How do you do it?

I have a wooden bin that I used to use for potatoes and onions. Until I
learned that they should not be stored together. So I bought an onion bin.
And now I can't remember what befell it but I had to replace it. I got rid
of it some time back when it began to break. But it also wasn't working for
me any more because the onions were starting to go bad too soon. Now I just
keep the onions in the fridge.

The potato bin started not to work so well for me either. I bought some
onions and some potatoes at Costco and they turned out to be bad. Or at
least some of them in each bag. The onions were rotted and black and some
of the potatoes were moldy. So I may have infected my bin, much like I
think I may have done with my old wooden bread box.

I say this because have had nothing but trouble ever since. I have bought
potatoes in much smaller amounts but they always seem to go moldy right away
when I put them in the bin. I did scrub the bin out well with soap and hot
water a couple of times. And then after that I pretty much quit buying
potatoes except for an as needed basis and then only enough for that meal.

But now daughter is on a sweet potato kick. I assumed that they would keep
well like potatoes usually do. Apparently I was wrong. I just now looked
it up and one source says they will keep for up to 10 days. The other
source says for a month. One source says not to refrigerate because it will
change the flavor.

We bought some sweet potatoes just over two weeks ago and then a few more
last week. I had my daughter put them in the potato bin but I had her put a
plastic shopping bag down on the bottom just in case there was a problem.

I cooked some of them up last week. I had my daughter pick out the ones she
wanted and she showed me something that looked gray and fuzzy on the end of
one. It actually looked to me like a dust bunny. Which is what I told her
that it was. It rinsed right off. I cooked the potatoes and they seemed to
be fine.

But just now? Ew. I bought a small net bag of Yukon Golds to cook for my
husband later this week. My fridge is stuffed full so I decided to put them
in the bin. Well when I opened it, I was whapped in the face with an awful
smell. I had to get a flashlight to look in there because the bin is
located in an area of the house that isn't well lit. And there inside was a
totally rotted sweet potato. It had disintegrated to literally nothing but
fuzzy, wet mush. Now it's possible that we bought one that was rotting to
begin with. I don't know. They looked okay when we bought them but maybe
there is something I don't know about them? The other potatoes did seem
okay although there was some fuzz that seemed to have rubbed off on them.
The side of the bin had fuzz growing up on it.

Because the bin was starting to fall apart at the bottom, I decided to just
get rid of it. I paid $25 for it some years ago and now similar bins are
selling for $55 and up. I don't want to pay that much for one.

So what should I use to store them in? Or should I just buy them as needed?
I thought since they were a root vegetable that they would keep for a while.
Apparently not.

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> How do you do it?

> So what should I use to store them in? Or should I just buy them as needed?
> I thought since they were a root vegetable that they would keep for a while.
> Apparently not.

I think the root veggies used to be stored in a cool cellar below ground and
once you dug them up, you keep the dirt on them until you were ready to use
them. Seems that they would last a long time that way.

It's a different animal that comes from the grocery store.
They say store in a cool, dry, dark place.
The only place I had was in a lower kitchen cabinet.
You take the potatoes out of the plastic immediately as they need air.
I put them in a lower kitchen cabinet in an old easter basket.
Some still rotted before I got to them all.

Now, I keep potatoes and onion on my countertop. I'll put down a layer of
paper towels, then put them all on there not touching each other. I'll then
put a layer of paper towels on top to keep out some light which is supposed
to be bad for them.

Best thing, imo, is to only buy what you will use in a week. Or 2 weeks at
the most.

Gary

PS - as to the real farm veggies. Last year a friend gave me 1/2 bushel of
sweet potatoes straight from his fathers farm. They still had dirt on them
too. I stored them in my bottom kitchen cabinet and they lasted several
months. The last ones didn't rot, they had dried out too much to use.

"Gary" > wrote in message ...
> Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>> How do you do it?
>
>> So what should I use to store them in? Or should I just buy them as
>> needed?
>> I thought since they were a root vegetable that they would keep for a
>> while.
>> Apparently not.
>
> I think the root veggies used to be stored in a cool cellar below ground
> and
> once you dug them up, you keep the dirt on them until you were ready to
> use
> them. Seems that they would last a long time that way.
>
> It's a different animal that comes from the grocery store.
> They say store in a cool, dry, dark place.
> The only place I had was in a lower kitchen cabinet.
> You take the potatoes out of the plastic immediately as they need air.
> I put them in a lower kitchen cabinet in an old easter basket.
> Some still rotted before I got to them all.
>
> Now, I keep potatoes and onion on my countertop. I'll put down a layer of
> paper towels, then put them all on there not touching each other. I'll
> then
> put a layer of paper towels on top to keep out some light which is
> supposed
> to be bad for them.
>
> Best thing, imo, is to only buy what you will use in a week. Or 2 weeks at
> the most.
>
> Gary
>
> PS - as to the real farm veggies. Last year a friend gave me 1/2 bushel
> of
> sweet potatoes straight from his fathers farm. They still had dirt on them
> too. I stored them in my bottom kitchen cabinet and they lasted several
> months. The last ones didn't rot, they had dried out too much to use.

Ah... I do have some baskets I can use. I bought some black fabric that I
had intended to use to cover the potatoes with but I never got around to
using it.

Our weather has been a bit on the warm side. Not much hot weather by any
means. But not cool either. The garage is usually more cool than the
house, but I don't dare keep food like potatoes in there due to rats. I
don't know if rats would eat potatoes but after getting a rat in the garage
once (door was left open) I am taking no chances.

I see that you can cook the sweet potatoes and then store the cooked ones in
the freezer. So perhaps that is what I should do. Buy a bunch, cook them
all and freeze them.

