The viral trick that guarantees potatoes won't sprout: does it really work?
All you need, at least according to videos circulating online (including one from an Italian grandmother we particularly liked), is a cardboard box and some baking soda - and the potatoes are supposed to stay fresh for months and even a year. Sounds almost too good to be true? We checked.
No matter when you bought your potatoes—even if it was just a week ago—it often happens that you reach into the bag only to discover white sprouts emerging from them. Annoying? Definitely, as we expect our potatoes to last at least a few weeks. As is well known, for every annoying household problem, the internet will find a trick requiring exactly the product you already have in your cupboard. This time, the "magic" solution is baking soda.
Videos circulating online recommend arranging potatoes inside a cardboard box, sprinkling baking soda around them—sometimes even above and below—and storing them in a dark place. The promises are bold: potatoes that remain firm, fresh, and sprout-free for months, or in extreme versions, even a year. One prominent video on the YouTube channel Tracy Tips bears the promising title: "The secret to keeping potatoes fresh for a whole year—without rotting and without sprouting."
What is the story with baking soda?
The rationale sounds logical: baking soda helps manage odors and humidity, and the claim is that a drier environment may delay deterioration. The problem is that there is a significant gap between absorbing odors and preventing sprouting.
We investigated the matter, including consulting with friends at the Plant Council, and found no professional guidelines recommending baking soda as a proven means to prevent sprouting. Sources that have examined this viral trick note that the soda's ability to absorb odors or slightly mitigate humidity does not guarantee a delay in sprouting, and studies on the subject do not cite baking soda as a relevant factor.
What actually keeps potatoes fresh?
The answer is much less viral but far more grounded: relatively low temperature, darkness, and ventilation.
Here are some proven tips:
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Store potatoes in a cool, dark place.
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Ensure proper ventilation: excess moisture increases the risk of rotting, so avoid sealed plastic containers. A ventilated cardboard box, paper bag, or net are much better choices.
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Do not wash potatoes before storage: adding moisture can significantly shorten their shelf life.
Bottom line: baking soda is likely not the magic powder that will stop your potatoes from sprouting. If it helps slightly with moisture or odors, that's fine, but the things you should really focus on are a dark, cool, dry, and well-ventilated storage space.
