How to Wash Potatoes Safely and Efficiently

All fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly before eating. Rinsing and scrubbing everything from celery and peppers to the ever-versatile potato is necessary to remove both dirt and chemicals such as pesticides. Because potatoes grow underground, they come up looking a bit dirty. But removing the skin isn't enough to prevent contamination of your french fries, mashed potatoes or scalloped potatoes recipes.

We'll explain the when, why, and how of washing potatoes plus the best way to store them.

Why You Need to Wash Your Potatoes

At a minimum, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends rinsing potatoes under running water before cutting them. This is crucial, even if you plan on peeling them, because germs on the outer skin can infiltrate the inside of your spuds when you cut them. It's essential to cut away damaged or bruised parts, too, for the same reason. Another important rule to follow: Do not use soap, bleach, disinfectants, or chemicals to clean produce.

Washing potatoes is super important given that these kinds of vegetables grow underground. "Potatoes are firmly in the buried-in-soil category, so they'll need a thorough wash before cooking," says Catt Fields White, chef and the founder of San Diego Markets and The Farmers Market Pros. "In addition to good and bad bacteria, pesticides can linger in the soil and those need to go."

How to Wash Potatoes

Fields White recommends soaking the potatoes in cold water first before cleaning them to break up the dirt. "This is like soaking a dish that has dried food on it—it just loosens things up so you don't have to scrub," she says. Here's how to tackle your taters, step by step:

1. Soak the potatoes in cool water until the dirt on the vegetables is loose. Fields White says this makes cleaning easier, especially with a thicker-skinned potato, like a russet, or one grown in clay-based soil.
2. Once the dirt is loose, take the potatoes out of the water and gently scrub them one by one using a clean brush or a new soft scouring pad used only for cleaning vegetables.
3. Rinse the potatoes individually to rid them of any lingering dirt.

Potatoes That Will Be Peeled

If the potatoes are going to be peeled, Fields White says to wash them as outlined above—before the knife or peeler comes in contact. "After peeling, put them in water with a little lemon juice if you're not going to cook right away, or they'll discolor," she says.

How to Store Washed Potatoes

Potatoes should be cooked soon after they are washed because bacteria can gather on wet potatoes when stored for extended periods of time. "It's best to wash just before you cook, but they're probably fine to wash up to 24 hours before cooking," says Fields White. For something like Thanksgiving mashed potatoes for a crowd, where you need to start prep early, Fields White says it's OK to wash in advance and then refrigerate.

Storing Unwashed Potatoes

Unwashed potatoes (and sweet potatoes) should not be placed in the refrigerator for long-term storage, however. Instead, stack them in a bowl or bins and store them in a cool, dark, and airy space to keep moisture and mold at bay.

And whatever you do, don't store them on the countertop! When potatoes are exposed to sunlight for too long they can turn green and rot. These green parts will often taste bitter if eaten.