With warmer weather causing food to spoil more quickly, Albert Bartlett is urging shoppers to rethink how they store one of the nation’s favourite foods. Keeping potatoes in the fridge rather than the cupboard can help them last significantly longer, reducing waste and helping families save money throughout the summer.
Scientific guidance now recommends refrigerating potatoes, replacing older advice that suggested storing them in a cool, dark cupboard. Chilling potatoes can increase their shelf life by as much as three times, although around 80 per cent of consumers remain unaware of the updated recommendation*.
Food waste rises during the warmer months, with households typically throwing away around 30 per cent more fresh food than they do in winter. Correctly storing potatoes in the fridge could help save the average family around £25 over the summer.
Consumers are also advised to check their fridge temperature. Keeping it between 3°C and 5°C is considered ideal for preserving food and slowing bacterial growth, yet many fridges are thought to be operating above that range.
Molly Borys, from the UK’s number one fresh potato brand Albert Bartlett, said: “Potatoes offer incredible value all year round, but they become even more useful during the summer when food waste can increase. Proper storage helps households get the most from every purchase.”
She added: “Making people aware of the latest guidance means they can keep potatoes fresher for longer while reducing waste and stretching their food budgets.”
Consumer expert Kate Hardcastle MBE said: “Families don’t always need to make major changes to reduce their grocery spending. Making better use of everyday essentials is often one of the simplest and most effective ways to save.”
She continued: “Potatoes are an affordable and versatile staple, but too many still end up being thrown away. A simple change to storage habits can help households make their food budget work harder throughout the summer.”
Albert Bartlett says potatoes also have a number of practical uses away from the kitchen. They can be used to soothe sunburn, brighten the under-eye area, polish shoes, prevent glasses and goggles from steaming up, act as frozen ice packs for lunchboxes and encourage root growth when propagating plants.
