Potato care

Guidance on storing potatoes has changed recently, with evidence now showing they're best kept in the fridge. BY JENNIFER BOWDEN

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QUESTION:

A recent column said potatoes shouldn't be stored in the fridge. However, the packet of new potatoes I have just bought says on the label to store them in the fridge. Who is right? What is the evidence for determining the best storage location?

ANSWER:

Great question, and you're not alone in noticing the confusion. Until recently, advice from food safety authorities cautioned against refrigerating raw potatoes. However, some producers are now recommending the fridge as the ideal place for spuds. Who's right? As it turns out, both sides have a point, and recent evidence has helped shift the thinking.

For years, consumers were advised to store raw potatoes in a cool, dark and well-ventilated place - but not in the fridge. The worry was that refrigerating raw potatoes increased their sugar content, a process known as “cold-induced sweetening”, which could then lead to higher acrylamide levels forming in the potatoes during cooking. Acrylamide is a problem because it is considered a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.