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Potatoes are one of those groceries I always keep on hand. Mashed, roasted, fried, tossed into soups — they’re a staple in my kitchen. But for the longest time, buying potatoes felt like a race against the clock. I’d bring them home, put them away, and somehow… a few days later… they’d already be sprouting like they had somewhere to be.
When My Potatoes Started Sprouting Like They Were on a Mission
I’m not exaggerating when I say my potatoes used to sprout within a week. I’d reach into the bag and find long, twisty eyes popping out everywhere. At one point, I had so many sprouting potatoes I joked that I could start a small farm right in my pantry.
It felt wasteful tossing them, and cutting off the sprouts every time got old fast. That’s when I started digging around for an actual kitchen solution — not a complicated one, just something simple that worked.
How to Stop Potatoes From Sprouting (The Apple Trick That Changed Everything)
Here’s the trick that finally worked for me: putting an apple in the bag with my potatoes.
All I do is place one whole apple directly into the bag or box with my potatoes. I don’t cut it, peel it, or do anything fancy. Just one apple, tossed right in. I store them together in a cool, dark pantry using a paper bag or breathable container—never plastic.
That’s it. Simple. No special tools. No extra steps.
Why Apple Stops Potatoes From Sprouting (In Plain English)
Apples naturally give off something called ethylene gas. While that gas helps some fruits ripen faster, it actually slows down sprouting in potatoes. The apple releases just enough ethylene to tell the potatoes, “Relax… you don’t need to grow yet.”
Once I started doing this, my potatoes stayed firm, smooth, and sprout-free for weeks longer than usual. I was honestly shocked at how well such a small trick worked.
Other Simple Ways I Keep Potatoes From Sprouting Too Fast
Keep them out of the light
Light encourages sprouting. I store potatoes in a dark cabinet or pantry instead of leaving them out on the counter.
Skip plastic bags
Plastic traps moisture, which speeds up sprouting and rot. I stick with paper bags, cardboard boxes, or baskets that allow airflow.
Don’t wash potatoes before storing
Moisture is the enemy. I only wash potatoes right before using them, not before storing them.
Keep potatoes away from onions
This one surprised me. Onions release gases that cause potatoes to spoil faster, so I store them separately.
Check the bag weekly
If one potato starts sprouting, I remove it right away so it doesn’t affect the rest.
Shop: This is my favorite bin for storing potatoes and other vegetables.
Final Thoughts
The apple trick is hands-down the easiest and most effective thing I’ve done to stop potatoes from sprouting. It takes zero effort, uses something most of us already have in the kitchen, and actually works. My potatoes last longer, I waste less food, and my pantry no longer looks like a science experiment gone wrong.
If your potatoes are sprouting faster than you can use them, toss an apple in the bag and watch the difference.