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A metal bucket filled with freshly harvested potatoes sits on grass. A pair of boots is visible at the bottom edge, and more potatoes are in a green cart nearby.
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Storing Potatoes for Winter

Keep homegrown potatoes through the winter using two simple storage methods: layering larger potatoes in dry sand and placing smaller potatoes in a ventilated paper bag.
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Prep Time:30 minutes
Curing Time:7 days
Course: Food Preservation, Food Storage
Cuisine: American, farmhouse
Keyword: Cold Storage, How to Store 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Remove loose soil. Gently brush away clumps of dry soil. Make sure the potatoes are completely dry before placing them into storage.
  4. 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.
  5. Continue layering. Cover the potatoes completely with sand. Continue alternating layers of potatoes and sand, finishing with a layer of sand on top.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Store the paper bag. Fold the top over lightly and place the bag in a cold, dry and completely dark location.
  9. 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.