How long do potatoes last?
In the fridge, potatoes keep for 1 to 2 weeks from the package date. In the pantry, they keep for 1 to 2 months from the package date. All 2 kinds are below.
1 to 2 months
from the package date
1 to 2 weeks
from the package date
No guideline
By kind
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | 1 to 2 months | 1 to 2 weeks | no guideline | 10 to 12 months |
| instant | 10 to 15 months | no guideline | 6 to 12 months | no guideline |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
Do potatoes go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, potatoes may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell potatoes have gone bad
- Green skin means the potato sat in light and made solanine, a bitter compound that can cause stomach upset. Peel away all green skin and flesh; USDA says you do not need to throw the potato out unless the green runs deep.
- Small sprouts on a firm potato can be cut off and the rest eaten. Sprouts of 1 inch (2.5 cm) or more on a soft, shrivelled potato mean it goes out.
- A soft, wrinkled or mushy potato, a bad smell, or mould and dark wet patches are signs of rot. Discard it.
- Cooking does not destroy solanine, so cut away green and sprouted parts first. Store potatoes cool, dark and dry to prevent both.
Sources: Ask FSIS: are green potatoes dangerous?; Sprouting or Greening Potatoes: Keep or Toss? (Iowa State University Extension). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other produce: fresh vegetables last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.