Hubby wants to know and I'm sure someone here can tell me. My pantry is dark but the same temp as the rest of the house.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), April 28, 2002

Answers

I keep mine in an old TIN milk box and it makes a world of difference (have tried coolers, but not with the same success). Keep them away from onions and apples, as they will speed up potato sprouting. If they're from your garden, keep as much dirt on them as long as possible; if Of course, if you could keep them much cooler, as in the basement or garage, that would be better, but there is something about the tin box...When I've had really good crop of 'taters, I also bury the babies in tin boxes in the garden over the winter. Sweet, fresh 'tater's in early spring!

If you're using store-bought potatoes, you've got to realize that what you are purchasing in winter is probably the summer's harvest that has been stored in such a way they are still marketable umpteen weeks or months later. Unfortunately, when these potatoes come out of their forced dormancy, it is natural for them to sprout, faster than potatoes purchased just after harvest, as it is part of their genetic reproduction code triggered by the natural state of things.

There is a lot of misinformation about sprouted potatoes being "poison." Nonsense. Or I would have been dead a long, long, long time ago!

Of course, the best thing to do with potatoes that are sprouting is to find a patch of dirt(even a planter) and plant them!

sooz

-- sooz (deerfarm@rcn.com), April 28, 2002.

Periodically rub the sprouts off to keep the taters as crisp as possible as long as possible. Keep dark and as cool as possible. Also keep from onions and apples, etc. that give off ethylene gas.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), April 28, 2002.

If you have the room, is there a reason why a person couldn't keep potatoes in the crisper of your frig?

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), April 28, 2002.

Potatoes kept in the fridge convert some of their starch to sugar. Some people like them that way, I don't. I have, however, boiled up a bunch of potatoes that were about to go bad and kept them in the fridge for quick meals. They won't go sweet on you after they're cooked.

-- kim in CO (kimk61252@hotmail.com), April 29, 2002.

Sooz -- when you say TIN, do you really mean TIN, or would any metal container do? -- Snooz

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), May 02, 2002.

Also, do you keep the lid on tight or not?

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), May 02, 2002.

Cook them. They won't sprout after they're cooked.

Actually, I've seen people here say they can potatoes. While it might not be the most cost-effective use of the jars, it would mean you'd have a quick easy basis for a meal in the future. Possibly keep eating the ones that sprout, can any excess, use the freezer when you can't can (hah!). At the last, feed cooked potatoes to the livestock (poultry, pigs, even dogs and cats will eat potatoes cooked with some meat sauce, or with some meat (like canned dog food) poured over or mashed with). Goats, cattle - just about anything will thrive on cooked potatoes.

Also use in cooking. Potato bread, pancakes, soup, biscuits. If you can't do anthing else, freeze mashed potatoes.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 02, 2002.

Old timers put a green apple on the potatoes. The gas the apple gives keeps the spuds from sprouting.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), May 02, 2002.