My grandma always stored potatoes on the counter instead of putting them in the refrigerator.
And honestly, for years I never thought twice about it.
Potatoes were simply there—a bag tucked into a cool corner of the kitchen, ready whenever someone wanted to make mashed potatoes, fries, roasted potatoes, or a big Sunday dinner.
But if you’ve gotten used to refrigerating produce, you might look at those potatoes sitting on the counter and wonder:
How long are they actually safe to eat?
If they’ve been there for a week, should you throw them away?
Not necessarily.
Whole, raw potatoes are different from cooked potatoes or other perishable foods. They don’t automatically become unsafe simply because they’ve spent several days at room temperature. In fact, potatoes are commonly stored outside the refrigerator.
The bigger questions are where they’re stored, how warm and bright the area is, and what the potatoes look
There’s more to discover. Continue to the next page for the rest of this article.
