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Last winter, I stored our garden potatoes in open crates in my canning room. I thought the room would be dark and cool enough to carry them through the winter, but by January, the sprouts were shooting up past my hip!
The crates gave the potatoes plenty of airflow. The problem was that the room stayed much too warm. This year, I am trying two different ways to store potatoes for winter. I layered our larger potatoes in dry sand inside a galvanized can, and I placed the smaller potatoes in a large paper bag with ventilation holes.
This is our first winter comparing these two methods, so I will update this post as the season goes on. My hope is that keeping the potatoes colder, darker and better protected will help them last much longer than they did last year.
Putting away the harvest does not always mean canning everything we grow. Some vegetables keep beautifully when they are stored under the right conditions. If you are filling your pantry and freezer for winter, you may also like my guides for freezing carrots, freezing sweet corn and deciding whether freezing or canning is the better preserving method.
The Short Answer
To store potatoes for winter, cure them first and choose only firm, undamaged potatoes. Keep them in a dark, well-ventilated place close to 40°F or 4°C, with enough humidity to prevent them from shrivelling. Protect them from light, warmth, freezing temperatures and condensation.
No container can make up for a room that is too warm. That was the lesson I learned from last year’s very enthusiastic potato sprouts!
Why I Changed My Potato Storage Method
Last year, I kept the potatoes in crates in our canning room. The space was dark and the crates allowed air to move around the potatoes, so I expected them to keep well.
For a while, they did. But as winter settled in, it became clear that the room was not cold enough. By January, the potatoes had grown super long sprouts. Some reached above my hip!
This year, I wanted to improve both the container and the location. I sorted the harvest by size and divided it between two simple storage methods:
- The larger potatoes went into dry sand inside a galvanized can.
- The smaller potatoes went into a heavy paper bag with ventilation holes.
Separating them this way is not a rule for potato storage. It just made sense for our harvest and gives me an easy way to compare the two methods over winter.
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The Best Conditions for Storing Potatoes
The storage location matters just as much as the container you choose. Potatoes need four main things to keep well: cold temperatures, darkness, humidity and airflow.
| Storage condition | What potatoes need |
| Temperature | Around 40°F or 4°C |
| Light | Complete darkness |
| Humidity | High enough to prevent shrivelling |
| Airflow | Enough ventilation to prevent trapped moisture |
| Location | A cold room, cellar, cool basement or protected garage |
| Inspection | Check every one to two weeks |
A warm room encourages potatoes to sprout. Light can cause the skins to turn green, while temperatures below freezing can ruin the texture. Too much trapped moisture may lead to mold and rot.
If you are unsure how cold your storage area actually gets, place a small thermometer and humidity gauge beside the potatoes. This takes the guesswork out of winter storage and makes it easier to notice temperature swings before they become a problem.
What you’ll need for this recipe:
Choose a galvanized can that is clean, dry and free from rust. I also prefer a can that is easy to move before it is filled because it becomes very heavy once the sand is added.
How to Prepare Potatoes for Winter Storage
- Cure the potatoes: Allow the freshly harvested potatoes to cure in a dark, shaded and ventilated area. Make sure the skins are dry and firm before moving them into storage.
- Sort the potatoes: Look over every potato and remove any that are:
- Cut or punctured
- Soft
- Wet
- Moldy
- Badly bruised
- Diseased
- Significantly green
- Beginning to rot
- Brush away built up soil: Gently brush away large clumps of dry soil. I avoid adding extra moisture before storage because the potatoes need to be completely dry when they go into the sand or paper bag.
- Separate the harvest: I sorted the larger potatoes into one pile for the sand method and placed the smaller potatoes in the paper bag. You can also separate them by variety or put your most perfect storage potatoes in the container that will remain undisturbed the longest.
Method 1: How to Store Potatoes in Sand
Layering potatoes in sand keeps them in darkness and prevents them from resting against one another. The sand also helps slow moisture loss, but it needs to stay dry enough that it does not create a damp, airless environment.
