
Grandma’s Surprisingly Effective Trick
The secret to longer-lasting potatoes isn’t fancy, expensive, or complicated. In fact, it’s just the opposite: store your potatoes with apples.
Yes, really.
Place your potatoes in a basket or open container in a cool, dry space — and nestle a couple of apples among them. Apples naturally release ethylene gas, a plant hormone that slows down sprouting in potatoes. It’s one of those counterintuitive kitchen hacks that feels like magic the first time you try it.
And unlike refrigerating potatoes — which the U.S. Department of Agriculture advises against because cold temperatures convert starches into sugars — this method keeps them firm, flavorful, and sprout-free longer.
How to Store Potatoes the Right Way
A few simple habits can stretch the lifespan of your spuds dramatically:
- Never wash potatoes before storing them. Moisture accelerates sprouting and mold.
- Sort before storing. Remove bruised or damaged potatoes — one bad spud will spoil the bunch.
- Choose the right container. A breathable basket, paper bag, or wooden crate works best.
- Keep them in a dark place. Light speeds up sprouting and green discoloration.
- Trim small sprouts if needed. A few tiny growths are harmless, but if the potato is soft, wrinkled, or covered in sprouts, it’s time to toss it.
A Time-Tested Trick Worth Keeping
There’s something comforting about discovering a kitchen hack that has survived across generations. This simple combo — potatoes plus apples — really does slow down sprouting without chemicals, gadgets, or special storage bins.
So the next time you bring home a big sack of potatoes, give grandma’s trick a try. Your pantry will stay organized, your potatoes will stay fresh, and your future batches of fries, mash, hash browns, and stews will thank you.
Fresh potatoes, fewer surprises — all thanks to a clever, natural, and beautifully simple solution.
