The Secret to Keeping Potatoes Fresh for 6 Months Thanks to a Surprising “Friend” in the Kitchen

You can keep potatoes fresh for up to 6 months without worrying about sprouting or rotting — a simple storage trick that few people know.

Potatoes are a “versatile” ingredient in the kitchen — they can be fried, baked, boiled, stewed… and are often a staple in many households. But if not stored properly, potatoes can easily sprout, wrinkle, or rot, leading to waste and potential health risks.

Recently, Dr. Erin Carter — a well-known food expert on TikTok under the account @dr.erincarter — shared a small but powerful storage tip that can keep potatoes fresh for as long as half a year.

In her video, Erin asked: “Have your potatoes sprouted or gone bad before you had the chance to cook them? If yes, watch this tip — it could completely change the way you store potatoes.”

Step 1: Remove the plastic bag as soon as you bring the potatoes home.
Step 2: Transfer all the potatoes into a paper bag.
Step 3: Add one apple into the bag with the potatoes.

It may sound strange, but Erin says this is the “secret” to extending their shelf life. After that, place the bag in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area, or in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer.

According to a 2016 study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology, apples produce ethylene gas — a natural compound that helps inhibit potato sprouting and prolongs freshness. Some TikTok users even claimed that when storing potatoes with an apple in the fridge, they stayed fresh for 4–6 months.

However, Erin also cautioned: While ethylene is beneficial for potatoes, it can speed up ripening or spoilage in other fruits and vegetables such as onions, melons, broccoli, or peaches. So, keep apples away from produce that’s sensitive to ethylene to prevent loss of quality.

In the comments section, many people shared their own experiences:

• “I keep potatoes in the bottom drawer of my fridge with an apple, and they last forever.”

• “My potatoes stayed fresh for 6 months thanks to this trick. Before, when I kept them in the kitchen, they sprouted so fast.”

• “Just putting an apple in the fridge drawer with my potatoes keeps them fresh for at least 4 months.”

Thanks to this simple yet effective tip, you can now buy potatoes in bulk without worrying about waste — and always have fresh ingredients ready for any meal.