- Make sure the galvanized can is clean and completely dry.
- Place the empty can in its winter location, if possible. It will be difficult to move once it is full.
- Add a shallow layer of clean, dry sand to the bottom of the can.
- Arrange one layer of cured potatoes over the sand. Leave a little space between each potato so they are not touching.
- Cover the potatoes completely with another layer of sand.
- Continue alternating layers of potatoes and sand.
- Finish with a layer of sand so no potatoes are exposed to light.
- Fit the lid loosely enough that the container is not completely airtight.
- Keep the can in a cold, dark location where it will not freeze.
- Check the can regularly for condensation, soft potatoes or an unusual smell.
I used a galvanized storage can similar to this one. It is sturdy, blocks light and fits neatly into our winter storage space.
A Note About Condensation
A solid metal can may collect condensation when the temperature changes. For that reason, the potatoes and sand must be dry before filling the can, and the lid should not create an airtight seal.
Keep the can off a damp concrete floor by placing it on a wooden board or low platform. Check beneath the lid and around the sides of the can regularly. If you notice moisture building up, increase the ventilation and inspect the potatoes right away.
Sand will not prevent sprouting if the room is too warm. The can still needs to be stored somewhere consistently cold and protected from freezing.
Method 2: How to Store Potatoes in a Paper Bag
A paper bag is a cheap and simple way to keep potatoes in darkness while allowing them to breathe. It is also a lot easier to open and inspect than a deep container filled with sand.
- Choose a large, sturdy paper bag without a plastic lining.
- Make ventilation holes around the sides of the bag.
- Add the cured potatoes loosely. Do not pack them tightly or overfill the bag.
- Fold the top over lightly without sealing it airtight.
- Label the bag with the potato variety and storage date.
- Place it in a cold, completely dark location.
- Check the potatoes every one to two weeks.
- Remove any potatoes that become soft, wet or moldy.
I am using the paper bag for our smaller potatoes because they are the ones I tend to reach for first when making soups and stews. These large heavy-duty paper bags are roomy enough for a small harvest but still easy to lift and inspect.
Storing Potatoes in Sand vs. a Paper Bag
Both methods are affordable, but each has its own advantages.
| Method | Best feature | Possible drawback |
| Sand in a galvanized can | Blocks light and keeps potatoes separated | Heavy and may trap condensation |
| Ventilated paper bag | Breathable, inexpensive and easy to inspect | Offers less protection from temperature changes |
The sand method needs a little more setup and is not as convenient when you want to grab just one or two potatoes. But, it keeps the potatoes separated and fully covered.
The paper bag method is faster and makes weekly inspections easy. The bag needs to stay dry, and it shouldn’t be set right against a damp floor or wall.
I will update this post once we have used both methods through the winter. The real test will be which potatoes remain firm and unsprouted the longest in our space!
Tips for Keeping Potatoes From Sprouting
- Keep the temperature close to 40°F or 4°C.
- Store the potatoes in complete darkness.
- Protect them from freezing.
- Use a breathable container rather than sealed plastic.
- Keep the storage area ventilated.
- Check the potatoes every one to two weeks.
- Remove soft or rotting potatoes immediately.
- Use damaged potatoes first.
- Keep potatoes away from apples, pears and other ripening fruit.
- Store potatoes and onions separately.
If your potatoes grow very long sprouts, the storage room is probably too warm. That was our main problem last winter. The crates had plenty of airflow, but the canning room did not stay cold enough for long-term storage.
How Long Do Potatoes Last in Storage?
Properly cured potatoes may last approximately two to four months in a good home-storage environment. Some storage varieties can last longer when the temperature, humidity and ventilation remain ideal.
