How to Store Sweetpotatoes

High in fibre and vitamin A sweetpotatoes are the perfect staple to your diet, but if you only use half a sweetpotato or want to prepare them in advance, how should they be stored?

The good news is sweetpotatoes can be stored in so many ways: cooked, pre-cut, whole, peeled, and many more. No matter the variety, read on to discover the best way to store your sweetpotatoes.

You’ve just bought a packet of sweetpotatoes, what should you do? If they’ve come in a plastic bag, it’s always best to make a hole in it to allow for ventilation, or better yet transfer them to a breathable container such as a mesh bag or basket so air can circulate. Ventilation is important, as moisture on your sweetpotatoes encourages mould to grow and the sweetpotato to rot. With this in mind, it is always best to leave your sweetpotatoes unwashed until you are ready to cook with them.

Once your sweetpotatoes have sufficient ventilation, you should move them somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. If you have a pantry, this is the perfect place to store them likewise, the back corner of your kitchen or kitchen countertop works just as well. The ideal temperature to store sweetpotatoes at is 10°C-15°C; however, they can be stored at room temperature, where they will last for 2 to 3 weeks!

You should never store whole, raw sweetpotatoes in the fridge. The cold temperatures alter their cell structure and activate their sugars and starches, causing them to spoil faster and sometimes harden in the middle. An easy identifier of this structural change is small white specks in your sweetpotato.

It is also important that you store sweetpotatoes away from fruit and the Amaryllidaceae family, such as onions, garlic, leeks and chives. These foods release gases that trigger sprouting and can cause your sweetpotatoes to rot faster.

Yes, the good news is you can store pre-cut sweetpotatoes. The best way to store pre-cut sweetpotatoes is to place them, cubed or sliced, into a bowl of cold water and put them in the fridge. The cold water stops them from drying out or spoiling and is the perfect way to store sweetpotatoes to cook later. Stored in this manner, they will keep for 1-2 days as long as you change the water once a day. This storage method is particularly useful around busy periods such as Christmas and birthdays as you can prepare the day before and keep your sweetpotatoes in the fridge ready to cook. A great time-saving hack; just remember to dry them properly before cooking.

Much like the pre-cut sweetpotatoes, the best way to store peeled raw sweetpotatoes is to fully submerge them in a bowl of water and place in the fridge. It is important to note that, unlike the pre-cut sweetpotatoes they only last up to 24 hours. This method is therefore recommended for short term storage, for example, peeling them in the morning and cooking them that evening.

It is also not advised to freeze raw, whole peeled sweetpotatoes as they can lose their structure and go a bit mushy in the fridge. If you’re planning to freeze sweetpotatoes it’s always best to blanch them first, but watch this space for the best tips and tricks on how to freeze sweetpotatoes.

Yes, you can store cooked sweetpotatoes and they often last longer when stored after cooking. Cooked sweetpotatoes, when stored properly, can last between 3 and 5 days in the fridge, and up to a whole year in the freezer. No matter what form your cooked sweetpotatoes take, it’s important to let them cool down properly and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking.

Unlike raw sweetpotatoes, cooked sweetpotatoes must be stored in cold temperatures.

Who doesn’t love a baked sweetpotato? Pair it with some delicious toppings and you have a satisfying and delicious meal. Storing baked sweetpotatoes can be an excellent way to keep this quick, easy delight for another day. Firstly, you should let the baked sweetpotato cool completely; an easy way to do this is to leave it on a cooling tray or even on a plate at room temperature. Once cool, wrap or seal each individual leftover baked sweetpotato with cling film, tin foil or in a sealed bag. Pop them in the fridge and they’ll keep for up to 5 days.

We do suggest you store any leftover toppings separately from your baked sweetpotato, as all food needs to be stored in line with its own specific instructions.

If you’re now craving a crispy, warm baked sweetpotato why not try this delicious recipe for Baked Sweetpotatoes with Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto.

Another great way to eat sweetpotatoes is to roast them, even better is that roasted sweetpotatoes can last in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. To maximise their storage life, it’s best to let roasted sweetpotatoes cool down fully before popping them in the fridge. Hot foods create condensation when put straight into the fridge; this condensation unfortunately can turn your mouthwatering crispy roasted sweetpotatoes into soggy and even mouldy sweetpotatoes. Once cool, it is important to place them in an airtight container and put them in the fridge, ready to heat up another day.

Mashed sweetpotatoes are the perfect side and surprisingly easy to prepare ahead of time, as they store particularly well. After you’ve cooked your mashed sweetpotatoes to perfection, let them cool fully before transferring them into an airtight container. Mashed sweetpotatoes last anywhere between 3 and 5 days when refrigerated properly and are super easy to reheat as a creamy side to accompany your dinner.   

For longer storage, mashed sweetpotatoes can be frozen for up to 12 months! Portion them out and enjoy all year. Our top tip for freezing is to squeeze out all the air before freezing if you’re using a freezer or zip-lock bag; this keeps your mashed sweetpotatoes fresher for longer and avoids freezer burn.

Mashed sweetpotatoes are the perfect side and surprisingly easy to prepare ahead of time, as they store particularly well. After you’ve cooked your mashed sweetpotatoes to perfection, let them cool fully before transferring them into an airtight container. Mashed sweetpotatoes last anywhere between 3 and 5 days when refrigerated properly and are super easy to reheat as a creamy side to accompany your dinner.

For longer storage, mashed sweetpotatoes can be frozen for up to 12 months! Portion them out and enjoy all year. Our top tip for freezing is to squeeze out all the air before freezing if you’re using a freezer or zip-lock bag; this keeps your mashed sweetpotatoes fresher for longer and avoids freezer burn.

Storing sweetpotatoes correctly stops them from spoiling too quickly, however, it is important to recognise when your sweetpotato is past its best. There are several signs a sweetpotato has gone bad. One of the most obvious is a soft, mushy or squishy texture. Sweetpotatoes should feel hard and firm, so any that have become noticeably soft should be discarded.

Another sure sign your sweetpotato has gone off is an unusual and unpleasant smell. Fresh sweetpotatoes have a neutral or earthy scent and should not smell sour, musty or fermented. Likewise, if your sweetpotatoes are discoloured, mouldy or leaking liquid they are no longer safe to eat and should be thrown away. If your sweetpotatoes exhibit any of these signs it is also important to wash any containers they were stored in before using them again for fresh sweetpotatoes or other produce.

However, a small amount of sprouting is nothing to worry about. Simply remove the sprouts and continue to prepare your sweetpotato as normal!