Your Money Saving Guide to Storing Sweet Potatoes (2024)

By Carol Harrison, RD.

Sweet potatoes are always one of the best healthy buys at the grocery store. In Canada, we grow sweet potatoes primarily in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and local varieties are available year-round because they keep well for months in storage. They won’t keep as long in your kitchen, though. Here’s how to store them at home to prevent spoilage and reduce food waste – and save money.

Sweet potato storage tips

• Raw whole sweet potatoes: Raw sweet potatoes will keep for one to two weeks at room temperature if stored in a dry, dark area in a loosely covered bag or basket that allows for air circulation. If stored at 7°C to 13°C (slightly cooler than room temperature), they’ll keep for about a month.

• TIP: Don’t refrigerate raw whole sweet potatoes – that will create an unpleasant taste. Freezing sweet potatoes isn’t recommended, either. Cook them first, then freeze.

• Raw cut sweet potatoes: Immerse raw cut sweet potatoes in water. Refrigerate them and use within 24 hours.

• TIP: Choose sweet potatoes that have unwrinkled skins and no bruises or blemishes.

• Cooked sweet potatoes: Stored in an airtight container, cooked sweet potatoes will last for three to five days in the fridge or 10 to 12 months in the freezer.

• TIP: Minimize food waste by using up your more perishable veggies early in the week, and your longer-lasting veggies, like sweet potatoes, later in the week. If sweet potatoes have soft spots or turn dark, they’re likely spoiled and should be discarded.

5 ways to use leftover cooked sweet potatoes

To help keep your food budget in check, consider the many ways you can use budget-friendly sweet potatoes, including leftover cooked sweet potatoes, in your meal plans.

1. Look for muffin and quick-bread recipes that include sweet potatoes.
2. Add a heaping spoonful of mashed cooked sweet potato to waffle or pancake batter.
3. Blitz cooked sweet potato into homemade or store-bought hummus.
4. Add chunks of roasted sweet potato to homemade or canned veggie soups, or make a smooth soup with puréed sweet potato.
5. Make a shepherd’s pie with mashed sweet potato.

Read: 3 Fabulous Ways to Enjoy Sweet Potatoes