'Life-changing' trick stops potatoes from sprouting and going green

A clever storage hack using an apple could help prolong the shelf-life of your potatoes and prevent them from sprouting - according to a top food blogger on TikTok

A clever tip from suggests that a simple fruit addition could mean potatoes last longer and avoid unwelcome sprouting. Though we might chuck out taters with green bits or shoots due to potential toxins, if you can't nip those bits off, this trick is for you.

Standard advice says keep your spuds away from dampness and light to dodge the dreaded shrivel. We all know they need good airflow and pop them in a cool, dark spot like an open basket for maximum longevity.

But a video from TikTok whizz @leen.bd claims that popping an apple in with your potatoes can stop those little roots popping out too soon, reports the Express.

Why? Well, it's all down to that apple magic - specifically the gases they give off. Ethylene gas, naturally churned out by apples as they ripen, seems to be the hero here.

It's science-backed stuff – the Journal of Food Science and Technology has shown ethylene kicks down carbohydrate metabolism while upping potatoes' respiration rate, keeping them fresh for longer. But remember, this is a potato-only party trick.

Storing your apples with other fruits leads to a ripening race, often ending with spoiled goodies before you get a chance to enjoy them.

Debates are rife over the use of ethylene in food storage but one thing's for sure, fans of @leen.bd's hack are thrilled, with comments such as: "Known since about one year. Changed my life! It works!" lighting up the post.

If you have potatoes that have sprouted, you might question if they are safe to consume.

The sprouting process can actually be beneficial as it produces new potatoes, however most store-bought potatoes have probably been treated with growth retardants to stop sprouting.

It is typically safe to eat sprouted potatoes, but be aware that there is a risk of poisoning from the toxins solanine and chaconine, which are found in green or sprouted potatoes.

According to the Poison Control website: "Both solanine and chaconine cause toxicity through cell disruption leading to gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

"Some people may also experience headache, flushing, confusion and fever."