POTATOES don’t have to be included on the weekly shopping list as a little-known storage method extends their shelf life.
Many people find themselves topping up the cupboard with the food staple every one to two weeks.
This is due to old guidance recommending that potatoes are best kept in a cool, dry and dark place.
However, it would be a mistake to follow this advice as it actually causes unnecessary food wastage.
Research has shown the vegetable can last for up to six months when stored in a fridge at below 5 degrees Celsius.
UK households waste around 80,000 tonnes of fresh potatoes every year because they aren’t used in time, according to Love Food Hate Waste experts.
Throwing away half a million tonnes of fresh vegetables and salad as well as a quarter of a million tonnes of fresh fruit is valued at £2.1billion yearly.
It was previously believed that potatoes stored in the fridge could have elevated levels of acrylamide when cooked.
Scientific research has disproven concerns surrounding the chemical found in starchy foods that can increase the risk of cancer.
The findings have been backed by the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) and reviewed by the FSA.
Just like bananas, storing potatoes in the fridge can ensure they last three times longer.
“Storing your spuds in the fridge doesn’t actually increase acrylamide potential compared with storing them in a cupboard at room temperature,” said Love Food Hate Waste experts.
The Love Food Hate Waste campaign is run by the global environmental charity WRAP.
A study they conducted confirmed that best-before dates may not always be accurate when determining the edibility of foods.
The guidance should be followed but it’s important to ensure food is stored correctly to make it last as long as possible.
The advice for how to store potatoes comes after it was revealed many foodies struggle to empty their baked bean tins.
Foods must be stored correctly to keep them fresh and prevent the spread of bacteria.
Nutrition expert Birgit Brendel said bread will last longer when stored in the fridge or freezer.
However, this can compromise the flavour.
Storing in ceramic or pottery containers is an alternative that allows for air to flow easily and slow the growth of mould.
Robert Morris, managing director of food safety consultants, Complete Food Safety, revealed the best place to store fresh fruit and vegetables.
He said salad foods should be stored in the fridge drawer, but away from anything grown in the soil such as carrots, parsnips and beetroot.
Tomatoes are an exception to the rule as fridges can alter the natural ripening process and diminish their taste.
He also advised against putting avocados and bananas in the fridge as this will cause them to blacken quicker.
Professor Charles Spence, of the University of Oxford, said beans become “trapped in unreachable angles” due to the shape of Heinz Beanz tins.
He said the best solution is to store the tins upside down to prevent settling at the bottom in the “rich and thick” sauce.
Heinz has unveiled upside-down tins to help people correct their baked bean storage mistakes.
The Limited Edition Upside Down Beanz costs £1.40 per tin and can be bought directly from the manufacturer’s website.
