How to Store Sweet Potatoes: Keep Them Cool, Dark and Airy
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Sweet potatoes are best stored at cool, dark room temperature (about 13–15°C), such as a pantry or a shaded cupboard, not in the refrigerator. Direct sunlight dries them out; use breathable containers like baskets, mesh bags, or ventilated trays to allow air circulation. Avoid plastic or sealed paper bags that trap moisture and encourage mold. If store-bought sweet potatoes come in ventilated packaging, you can keep them in that. It’s okay to leave sweet potatoes on the kitchen counter only if you plan to eat them within a week. Raw sweet potatoes should never be refrigerated because cold, humid conditions change their starch structure and make them dry and hard after cooking; already cooked sweet potatoes, however, must be refrigerated in a sealed container. Keep them away from ethylene-producing fruits (banana, apple, tomato) which speed ripening and spoilage. Wash sweet potatoes only just before cooking to prevent surface moisture from promoting bacterial growth. Choose firm, dry sweet potatoes with resilient skin — these can last over two weeks at home. Discard any with widespread softening, strange color or odor; small soft spots may be cut away. In short: avoid light, give them room to breathe, and check storage places before refrigerating.
