If your potatoes seem to sprout overnight or go soft before you can use them, there’s an easy kitchen trick that could help – and it only involves one common fruit.

Sustainable living advocates at Life Before Plastic recommend: “Store potatoes with an apple. The gas that apples release keeps potatoes fresh and prevents them from sprouting. Never keep your onions and potatoes together as this encourages the potatoes to sprout.”

This clever hack works thanks to a naturally occurring plant hormone called ethylene, which is released by many fruits and vegetables. While potatoes produce ethylene as they age, leading to sprouting, apples release a small, steady amount that actually helps slow down this process when stored alongside potatoes.

To make this work, simply place your potatoes in a breathable bag, basket, or cardboard box, and tuck in one fresh apple. Keep the container in a cool, dark, and dry place like a pantry or cellar, just somewhere away from light and warmth. Central heating in winter months can accelerate sprouting, so keeping storage conditions stable is key. Replace the apple every couple of weeks to maintain the effect.

At an average of just 58p per apple in the UK, this is a cost-effective way to get more out of your weekly shop and reduce food waste.

A few more tips to keep potatoes fresh:

• Avoid plastic bags which trap moisture and speed up rot.
• Don’t wash them before storage – moisture encourages decay.
• Keep them away from onions, which release moisture and gases that cause potatoes to spoil faster.
• Check your stash regularly and remove any sprouting or soft ones to stop the spread.