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> I see that you can cook the sweet potatoes and then store the cooked ones in
> the freezer. So perhaps that is what I should do. Buy a bunch, cook them
> all and freeze them.

I wouldn't do that. Just buy enough that you will use in a week. Cooked
and frozen can't be better than fresh ones.

Storing root crops in your garage is good. I know many people that do
that. It won't be good in the summer when your garage is hotter than
inside, but during fall and winter, a garage is the next best thing to a
root cellar.

Don't worry about rats. heheh You saw only one once. Store your things in
there and keep your garage door closed. Or put a shelf on the wall to store
potatoes. Regardless, you'll know if a rat has been feasting on your
potatoes.

Gary

On Sun, 2 Sep 2012 03:04:40 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
>"Gary" > wrote in message ...
>> Julie Bove wrote:
>>>
>>> How do you do it?
>>
>>> So what should I use to store them in? Or should I just buy them as
>>> needed?
>>> I thought since they were a root vegetable that they would keep for a
>>> while.
>>> Apparently not.
>>
>> I think the root veggies used to be stored in a cool cellar below ground
>> and
>> once you dug them up, you keep the dirt on them until you were ready to
>> use
>> them. Seems that they would last a long time that way.
>>
>> It's a different animal that comes from the grocery store.
>> They say store in a cool, dry, dark place.
>> The only place I had was in a lower kitchen cabinet.
>> You take the potatoes out of the plastic immediately as they need air.
>> I put them in a lower kitchen cabinet in an old easter basket.
>> Some still rotted before I got to them all.
>>
>> Now, I keep potatoes and onion on my countertop. I'll put down a layer of
>> paper towels, then put them all on there not touching each other. I'll
>> then
>> put a layer of paper towels on top to keep out some light which is
>> supposed
>> to be bad for them.
>>
>> Best thing, imo, is to only buy what you will use in a week. Or 2 weeks at
>> the most.
>>
>> Gary
>>
>> PS - as to the real farm veggies. Last year a friend gave me 1/2 bushel
>> of
>> sweet potatoes straight from his fathers farm. They still had dirt on them
>> too. I stored them in my bottom kitchen cabinet and they lasted several
>> months. The last ones didn't rot, they had dried out too much to use.
>
>Ah... I do have some baskets I can use. I bought some black fabric that I
>had intended to use to cover the potatoes with but I never got around to
>using it.
>
>Our weather has been a bit on the warm side. Not much hot weather by any
>means. But not cool either. The garage is usually more cool than the
>house, but I don't dare keep food like potatoes in there due to rats. I
>don't know if rats would eat potatoes but after getting a rat in the garage
>once (door was left open) I am taking no chances.
>
>I see that you can cook the sweet potatoes and then store the cooked ones in
>the freezer. So perhaps that is what I should do. Buy a bunch, cook them
>all and freeze them.

I don't store onions and potatoes. I buy only what I will use within
like ten days and keep them in the fridge. Lately I've been buying
them loose, I like to inspect each for damage and to choose particular
sizes. Typically I will buy five pounds of spuds and two pounds of
onions. If I happen to run out before I shop I have dehys... whenever
I need only a small amount of onion I use dehy anyway, I hate to cut
into an onion unless I will use it all, I never save a cut onion, no
matter how well wrapped it stinks up the fridge, and once cut and
stored onions taste off. When I choose onions I pick a lot of small
ones. And lately I've been on a red potato kick.

Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> And lately I've been on a red potato kick.

Those are my favorite potatoes.

Sweet potatoss - I buy only what I know I plan to eat within a few days. So, they're kinda like portabello mushrooms, in my book.

Idahos: buy 5 lb. and go thru them in about 10 days. I store em in a big plastic bin in a dark closet. I'd store in the fridge, but not enuf room. Never have one go bad. I must say, tho that at this time of year, they aren't THE best.

Wee fingerlings et al : eat within a week.

On Sun, 2 Sep 2012 01:54:54 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>How do you do it?
>
>I have a wooden bin that I used to use for potatoes and onions. snip
I get all my potato and onion storage containers at Costco. They are
called cardboard boxes. You need to store onions and potatoes
separately. They need to be stored in a dark, cool and dry place and
rotated (used) frequently. Potatoes may benefit from having something
like a bath towel draped loosely over them to further darken the
space. Certain times of the year are a crap shoot. Onions and
potatoes are harvested in the fall and are in storage (dark, cool,
dry) until they are bagged and shipped to stores. They have a limited
storage life (over winter, maybe into spring) However, once they are
delivered to the supermarket they are exposed to warm temperatures,
bright light and bruising from handling. Unless you have a root
cellar, you just need to either use them quickly or buy only what you
need at one time.
Janet US

Andy wrote:
>
> I have never cooked sweet potatoes but I loved Thanksgiving sweet potato
> casserole.
>

Really? Dude, you need to try them with just butter and S&P sometime and
not with the brown sugar and marshmallow thing. They don't microwave very
well, imo. but baked in oven or boiled are so very tasty.

Also, if you ever do the casserole thing again (with brown sugar and maybe
marshmallows on top) try my mom's latest addition. Make is as always but
add in a can of slice peaches. It works well.

