Potatoes should be kept in a cool, dark place with good ventilation. The ideal storage temperature is 7- 10 ºC. At these temperatures, potatoes will keep for many weeks. Don't store potatoes in the refrigerator! When kept below 7°C, potatoes develop a sweet taste, due to the conversion of starch to sugar. This increased sugar causes potatoes to darken when cooked. If you store potatoes at room temperature, use them within a few weeks. Keep potatoes away from prolonged exposure to light, which causes them to turn green (see greening). This greening causes a bitter flavor and may be toxic. If potatoes develop green areas or start to sprout, just trim off these areas before using.