Shelf Life Tips
- How long do sweet potatoes last? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - after purchasing, keep sweet potatoes in a dry, dark area.
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Properly stored, raw sweet potatoes will last for 1 to 2 weeks at normal room temperature.
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To maximize the shelf life of sweet potatoes, store in a cool (45-55° F; warmer than the refrigerator, but colder than normal room temperature) dark area; under those storage conditions, sweet potatoes will last about 1 month.
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To further extend shelf life of sweet potatoes, store in a loosely covered bag or basket to allow for air circulation.
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Should you refrigerate raw sweet potatoes? Whole, raw sweet potatoes should ideally not be refrigerated; doing so can give them a hard center and unpleasant taste.
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How long do raw sweet potatoes last after they have been cut? Cover the cut, raw sweet potatoes completely with cold water and refrigerate; use the cut sweet potatoes within 24 hours.
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How long do sweet potatoes last in the fridge once they have been cooked? Cooked sweet potatoes will usually stay good for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator and 10 to 12 months in the freezer.
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Can you freeze raw sweet potatoes? Raw sweet potatoes do not freeze well; to further extend the shelf life of sweet potatoes, cook them first before freezing.
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To freeze cooked sweet potatoes (1) Wash, peel and boil sweet potatoes until tender; (2) Slice or mash potatoes and sprinkle with a small amount of lemon juice to prevent discoloration; (3) Let cool and place in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long do sweet potatoes last once they have been cooked and stored in the freezer? Frozen cooked sweet potatoes will stay at best quality for 10 to 12 months.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - foods kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How to tell if sweet potatoes are bad or spoiled? Sweet potatoes that are spoiling will typically become soft and discolored, often turning dark.
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