Breaking the Internet: How to Keep Potatoes Free from Dangerous 'Spikes'

Green potatoes or those with green spots, potatoes exposed to light, moisture, and heat, and potatoes that start sprouting roots—all fall into the dangerous category and are more likely to contain high levels of toxins such as solanine and glycoalkaloids.

So how can you extend the shelf life of potatoes in a way that prevents those dangerous 'spikes'? An American blogger shares a golden tip worth adopting: "All you need to avoid the spikes is to store the potatoes in a cardboard box, paper bag, or net—to extend their shelf life," he writes, adding that this method should keep the potatoes fresh for four to six months.

However, there's a condition. "Before you store the potatoes, you must ensure they have no soft spots, sprouts, mold, digging damage, or any other 'injuries'."

According to him, storage in plastic bags is not good because plastic bags 'suffocate' the potatoes and significantly shorten their shelf life. "If you have an unheated cellar, garage, or insulated shed—it's the perfect spot for your potatoes. Never store potatoes in the fridge, as its temperature is too cold and turns their starch into sugar."

Another tip the blogger shares is not to wash the potatoes before using them and to keep the potatoes in a basket away from onions. "Both potatoes and onions release gases that cause the other to ripen, so if you've bought and stored potatoes properly, avoid placing onions nearby."