Gary

On Sun, 2 Sep 2012 10:13:31 -0700 (PDT), Kalmia
> wrote:

snip
>
>Idahos: buy 5 lb. and go thru them in about 10 days. I store em in a big plastic bin in a dark closet. I'd store in the fridge, but not enuf room. Never have one go bad. I must say, tho that at this time of year, they aren't THE best.
>
snip
That's because harvesting hasn't started yet for this year's crop of
potatoes . Soon the country roads around here will be filled with
huge dump trucks with heaping loads of potatoes and sugar beets,
onions too. You can get good deals on potatoes direct from the farm
but then you have a lot of cleaning to do. Typically, farm fresh
potatoes carry a LOT of dirt. Onions can get really cheap as well,
but I can't use 50 or 100 pounds of onions in a timely fashion
When driving down the road behind a sugar beet truck, you want to
leave a goodly space between you and the truck. Sugar beets can be
the size of a basketball or larger and if one of them rolls off the
truck and onto your windshield, you are in trouble.
Janet US

Janet Bostwick wrote:
>
> Sugar beets can be
> the size of a basketball or larger and if one of them rolls off the
> truck and onto your windshield, you are in trouble.

Really? I never knew that. I always assumed that beets were the size of a
baseball or so.

G.

On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 15:11:43 -0400, Gary > wrote:

>Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>
>> Sugar beets can be
>> the size of a basketball or larger and if one of them rolls off the
>> truck and onto your windshield, you are in trouble.
>
>Really? I never knew that. I always assumed that beets were the size of a
>baseball or so.
>
>G.
Regular red garden beets, yes. Sugar beets are a different animal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Beet
Janet US

Gary wrote:

> > Sugar beets can be
> > the size of a basketball or larger and if one of them rolls off the
> > truck and onto your windshield, you are in trouble.
>
> Really? I never knew that. I always assumed that beets were the size of a
> baseball or so.

Why just assume something foolish when you can spout it in public,
thereby ensuring that your foolishness becomes a matter of record?

On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 13:36:09 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 15:11:43 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>
>>Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>>
>>> Sugar beets can be
>>> the size of a basketball or larger and if one of them rolls off the
>>> truck and onto your windshield, you are in trouble.
>>
>>Really? I never knew that. I always assumed that beets were the size of a
>>baseball or so.
>>
>>G.
>Regular red garden beets, yes. Sugar beets are a different animal.
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Beet

According to Reimers [their] sugar beets get to 3 lbs or so--- One of
these days I'll get around to planting some mangel beets- They are
supposed to get to 20lbs.
http://www.reimerseeds.com/colossal-...d-mangels.aspx

[and of course we all know that these are all exactly the same as any
beet/chard. All are beta vulgaris.<g>]

Jim

Jim Elbrecht wrote:

> According to Reimers [their] sugar beets get to 3 lbs or so---

I saw some the size of a large pineapple. Looked like 5 lbs.

Sqwertz wrote:
> Have you ever considered the possibility that your house is infected
> with toxic mold?
>
> That would explain a lot.

Hmmm... If it is, I don't know where it would be.

Gary wrote:
> Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>> I see that you can cook the sweet potatoes and then store the cooked
>> ones in the freezer. So perhaps that is what I should do. Buy a
>> bunch, cook them all and freeze them.
>
> I wouldn't do that. Just buy enough that you will use in a week.
> Cooked and frozen can't be better than fresh ones.
>
> Storing root crops in your garage is good. I know many people that do
> that. It won't be good in the summer when your garage is hotter than
> inside, but during fall and winter, a garage is the next best thing
> to a root cellar.
>
> Don't worry about rats. heheh You saw only one once. Store your
> things in there and keep your garage door closed. Or put a shelf on
> the wall to store potatoes. Regardless, you'll know if a rat has
> been feasting on your potatoes.

But they are around. My first incident was when I heard one scratching near
my computer. It was actually under the house. The exterminator found an
old mole tunnel that was almost to the house and the rat finished it off.
They were coming around monthly. We had a lot of activity here for a while
after they tore down the farms that were near here.

We are only on quarterly now because there was no activity. But then my
weird neighbor moved out. He mentioned that he had rats. What we didn't
know was that he was a hoarder. Since then there has been much activity at
our traps. And a dead one was found in a trap. So I want to be careful.

The one that actually got into the house was probably 4 or 5 years ago now.
I can't remember exactly.

Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Sun, 2 Sep 2012 03:04:40 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>> "Gary" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Julie Bove wrote:
>>>>
>>>> How do you do it?
>>>
>>>> So what should I use to store them in? Or should I just buy them
>>>> as needed?
>>>> I thought since they were a root vegetable that they would keep
>>>> for a while.
>>>> Apparently not.
>>>
>>> I think the root veggies used to be stored in a cool cellar below
>>> ground and
>>> once you dug them up, you keep the dirt on them until you were
>>> ready to use
>>> them. Seems that they would last a long time that way.
>>>
>>> It's a different animal that comes from the grocery store.
>>> They say store in a cool, dry, dark place.
>>> The only place I had was in a lower kitchen cabinet.
>>> You take the potatoes out of the plastic immediately as they need
>>> air.
>>> I put them in a lower kitchen cabinet in an old easter basket.
>>> Some still rotted before I got to them all.
>>>
>>> Now, I keep potatoes and onion on my countertop. I'll put down a
>>> layer of paper towels, then put them all on there not touching each
>>> other. I'll then
>>> put a layer of paper towels on top to keep out some light which is
>>> supposed
>>> to be bad for them.
>>>
>>> Best thing, imo, is to only buy what you will use in a week. Or 2
>>> weeks at the most.
>>>
>>> Gary
>>>
>>> PS - as to the real farm veggies. Last year a friend gave me 1/2
>>> bushel of
>>> sweet potatoes straight from his fathers farm. They still had dirt
>>> on them too. I stored them in my bottom kitchen cabinet and they
>>> lasted several months. The last ones didn't rot, they had dried
>>> out too much to use.
>>
>> Ah... I do have some baskets I can use. I bought some black fabric
>> that I had intended to use to cover the potatoes with but I never
>> got around to using it.
>>
>> Our weather has been a bit on the warm side. Not much hot weather
>> by any means. But not cool either. The garage is usually more cool
>> than the house, but I don't dare keep food like potatoes in there
>> due to rats. I don't know if rats would eat potatoes but after
>> getting a rat in the garage once (door was left open) I am taking no
>> chances.
>>
>> I see that you can cook the sweet potatoes and then store the cooked
>> ones in the freezer. So perhaps that is what I should do. Buy a
>> bunch, cook them all and freeze them.
>
> I don't store onions and potatoes. I buy only what I will use within
> like ten days and keep them in the fridge. Lately I've been buying
> them loose, I like to inspect each for damage and to choose particular
> sizes. Typically I will buy five pounds of spuds and two pounds of
> onions. If I happen to run out before I shop I have dehys... whenever
> I need only a small amount of onion I use dehy anyway, I hate to cut
> into an onion unless I will use it all, I never save a cut onion, no
> matter how well wrapped it stinks up the fridge, and once cut and
> stored onions taste off. When I choose onions I pick a lot of small
> ones. And lately I've been on a red potato kick.

