Storing Potatoes for Winter

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Learning how to store potatoes long-term isn’t complicated. If your family loves potatoes as much as mine does, you probably want to enjoy them all winter long — without worrying they’ll shrivel, sprout, or rot before you can use them.

Storing potatoes for winter can be tricky, especially if you don’t have a root cellar. But with a few simple steps, you can keep them fresh for months — even in a small home or apartment.

When I was a kid, one of my chores was to go down to the storm cellar and bring back potatoes for supper. They were spread out on thick cardboard laid across old metal bedsprings, propped up on cinder blocks. The cellar was damp, dark, and a little spooky — but it worked perfectly for keeping potatoes through the winter.

Most homes don’t have those old-fashioned cellars anymore, but there are still easy ways to store potatoes successfully at home. In this post, you’ll learn exactly how to cure, handle, and store potatoes so they last all winter long.

Helpful to Know: Learn more food-preservation basics in the Ultimate Guide to Food Preservation Methods — it covers freezing, canning, and dehydrating for every skill level.

Best Varieties of Potatoes for Storing

There are hundreds of varieties of potatoes, but not all of them store well for long-term keeping. Some are early varieties that are best eaten soon after harvest, while late-season potatoes develop thicker skins that help them last through winter.

To find which ones grow best in your region, check with your local Extension office. They can recommend the right varieties for your climate and soil.

Reliable White and Gold Potatoes

• Superior – excellent yields and know for long storage life
• Yuckon Gold – creamy texture, mild flavor and keeps well for several months
• Kennebec – thick skin and one of the best long-term storage varieties

Reliable Red Potato Varieties

• Adirondack Red – firm texture and good for short-term storage
• Red Pontiac – traditional red with great flavor and one of the best reds for longer storage
• Dark Red Norland – early red that stores fairly well for a few months
• Red Gold – thin-skinned and best eaten within a couple of months

Here on our homestead, I grow mainly Kennebec and Red Pontiac — both keep well and taste great.

Keep in mind: Red potatoes don’t store as long as white or gold varieties, so plan to use those first or preserve them another way.

How To Cure Potatoes Before Storing

Freshly dug potatoes need to cure before going into long-term storage. Curing helps toughen their skins and heal any minor cuts, which helps to keep them longer in storage.

Here’s how to cure potatoes the right way:

1. Dig carefully. Try not to nick or slice the potatoes when digging them. If you can, it’s best to use your hands, but this may not always be possible.
2. Dry them in the shade for about an hour. This helps the loose dirt dry so it can be brushed off easily.
3. Brush off dirt, gently. Use your hands or a soft brush to rub off any loose dirt — never wash them with water.
4. Sort them. Set aside any with cuts, soft spots, scrapes, or chew marks from voles. These should be used first or canned.
5. Cure in a dark, cool place. Spread potatoes in a single layer where the temperature is around 50–60°F for about two weeks. This can be a basement or even a closet.

During curing, the skins harden, and small nicks heal over. This simple step helps your potatoes last longer and prevents them from rotting in storage.

Helpful to know: Use any damaged potatoes first since they will not keep well. Turn them into freezer hash browns or canned potatoes to serve later.

Common Problems When Storing Potatoes

Light and warmth are the biggest enemies of stored potatoes.

• Light causes sprouting. When potatoes are exposed to light, the eyes will begin to grow, and the potatoes will shrivel. They are still safe to eat, but not as tasty.
• Light also turns potatoes green. That green color comes from a compound called solanine, a natural defense against insects and disease. In large amounts, it can cause nausea.

Always keep potatoes stored in the dark to prevent sprouting and preserve their flavor.

Best Way To Store Without A Root Cellar

Potatoes keep best in a cool, dark, and humid environment — ideally around 45°F. But most homes can mimic those conditions with a few adjustments.

Supplies

• Cardboard boxes (copy-paper boxes work well)
• Drill or screwdriver for making air holes
• Shredded paper or newspaper

Steps

1. Drill three holes on each side of the box (about 1 inch wide)  for ventilation.
2. Place a thick layer of shredded paper or folded newspaper on the bottom.
3. Add a single layer of potatoes.
4. Cover with more paper and repeat layers until the box is full.
5. Close the lid and store boxes in a dark, cool spot such as:
   – A closet rarely opened or under a bed
   – A basement corner
   – A garage that doesn’t freeze

Check your potatoes often for any soft or rotten places and remove them right away. A single bad potato can cause the rest of the box to rot quickly.

This simple method for storing potatoes long-term works even if you don’t have a basement or cellar.

Here’s what I do: I store mine in a spare bedroom closet. It stays cool, dark, and out of the way—perfect conditions for long-term storage.

How Long Do Stored Potatoes Last

The exact storage life depends on temperature, humidity, and the variety of potatoes. On average, properly cured and stored potatoes can last four to six months.

In my house, they rarely last that long — we use them almost daily for meals like mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, and breakfast casseroles. When a few begin to sprout, I set them aside to save as seed potatoes for planting the following spring.

Thinking ahead to next spring? Learn how to grow potatoes from your own seed potatoes for a long-lasting crop.

What to Remember

Even without a root cellar, storing potatoes for winter is absolutely doable. With a little planning and a simple cardboard box, you can enjoy your homegrown harvest all winter — no waste, no sprouting, and no need to run to the grocery store. 

If nothing else, remember this: a few simple steps today will keep your potatoes fresh for months and your pantry full of real, homegrown food.

Thinking ahead to next year’s garden? My Canning Garden Workbook helps you plan how much to grow so you’ll have enough for eating fresh, canning, and storing for winter.

More Crops To Grow For Winter Storage

Potatoes aren’t the only crop you can store through winter — onions, beets, and carrots keep well too, as long as each has its own storage space.

• How to Grow Onions
• Growing Beets
• How to Grow Carrots

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