How to Preserve Fresh Sweet Potatoes
- 1). Place the fresh sweet potatoes in a cardboard box and immediately store them in a cool location such as a garage, pantry or basement. The temperature should be between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. A sudden increase or decrease of the temperature will reduce the shelf life of the sweet potatoes by one or two weeks. Proper storage can preserve the sweet potatoes for about one month.
- 2). Keep the sweet potatoes dry and away from any moisture. Avoid using sealed containers and plastic grocery bags since they do not allow air flow. Do not rinse off the sweet potatoes before putting them into the container. The moisture will cause molding and rapid decaying of the sweet potatoes.
- 3). Avoid storing sweet potatoes in a cold temperature area, such as a refrigerator. The cold condition will begin to turn the starch in the sweet potatoes into a sugary flavor, causing an unusual taste.