I guess buying them as needed wouldn't be a problem now. Daughter is
starting dance again on Tues. and there is a grocery store near her studio.

Andy wrote:
> Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
>
>> don't store onions and potatoes. I buy only what I will use within
>> like ten days and keep them in the fridge. Lately I've been buying
>> them loose, I like to inspect each for damage and to choose
>> particular sizes. Typically I will buy five pounds of spuds and two
>> pounds of onions. If I happen to run out before I shop I have
>> dehys... whenever I need only a small amount of onion I use dehy
>> anyway, I hate to cut into an onion unless I will use it all, I
>> never save a cut onion, no matter how well wrapped it stinks up the
>> fridge, and once cut and stored onions taste off. When I choose
>> onions I pick a lot of small ones. And lately I've been on a red
>> potato kick.
>
>
>
>
> My pantry has pull out drawers on the bottom for potatoes and onions.
> Cool and dark.
>
> I made the mistake of buying a sack of Yukon Gold potatoes and
> immediately forgot all abut them. The old out of sight out of mind
> mistake. Weeks later I noticed a kitchen stink. A God awful stentch!
> But I couldn't place the cause.
>
> A day or so later I pulled out the potato drawer and thee Yukons had
> dissolved into potato "milk." P-U!!!
>
> After that, I'm in favor of Russets. At least they'll just go to root
> through their eyes.
>
> Once I put a couple Russets in the oven to bake. I forgot all about
> them and went shopping for a few hours. When I got back Russet potato
> aroma filled the air. I quickly plated them and readied the butter
> and sour cream. When I cut into them they were perfectly hollow, the
> meat vanished into thin air. That was a funny sight! I did not eat
> the skins.
>
>
> I buy them loose as well for your valid reasons.
>
> I have never cooked sweet potatoes but I loved Thanksgiving sweet
> potato casserole.
>
> I also defer to onion and garlic powders instead of their real
> counterparts, except for steak and a mountain of caramelized onions,
> two or three purchased loose.
>
>
> I'm more in favor of brown rice than potatoes.
>
> Andy

I do keep onion and garlic powders and also dehydrated onions. But I still
like the real things.

Janet Bostwick wrote:
> On Sun, 2 Sep 2012 01:54:54 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>> How do you do it?
>>
>> I have a wooden bin that I used to use for potatoes and onions. snip
> I get all my potato and onion storage containers at Costco. They are
> called cardboard boxes. You need to store onions and potatoes
> separately. They need to be stored in a dark, cool and dry place and
> rotated (used) frequently. Potatoes may benefit from having something
> like a bath towel draped loosely over them to further darken the
> space. Certain times of the year are a crap shoot. Onions and
> potatoes are harvested in the fall and are in storage (dark, cool,
> dry) until they are bagged and shipped to stores. They have a limited
> storage life (over winter, maybe into spring) However, once they are
> delivered to the supermarket they are exposed to warm temperatures,
> bright light and bruising from handling. Unless you have a root
> cellar, you just need to either use them quickly or buy only what you
> need at one time.
> Janet US

Thanks!

On 9/2/2012 2:37 PM, Gary wrote:

> Really? Dude, you need to try them with just butter and S&P sometime and
> not with the brown sugar and marshmallow thing. They don't microwave very
> well, imo. but baked in oven or boiled are so very tasty.

I rarely go to fast food places but there was one, I think KFC, that has
baked sweet potato on the menu served with butter whipped with brown
sugar. I might try that at home because I like SP baked, but it would
have to be just a tiny amount of sugar.

Cheryl wrote:
> On 9/2/2012 2:37 PM, Gary wrote:
>
>> Really? Dude, you need to try them with just butter and S&P
>> sometime and not with the brown sugar and marshmallow thing. They
>> don't microwave very well, imo. but baked in oven or boiled are so
>> very tasty.
>
> I rarely go to fast food places but there was one, I think KFC, that
> has baked sweet potato on the menu served with butter whipped with
> brown sugar. I might try that at home because I like SP baked, but
> it would have to be just a tiny amount of sugar.

It's Wendys. Daughter didn't like theirs. Said it was too sweet. She had
it without the sweetened butter too.

On 02/09/2012 5:44 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
> Sqwertz wrote:
>> Have you ever considered the possibility that your house is infected
>> with toxic mold?
>>
>> That would explain a lot.
>
> Hmmm... If it is, I don't know where it would be.
>
>
Behind the eyes.

