The post-harvest life of the sweet potato can be increased by curing the roots. The storage temperature should be reduced to 55 to 60 degrees F after curing.
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How long do sweet potatoes have to cure before you can eat them?
You can cure sweet potatoes by holding them for about 10 days. Commercial producers have temperature and humidity controlled housing to guarantee good results, but for the home grower, they can be cured near a furnace or heat source.
What do you do with sweet potatoes after you harvest them?
The sweet potatoes should be cured after harvest. This involves placing the potatoes in a warm environment for about 4 to 6 days to increase sugar content, heal nicks and bruise incurred during the curing process, and reduce the risk of spoilage. Once cured, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Can you eat fresh dug sweet potatoes?
Don’t bake sweet potatoes as well as cured ones, as fresh ones are more starchy than sweet, and you should resist the temptation to dig and immediately eat sweet potatoes. If you wait at least three weeks before eating, the starches will convert to sugars. If held in a cool, dry place, sweet potatoes can last six months or more.
Can you cure sweet potatoes at room temperature?
The first step for curing sweet potatoes is to heal any damage that occurred during the harvest. The kick off of sugar production will give you sweeter tubers. An 85- degree room with an air conditioner is the ideal scenario for this step.
Step 2 for Storing Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks. They can also be kept in the refrigerator for a few days. If you plan to freeze them, be sure to store them in airtight containers.
Do you need to Hill sweet potatoes?
If raised beds are not possible, dig down into your planned bed at least 12” and create mounded rows or hills for each plant. Extra inches for tuber growth is added by this. If you don’t have access to a raised bed, you can still grow your sweet potato in a pot, but it will take longer to grow.
How do you cure sweet potatoes in cold weather?
Put the bags in the warmest window you can find. Take them out and let them dry for a few hours. This is a great way to use up all the plastic bags you have lying around the house.
You can also use them to make your own compostable bags. Just make sure you don’t use the same bag twice, or you’ll end up with a bunch of bags that are too big to fit into your compost bin.