How long your potatoes keep will depend on:
- The potato variety
- How mature they were at harvest
- Whether they were cured properly
- The temperature of the room
- Humidity and airflow
- Whether damaged potatoes were removed
- How often they are inspected
My goal is to keep as much of our harvest as possible into the heart of winter. Since every home has a slightly different storage environment, regular inspections are just as important as the original setup.
How to Tell When a Stored Potato Has Gone Bad
Check your potatoes regularly and remove any that show signs of spoilage.
Watch for:
- Soft or wet spots
- Leaking liquid
- Mold
- A strong or unpleasant smell
- Extensive green colouring
- Heavy shrivelling
- Rot around the eyes
- A potato that has become very soft while sprouting
A firm potato with a few small sprouts may still be usable after the sprouts and surrounding eyes are removed. Discard potatoes that are green, very soft, heavily sprouted or showing signs of rot.
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Ways to Use Stored Potatoes
Having garden potatoes tucked away makes winter meals feel a little easier. I use them most often in soups, stews and simple side dishes.
Try them in my creamy andouille potato soup, cozy Polish potato soup or hearty Dutch oven chicken stew.
If you have more potatoes than you can store, turn some of them into homemade frozen french fries. Once summer rolls around again, they are also perfect for my homestead-style classic potato salad.
Other simple ways to use stored potatoes include:
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted potatoes
- Breakfast hash
- Scalloped potatoes
- Cottage pie
- Potato pancakes
- Chowders
- Slow cooker soups and stews
Storing This Year’s Potato Harvest
After last year’s hip-high potato sprouts, I knew I needed to pay closer attention to temperature instead of relying on a dark room alone.
This winter, our larger potatoes are tucked into dry sand inside a galvanized can, while the smaller potatoes are stored in a ventilated paper bag. I will check both methods regularly and update this post with the one that carries our harvest furthest into winter.
If you are putting away more of the fall harvest, see how I freeze carrots for year-round meals and the seven things I do to prepare the garden for fall.
Similar Ideas
Storing Potatoes for Winter
Equipment
- Galvanized can with a loosely fitted lid
- Large heavy-duty paper bag
- Pencil, hole punch or screwdriver
- Thermometer and humidity gauge
Ingredients
- Freshly harvested potatoes
- Clean, dry sand
Instructions
- Cure the potatoes. Spread freshly harvested potatoes in a single layer in a dark, shaded and well-ventilated place. Allow them to cure for one to two weeks or until the skins feel dry and firm.
- Sort the harvest. Remove any potatoes that are cut, soft, green, diseased, badly bruised or beginning to rot. Set aside lightly damaged potatoes to use first.
- Remove loose soil. Gently brush away clumps of dry soil. Make sure the potatoes are completely dry before placing them into storage.
- Prepare the sand storage method. Add a shallow layer of clean, dry sand to the bottom of the galvanized can. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer without allowing them to touch.
- Continue layering. Cover the potatoes completely with sand. Continue alternating layers of potatoes and sand, finishing with a layer of sand on top.
- Store the galvanized can. Fit the lid loosely so the container is not airtight. Place the can in a cold, dark location where the potatoes will be protected from freezing.
- Prepare the paper bag method. Make several ventilation holes around the sides of a large paper bag. Add the cured potatoes loosely without packing or overfilling the bag.
- Store the paper bag. Fold the top over lightly and place the bag in a cold, dry and completely dark location.
- Check the potatoes. Inspect both containers every one to two weeks. Remove any potatoes that become soft, wet, moldy or begin to rot.
Notes
- Aim for a storage temperature around 40°F or 4°C.
- Keep stored potatoes completely dark to prevent greening.
- Do not use wet sand or store damp potatoes.
- Check metal containers regularly for condensation.
- Keep the galvanized can off damp concrete by placing it on a wooden board or low platform.
- Store potatoes separately from onions, apples, pears and other ripening produce.
- Use damaged potatoes first rather than placing them into long-term storage.
- Smaller potatoes do not have to be stored separately. This is simply how I divided our harvest to compare the two methods.
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