On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 13:00:40 -0500, Andy > wrote:

>Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
>
>> don't store onions and potatoes. I buy only what I will use within
>> like ten days and keep them in the fridge. Lately I've been buying
>> them loose, I like to inspect each for damage and to choose particular
>> sizes. Typically I will buy five pounds of spuds and two pounds of
>> onions. If I happen to run out before I shop I have dehys... whenever
>> I need only a small amount of onion I use dehy anyway, I hate to cut
>> into an onion unless I will use it all, I never save a cut onion, no
>> matter how well wrapped it stinks up the fridge, and once cut and
>> stored onions taste off. When I choose onions I pick a lot of small
>> ones. And lately I've been on a red potato kick.
>
>
>
>
>My pantry has pull out drawers on the bottom for potatoes and onions. Cool
>and dark.

I have one of those too but I use it to store my dish towels

>I made the mistake of buying a sack of Yukon Gold potatoes and immediately
>forgot all abut them. The old out of sight out of mind mistake. Weeks later
>I noticed a kitchen stink. A God awful stentch! But I couldn't place the
>cause.
>A day or so later I pulled out the potato drawer and thee Yukons had
>dissolved into potato "milk." P-U!!!
>
>After that, I'm in favor of Russets. At least they'll just go to root
>through their eyes.

That's why I keep onions and taters in the fridge, much less chance of
forgetting them and they keep better cold. And I don't like yukon
golds, I don't see what's the big whoop.

>Once I put a couple Russets in the oven to bake. I forgot all about them
>and went shopping for a few hours. When I got back Russet potato aroma
>filled the air. I quickly plated them and readied the butter and sour
>cream. When I cut into them they were perfectly hollow, the meat vanished
>into thin air. That was a funny sight! I did not eat the skins.

That's when I set my oven to turn on, and then off.

>I buy them loose as well for your valid reasons.
>
>I have never cooked sweet potatoes but I loved Thanksgiving sweet potato
>casserole.

Well baked sweet potatoes in their jackets are yummy, I always bake
lots, I like them cold too... line a pan with foil and bake until all
runny.

>I also defer to onion and garlic powders instead of their real
>counterparts, except for steak and a mountain of caramelized onions, two or
>three purchased loose.
>
>
>I'm more in favor of brown rice than potatoes.
>
>Andy

I abhor brown rice. But I love wild rice.

On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 14:37:09 -0400, Gary > wrote:

>Andy wrote:
>>
>> I have never cooked sweet potatoes but I loved Thanksgiving sweet potato
>> casserole.
>>
>
>Really? Dude, you need to try them with just butter and S&P sometime and
>not with the brown sugar and marshmallow thing. They don't microwave very
>well, imo. but baked in oven or boiled are so very tasty.
>
>Also, if you ever do the casserole thing again (with brown sugar and maybe
>marshmallows on top) try my mom's latest addition. Make is as always but
>add in a can of slice peaches. It works well.

I sometimes cover the top with crushed pineapple.

On Sun, 2 Sep 2012 01:54:54 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

> How do you do it?
>
> I have a wooden bin that I used to use for potatoes and onions. Until I
> learned that they should not be stored together.

I store them together.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

Gary wrote:
> Julie Bove wrote:
>> How do you do it?
>
>> So what should I use to store them in? Or should I just buy them as needed?
>> I thought since they were a root vegetable that they would keep for a while.
>> Apparently not.
>
> I think the root veggies used to be stored in a cool cellar below ground and
> once you dug them up, you keep the dirt on them until you were ready to use
> them. Seems that they would last a long time that way.
>
> It's a different animal that comes from the grocery store.
> They say store in a cool, dry, dark place.
> The only place I had was in a lower kitchen cabinet.
> You take the potatoes out of the plastic immediately as they need air.
> I put them in a lower kitchen cabinet in an old easter basket.
> Some still rotted before I got to them all.
>
> Now, I keep potatoes and onion on my countertop. I'll put down a layer of
> paper towels, then put them all on there not touching each other. I'll then
> put a layer of paper towels on top to keep out some light which is supposed
> to be bad for them.
>
> Best thing, imo, is to only buy what you will use in a week. Or 2 weeks at
> the most.
>
> Gary
>
> PS - as to the real farm veggies. Last year a friend gave me 1/2 bushel of
> sweet potatoes straight from his fathers farm. They still had dirt on them
> too. I stored them in my bottom kitchen cabinet and they lasted several
> months. The last ones didn't rot, they had dried out too much to use.


Here I thought my initial thought was crazy: bury them in sand
and keep them in a cool place. Your idea may be better though.
Less grit.
--
Jean B.

On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:20:40 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:

snip
>
>Here I thought my initial thought was crazy: bury them in sand
>and keep them in a cool place. Your idea may be better though.
>Less grit.
I believe that is the suggested way to over-winter carrots.
Janet US

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 2 Sep 2012 01:54:54 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>> How do you do it?
>>
>> I have a wooden bin that I used to use for potatoes and onions. Until I
>> learned that they should not be stored together.
>
> I store them together.

Well they shouldn't be. One of them gives off a gas that causes the other
to rot more quickly.

I was pretty shocked to see the price at Albertsons though. $1.98 a pound!
I paid 78 cents a pound at one store and 48 cents a pound at another.

