How to Store Sweet Potatoes
There are a few ways to store sweet potatoes in order to keep them from bruising or spoiling. If you are storing raw sweet potatoes, make sure you do not rinse them first. Rinsing could lead to rotting due to the extra moisture that is being introduced. Use a dry cloth to remove any dirt before you begin to store sweet potatoes.
Another way to store raw sweet potatoes is to cure them for 1 to 2 weeks. Curing involves putting sweet potatoes in a warm and humid environment to help increase the flavor and sweetness. The curing process will create a skin around the sweet potato that will protect against any scratches or bruising. Simply keep the sweet potatoes in a room that is around 80°F with 90 percent humidity for the best results.
If your sweet potatoes are already cooked, storage is fairly simple. Put your cooked sweet potatoes in a shallow container such as a GladWare® Container or a GLAD Food Storage Zipper Gallon Bag and place in the refrigerator for short-term use. Cooked sweet potatoes can last in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. To make them last longer — store sweet potatoes in an airtight plastic bag or container.
Where to Store Sweet Potatoes
For optimal results it’s best to find a place that is dry and cool to store your raw sweet potatoes - garages, basements or cellars are ideal. If your location does not meet these conditions, your sweet potatoes can become sprouted or start to rot. To help your sweet potatoes last longer it’s important to avoid washing them before storing.
Sweet potatoes last the longest when stored in a dark place for up to 6 months. Do not keep your sweet potatoes near other vegetables as they can cause other foods to ripen more quickly. How long sweet potatoes last in normal room temperature depends on many factors, and it’s best to keep them in a pantry to last 3–5 weeks. You can also store sweet potatoes in the fridge for 2–3 months, or freeze them to last even longer.
Freezing Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes have a long shelf life and most people store sweet potatoes in the fridge instead of the freezer. It’s best for raw sweet potatoes to not be stored in the freezer because they will spoil faster. You can store baked sweet potatoes or cooked yams in the freezer.
Sweet potatoes have a long shelf life, however if you’re looking to increase their longevity you may want to look into storing them into your fridge or freezer. While deciding where to store sweet potatoes keep in mind whether they’re raw or cooked. Storing raw sweet potatoes in the freezer will actually make them spoil faster, however it’s best to keep baked sweet potatoes or cooked yams in the freezer.
Because sweet potatoes are so popular in many recipes around Thanksgiving, it’s recommended to store your cooked sweet potato leftovers in the freezer. Whether you’re baking mashed sweet potatoes, sweet potato french fries or honey candied yams — your favorite recipes will last longer in the freezer.
Storing sweet potatoes in the freezer has a variety of different steps. Learn how to cook and store sweet potatoes so they can last in the fridge or freezer.
Here’s the step-by-step process for how to store and freeze sweet potatoes the proper way:
Step 1. Wash:
Wash and peel fresh sweet potatoes with water and a vegetable brush.
Step 2. Boil:
Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Drop the sweet potatoes in and cook until tender.
Step 3. Prepare:
Mash the sweet potatoes or cut into thin slices. Don’t store the potatoes whole. Sprinkle the sweet potatoes with 1 tsp of lemon juice to avoid discoloration.
Step 4. Transfer:
Allow the potatoes to cool and transfer them to an air tight space. For sliced sweet potatoes, cover with Glad® Press’n Seal® to lock in freshness and keep out unwanted moisture and bacteria. For mashed, using a container such as Flex’N Seal™ Freezer bags will ensure easy storage. Putting your sweet potatoes in the freezer will help them last on average 10 to 12 months.
