Storage

By SeeditrightPublished 5 min read
  • Storage
  • Curing

How to Cure Potatoes

Cure 10–14 days in the dark at roughly 50–60°F with high humidity so skins toughen and nicks heal.

Curing is the bridge between digging and long storage. Skip it and nicks turn into soft rot.

Conditions

Maryland and similar extension guidance:

  • Time: about 10–14 days
  • Temperature: roughly 50–60°F (UMN often cites a warm curing area around 60–65°F)
  • Humidity: high
  • Light: dark or covered — prevent greening
  • Airflow: enough to avoid condensation pockets

What curing does

  • Suberizes (heals) small cuts and bruises
  • Sets skins so they resist moisture loss
  • Improves storage life

How to cure at home

  1. Harvest gently on a dry day
  2. Brush off soil — no washing
  3. Spread in a single layer in a dark, ventilated spot
  4. Remove soft or rotting tubers immediately
  5. After curing, move to long-term storage conditions

Do new potatoes need curing?

New potatoes are usually eaten fresh. Curing is for crops you intend to keep for weeks or months.

Next → How to Store Potatoes