On Mon, 03 Sep 2012 22:11:39 +1000, John John >
wrote:

>On Mon, 03 Sep 2012 06:48:42 -0500, Andy > wrote:
>
>
>>Just yesterday there was a program about survivalists preparing for the end
>>of the world as we know it.
>>
>>I don't know if I'm relaying the techniques verbatim.
>>
>>The carrot in sand is viable. The sand has to be wet with the carrots
>>embedded in it and kept in a cold room in the house. The method prevents
>>them from shriveling.
>
>So that works kind of like the opposite.
>
>John
I'm sorry, but it is early and I am old. . .What works how like the
opposite of what?
Janet US

On Sun, 2 Sep 2012 22:07:28 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
>"sf" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Sun, 2 Sep 2012 01:54:54 -0700, "Julie Bove"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> How do you do it?
>>>
>>> I have a wooden bin that I used to use for potatoes and onions. Until I
>>> learned that they should not be stored together.
>>
>> I store them together.
>
>Well they shouldn't be. One of them gives off a gas that causes the other
>to rot more quickly.
>
>I was pretty shocked to see the price at Albertsons though. $1.98 a pound!
>I paid 78 cents a pound at one store and 48 cents a pound at another.
>
The onions give off a gas that causes the potatoes to sprout.
Janet US

Janet Bostwick wrote:
> On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:20:40 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>
> snip
>> Here I thought my initial thought was crazy: bury them in sand
>> and keep them in a cool place. Your idea may be better though.
>> Less grit.
> I believe that is the suggested way to over-winter carrots.
> Janet US

I need to try these methods. I suppose the sterilized sand will
be hard to find now (as vs. in the spring when the kiddies' sand
boxes are being set up.)

--

"Jean B." > wrote in message
...
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:20:40 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>>
>> snip
>>> Here I thought my initial thought was crazy: bury them in sand and keep
>>> them in a cool place. Your idea may be better though. Less grit.
>> I believe that is the suggested way to over-winter carrots.
>> Janet US
>
> I need to try these methods. I suppose the sterilized sand will be hard
> to find now (as vs. in the spring when the kiddies' sand boxes are being
> set up.)

I was most unhappy tonight. We bought 4 sweet potatoes at Albertsons last
night. They all looked very good. I set them on top of a box of Taco Salad
Shells that was sitting on top of my bread box. They were in my possession
for less than 24 hours. And one was totally bad inside. Not rotten like
mush but like...all dried out and there were holes throughout it. Clearly
we need to do more research because we must not know what a good sweet
potato looks like.

I must also be more careful with the produce at Winco. We bought 2
cucumbers on Friday and they were totally rotten on Monday. Their produce
is super cheap. But... I think it is also close to going bad. Which
perhaps is why it is so cheap.

On Tue, 4 Sep 2012 22:15:20 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
>"Jean B." > wrote in message
...
>> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>> On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:20:40 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>>>
>>> snip
>>>> Here I thought my initial thought was crazy: bury them in sand and keep
>>>> them in a cool place. Your idea may be better though. Less grit.
>>> I believe that is the suggested way to over-winter carrots.
>>> Janet US
>>
>> I need to try these methods. I suppose the sterilized sand will be hard
>> to find now (as vs. in the spring when the kiddies' sand boxes are being
>> set up.)
>
>I was most unhappy tonight. We bought 4 sweet potatoes at Albertsons last
>night. They all looked very good. I set them on top of a box of Taco Salad
>Shells that was sitting on top of my bread box. They were in my possession
>for less than 24 hours. And one was totally bad inside. Not rotten like
>mush but like...all dried out and there were holes throughout it. Clearly
>we need to do more research because we must not know what a good sweet
>potato looks like.
>
>I must also be more careful with the produce at Winco. We bought 2
>cucumbers on Friday and they were totally rotten on Monday. Their produce
>is super cheap. But... I think it is also close to going bad. Which
>perhaps is why it is so cheap.
>

Don't buy your produce from the un-refrigerated area, buy it only from
the cooled produce. Feel the cucumber before you buy it. It should
not give to the touch at all. The color should be dark green -- yes, I
know cucumbers are dark green. But if you look at a bunch of them,
you will see that the color of some of them is not as rich or pure.
They are older or grown too long in the field. Do no choose the
largest cucumber in the bin. If the cucumber is totally, totally
smooth, with absolutely no bumpiness anywhere, looking like it may
have stretched its skin, it was grown too long in the field.

Julie, I really hate the way you condemn an entire business or food
type or whatever just because you had a bad (in your view) experience.
Everyone who shops needs to know how to make the best selection of
goods. You simply do not know how to do this. Do you really think
that Winco orders produce from the supplier saying "now, be sure to
give us the stuff that is just about to go bad?" Or that there is a
supplier that specializes in food just about to go bad? Some day
someone is going to sue you for making false statements about them.
Janet US

"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 4 Sep 2012 22:15:20 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>"Jean B." > wrote in message
...
>>> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:20:40 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>>>>
>>>> snip
>>>>> Here I thought my initial thought was crazy: bury them in sand and
>>>>> keep
>>>>> them in a cool place. Your idea may be better though. Less grit.
>>>> I believe that is the suggested way to over-winter carrots.
>>>> Janet US
>>>
>>> I need to try these methods. I suppose the sterilized sand will be hard
>>> to find now (as vs. in the spring when the kiddies' sand boxes are being
>>> set up.)
>>
>>I was most unhappy tonight. We bought 4 sweet potatoes at Albertsons last
>>night. They all looked very good. I set them on top of a box of Taco
>>Salad
>>Shells that was sitting on top of my bread box. They were in my
>>possession
>>for less than 24 hours. And one was totally bad inside. Not rotten like
>>mush but like...all dried out and there were holes throughout it. Clearly
>>we need to do more research because we must not know what a good sweet
>>potato looks like.
>>
>>I must also be more careful with the produce at Winco. We bought 2
>>cucumbers on Friday and they were totally rotten on Monday. Their produce
>>is super cheap. But... I think it is also close to going bad. Which
>>perhaps is why it is so cheap.
>>
>
> Don't buy your produce from the un-refrigerated area, buy it only from
> the cooled produce. Feel the cucumber before you buy it. It should
> not give to the touch at all. The color should be dark green -- yes, I
> know cucumbers are dark green. But if you look at a bunch of them,
> you will see that the color of some of them is not as rich or pure.
> They are older or grown too long in the field. Do no choose the
> largest cucumber in the bin. If the cucumber is totally, totally
> smooth, with absolutely no bumpiness anywhere, looking like it may
> have stretched its skin, it was grown too long in the field.
>
It was refrigerated but I had my daughter pick them. That perhaps was my
mistake.

