It Turns Out We've Been Storing Our Potatoes All Wrong

This Christmas we're sure we're not the only ones who ate a hell of a lot of potatoes with our turkey and veg.

But did you know you've likely been storing your spuds wrong this whole time?

Yep, we've always kept our spuds in the bottom drawer of our refrigerators along with the rest of our fruit and veg - but according to professional home organiser, Sue Spencer, it's a major food faux-pas to keep them languishing in there.

Why? Well, here comes the science part.

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Putting potatoes in the fridge can increase the amount of sugar they contain, and lead to higher levels of a chemical called acrylamide when the potatoes are baked, fried or roasted at high temperatures.

The chemical is not thought to be particularly dangerous when consumed at low levels, but acrylamide has been recorded to cause cancer in animals.

Instead, Sue, who has partnered with Hisense, recommends you store your spuds in a "well-ventilated, dark, dry place", with Sue keeping her potatoes "in a wicker basket in the larder cupboard."

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According to Sue, your bottom drawer is the coolest part of the fridge, and should be home to your fruit and veg to keep them fresh for longer.

The bottom shelf is the best place for raw meat and fish, which should be kept in containers to prevent any contamination.

The middle shelf is the right place to store your dairy products - cheese, yoghurts, milk and puddings.

The top shelf is for leftovers and ready to eat foods, with the fridge door the suitable home for condiments, fruits and jams.

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While there's space in the fridge door for eggs, Sue says this is not the right place to keep the food.

"Eggs do not belong in the fridge door, simply because this area is exposed to the opening and closing of the door - eggs need a constant temperature!" she explains.

"This set up will leave you able to see exactly what's in the fridge, which makes it easy to grab things and helps to reduce food waste and your shopping bill.

"Food will stay fresh for longer as it's all stored in the right place - and, if you use fridge organisers, these will catch any crumbs and can be easily cleaned.

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"It's important to know how to store food products because not only does this make it easier for you to access what you need while preparing meals, but it also means your food will stay at optimum quality for longer."

Topics: Christmas, Tasty Food, Food & Drink, Tasty

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley