Storing Potatoes in Wood Shavings

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Potatoes are root vegetables that are great for supplementing foods. Like rice, it fills you up quickly, meaning you can use less protein and make your meats last longer. Most people store potatoes in their fridges because it is a safe, cool environment.

If you don’t have access to electricity or if you’re buying potatoes in bulk, there are other ways to store them without worrying about spoiling. One of the ways to store potatoes is to put them in wood shavings.

Why Should You Store Potatoes in Wood Shavings?

Storing potatoes in wood shavings provides a cooler environment for them and helps them last longer. Also, if you’re living without access to electricity, then it’s a great workaround so that you don’t have to worry about food during the wintertime.

If you want to store your potatoes in wood shavings, follow the steps below.

1. After harvesting, clean the potatoes to get rid of dirt and make sure there are no imperfections or worms.
2. Let the potatoes dry for at least a week. Be sure to keep the potatoes in the dark place. If they’re exposed to sunlight, they could get green skin.
3. Pack a layer of potatoes into a box.
4. Put a layer of sawdust on the potatoes.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the box is full.

 

How Many Potatoes Can You Store in Wood Shavings?

It depends on what size box you have and what size your potatoes are. Potatoes come in many different sizes, so it’s best if you use a pretty large box if you’re going to be storing a lot of potatoes through the winter.

If you get a large enough box, you could store more than 40 lbs worth of potatoes. Just be sure to check them during their storage time. If you find that any of them are starting to sprout or get soft, they have to be removed immediately to save the rest of them.

 

When is the Best Time to Store Potatoes in Wood Shavings?

You’re going to want to harvest your potatoes on a warm day when it hasn’t rained for a few days. You want to ensure your potatoes are dry, so if it rains on the day you were planning on harvesting, wait.

The best time to store the potatoes is right before winter starts. You want to give the potatoes the best chance they have to last through the whole season.

Remember to keep them stored in a dark, cool place. Be sure the sawdust doesn’t get too wet either, as this can cause them to rot.

 

For How Long Can You Store Potatoes in Wood Shavings?

Different potatoes keep for different amounts of time. If you store them properly, the potatoes can last up to several months. They may even last up until the new potatoes are ready to be planted for next year’s harvest.

However, if you don’t have the right potatoes or if you’re getting them from a farmers market or grocery store, they will not keep as long. This is because they’ve already been harvested for a longer amount of time than if you would’ve harvested them.

 

Which Potatoes are The Best for Storing in Wood Shavings?

One of the variables for how long a potato will last in the sawdust storage is picking which type of potato to store. There are plenty of different types of potatoes. The best potatoes to store are the following:

• Elba
• Katahdin
• Russet Burbank
• Red Chieftain
• Rose Finn Apple
• Kennebec
• Yukon Gold

 

Keep in mind that other potatoes can be kept in sawdust as well. These are just the best options for a longer storage time. The best thing you can do is experiment until you find what works for you.

 

Final Thoughts on Storing Potatoes in Wood Shavings

Potatoes are a great supplement in food to fill you up without needing to use all of the protein.

A good way to store potatoes if you don’t have access to electricity is by putting them in sawdust. Keeping the potatoes in sawdust can prolong their life up to several months.

This makes it a perfect veggie to store right before winter so that you don’t have to worry about food.

Elba, Katahdin, and Russet Burbank are just some of the potatoes that can be used in sawdust storage. But, of course, the best thing to do is create a system that works for you.

 

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