> Julie, I really hate the way you condemn an entire business or food
> type or whatever just because you had a bad (in your view) experience.
> Everyone who shops needs to know how to make the best selection of
> goods. You simply do not know how to do this. Do you really think
> that Winco orders produce from the supplier saying "now, be sure to
> give us the stuff that is just about to go bad?" Or that there is a
> supplier that specializes in food just about to go bad? Some day
> someone is going to sue you for making false statements about them.
> Janet US

Yes, I do think they do this and that is probably why they can keep their
prices so cheap. The reason I think they do this is because on the produce
that has an expiration date on it, it is always either that day or a day or
two later. Granted we do usually go there on Friday but we have gone on
other days and it is always the same. There's a chain of cheapo grocery
stores in PA (or at least they used to be there) that did the same. They
bought stuff that was close to expiring at a cheaper price so they could
sell it for cheaper. It was fine when I needed to cook something that day.
I often shopped there when I needed a large amount of food.

They can not sue me for saying what I think. I have no proof of this of
course. It's just what I think. And that's not the case for a lawsuit. I
am not the only one who has said bad things on this NG about that
supermarket. In fact I was made fun of for shopping there. They clearly
are targeting a low income market. If you had ever been there, you would
know. I will buy some things there. Not others.

On Sep 5, 2:05*pm, "Julie Bove" > wrote:
> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Tue, 4 Sep 2012 22:15:20 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > > wrote:
>
> >>"Jean B." > wrote in message
> ...
> >>> Janet Bostwick wrote:
> >>>> On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:20:40 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>
> >>>> snip
> >>>>> Here I thought my initial thought was crazy: *bury them in sand and
> >>>>> keep
> >>>>> them in a cool place. *Your idea may be better though. Less grit.
> >>>> I believe that is the suggested way to over-winter carrots.
> >>>> Janet US
>
> >>> I need to try these methods. *I suppose the sterilized sand will be hard
> >>> to find now (as vs. in the spring when the kiddies' sand boxes are being
> >>> set up.)
>
> >>I was most unhappy tonight. *We bought 4 sweet potatoes at Albertsons last
> >>night. *They all looked very good. *I set them on top of a box of Taco
> >>Salad
> >>Shells that was sitting on top of my bread box. *They were in my
> >>possession
> >>for less than 24 hours. *And one was totally bad inside. *Not rotten like
> >>mush but like...all dried out and there were holes throughout it. *Clearly
> >>we need to do more research because we must not know what a good sweet
> >>potato looks like.
>
> >>I must also be more careful with the produce at Winco. *We bought 2
> >>cucumbers on Friday and they were totally rotten on Monday. *Their produce
> >>is super cheap. *But... *I think it is also close to going bad. *Which
> >>perhaps is why it is so cheap.
>
> > Don't buy your produce from the un-refrigerated area, buy it only from
> > the cooled produce. *Feel the cucumber before you buy it. *It should
> > not give to the touch at all. The color should be dark green -- yes, I
> > know cucumbers are dark green. *But if you look at a bunch of them,
> > you will see that the color of some of them is not as rich or pure.
> > They are older or grown too long in the field. *Do no choose the
> > largest cucumber in the bin. *If the cucumber is totally, totally
> > smooth, with absolutely no bumpiness anywhere, looking like it may
> > have stretched its skin, it was grown too long in the field.
>
> It was refrigerated but I had my daughter pick them. *That perhaps was my
> mistake.
>
> > Julie, I really hate the way you condemn an entire business or food
> > type or whatever just because you had a bad (in your view) experience.
> > Everyone who shops needs to know how to make the best selection of
> > goods. *You simply do not know how to do this. * *Do you really think
> > that Winco orders produce from the supplier saying "now, be sure to
> > give us the stuff that is just about to go bad?" *Or that there is a
> > supplier that specializes in food just about to go bad? *Some day
> > someone is going to sue you for making false statements about them.
> > Janet US
>
> Yes, I do think they do this and that is probably why they can keep their
> prices so cheap. *The reason I think they do this is because on the produce
> that has an expiration date on it, it is always either that day or a day or
> two later. *Granted we do usually go there on Friday but we have gone on
> other days and it is always the same. *There's a chain of cheapo grocery
> stores in PA (or at least they used to be there) that did the same. *They
> bought stuff that was close to expiring at a cheaper price so they could
> sell it for cheaper. *It was fine when I needed to cook something that day.
> I often shopped there when I needed a large amount of food.
>
> They can not sue me for saying what I think. *I have no proof of this of
> course. *It's just what I think. *And that's not the case for a lawsuit. *I
> am not the only one who has said bad things on this NG about that
> supermarket. *In fact I was made fun of for shopping there. *They clearly
> are targeting a low income market. *If you had ever been there, you would
> know. *I will buy some things there. *Not others.

You get what you pay for, especially there. Ever go to Food 4 Less?

"merryb" > wrote in message
...
On Sep 5, 2:05 pm, "Julie Bove" > wrote:
> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Tue, 4 Sep 2012 22:15:20 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > > wrote:
>
> >>"Jean B." > wrote in message
> ...
> >>> Janet Bostwick wrote:
> >>>> On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:20:40 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>
> >>>> snip
> >>>>> Here I thought my initial thought was crazy: bury them in sand and
> >>>>> keep
> >>>>> them in a cool place. Your idea may be better though. Less grit.
> >>>> I believe that is the suggested way to over-winter carrots.
> >>>> Janet US
>
> >>> I need to try these methods. I suppose the sterilized sand will be
> >>> hard
> >>> to find now (as vs. in the spring when the kiddies' sand boxes are
> >>> being
> >>> set up.)
>
> >>I was most unhappy tonight. We bought 4 sweet potatoes at Albertsons
> >>last
> >>night. They all looked very good. I set them on top of a box of Taco
> >>Salad
> >>Shells that was sitting on top of my bread box. They were in my
> >>possession
> >>for less than 24 hours. And one was totally bad inside. Not rotten like
> >>mush but like...all dried out and there were holes throughout it.
> >>Clearly
> >>we need to do more research because we must not know what a good sweet
> >>potato looks like.
>
> >>I must also be more careful with the produce at Winco. We bought 2
> >>cucumbers on Friday and they were totally rotten on Monday. Their
> >>produce
> >>is super cheap. But... I think it is also close to going bad. Which
> >>perhaps is why it is so cheap.
>
> > Don't buy your produce from the un-refrigerated area, buy it only from
> > the cooled produce. Feel the cucumber before you buy it. It should
> > not give to the touch at all. The color should be dark green -- yes, I
> > know cucumbers are dark green. But if you look at a bunch of them,
> > you will see that the color of some of them is not as rich or pure.
> > They are older or grown too long in the field. Do no choose the
> > largest cucumber in the bin. If the cucumber is totally, totally
> > smooth, with absolutely no bumpiness anywhere, looking like it may
> > have stretched its skin, it was grown too long in the field.
>
> It was refrigerated but I had my daughter pick them. That perhaps was my
> mistake.
>
> > Julie, I really hate the way you condemn an entire business or food
> > type or whatever just because you had a bad (in your view) experience.
> > Everyone who shops needs to know how to make the best selection of
> > goods. You simply do not know how to do this. Do you really think
> > that Winco orders produce from the supplier saying "now, be sure to
> > give us the stuff that is just about to go bad?" Or that there is a
> > supplier that specializes in food just about to go bad? Some day
> > someone is going to sue you for making false statements about them.
> > Janet US
>
> Yes, I do think they do this and that is probably why they can keep their
> prices so cheap. The reason I think they do this is because on the produce
> that has an expiration date on it, it is always either that day or a day
> or
> two later. Granted we do usually go there on Friday but we have gone on
> other days and it is always the same. There's a chain of cheapo grocery
> stores in PA (or at least they used to be there) that did the same. They
> bought stuff that was close to expiring at a cheaper price so they could
> sell it for cheaper. It was fine when I needed to cook something that day.
> I often shopped there when I needed a large amount of food.
>
> They can not sue me for saying what I think. I have no proof of this of
> course. It's just what I think. And that's not the case for a lawsuit. I
> am not the only one who has said bad things on this NG about that
> supermarket. In fact I was made fun of for shopping there. They clearly
> are targeting a low income market. If you had ever been there, you would
> know. I will buy some things there. Not others.

You get what you pay for, especially there. Ever go to Food 4 Less?

I don't know. Is Food 4 Less in this area? I have been to Grocery Outlet.
Right nasty place that one is. My friend set foot once and only once in the
one in North Seattle. Said the aroma of spoiled milk whapped her in the
face when she walked it. I have only ever been to two of them. The one in
Oakland which wasn't super bad comparatively and the one in Lynnwood. Yick!
Even the customers in there. Yick! I only went because at the time we were
eating a certain butter substitute and they had it for much less than any
other store. I would buy 6 of them at a time because I didn't want to go
back for a very long time. I have another friend who lives out near Sumner
who loves them. So hers must be good.

I do like most of the Hytop products that Winco sells. The refried beans
were very runny so no good, IMO. And the cats wouldn't eat that brand of
food but that's fine because I prefer to feed them a premium food. I
thought they had a good price on whole wheat pasta until I found out that
the Fred Meyer brand is actually cheaper!

I can get good prices on cheese, packaged lunch meats, milk, cottage cheese,
yogurt, paper products, baked goods and sometimes soda pop. Plus they
discount their magazines. And I have gotten some nice cat perches for cheap
but have also seen some crappy ones in there.

When I go there I go there only with a very loose list. I might list
something but then put a question mark by it because I never know if I will
really buy it there or not. I mostly just go looking for bargains.

More and more I am thinking that Target beats their prices on a lot of
things. My dad did read that they have the lowest price overall for
groceries. The only problem is that they don't have a full, complete
grocery. Yes, I can get enough stuff for a meal or two but I can't
necessarily get specialty items. I did get the Red Card so can save another
5% now.

One thing that is good about Winco though is that they do seem to have a
pretty good selection of Asian and Latino foods. Not as much Asian stuff as
Central Market but much better prices. If you're looking for noodle bowls
or Ramen, that's the place to get it! Not that we buy it for ourselves mind
you. But when the food bank was looking for Ramen, we bought several cases
there.