Carrots can be stored with potatoes, but only if you take a few smart precautions.
At first glance, it seems like a match made in root-cellar heaven since both are hardy, inexpensive, and love cool, dark places.
However, these two vegetables have very different storage needs, and ignoring those differences can ruin your entire stash.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can store carrots with potatoes, you’re in the right place.
In this post, we’ll look at whether carrots can be stored with potatoes, why it’s tricky, and how to do it without turning your harvest into a mushy mess.
Let’s dig in.
Can Carrots Be Stored With Potatoes? The Short Answer
Yes, carrots can be stored with potatoes, but it’s not the ideal pairing for long-term storage.
The reason is that potatoes release ethylene gas as they sit, and that gas can make carrots turn bitter and soft over time.
On top of that, potatoes like it slightly cooler and drier than carrots do, so keeping them together means one of them will be a little unhappy.
That said, if you’re only storing them for a few weeks or you don’t have much space, storing carrots with potatoes can work just fine.
You just need to set things up so the two don’t sabotage each other.
1. Potatoes Release Ethylene Gas
Potatoes are famous for releasing ethylene, a natural plant hormone that speeds up ripening and aging in nearby produce.
When you store carrots with potatoes, that ethylene exposure can cause carrots to develop a bitter flavor and lose their crisp snap.
This is why you often hear gardeners warn against storing carrots with potatoes, even though both are root vegetables.
The good news is that this effect is much slower in cool conditions, so a cold basement or fridge can buy you more time.
2. They Prefer Different Humidity Levels
Carrots need high humidity to stay firm, while potatoes prefer things a bit drier to avoid sprouting and rotting.
If you store carrots with potatoes in the same container, the moisture that keeps carrots happy can encourage mold on your potatoes.
This is a big part of why storing carrots with potatoes is considered a compromise rather than a perfect solution.
You can get around it by keeping them in separate bags or containers within the same general space.
3. Temperature Needs Are Close but Not Identical
The ideal storage temperature for potatoes is around 45–50°F, while carrots do best at 32–40°F.
That overlap is small, but it’s enough that you can store carrots with potatoes in a cool cellar or a crisper drawer without total disaster.
Just don’t expect months of perfection if you’re keeping them side by side at the same temperature.
Aim for the middle range, and check on them often so you can pull out any soft or sprouting pieces early.
How to Store Carrots With Potatoes Successfully
If you’ve decided that yes, you can store carrots with potatoes, here’s how to do it without ruining either one.
1. Keep Them in Separate Containers
The simplest trick is to store carrots with potatoes in the same area but in different containers.
Use a perforated plastic bag or a sealed container for the carrots to hold in moisture.
Then keep the potatoes in a breathable paper bag or a cardboard box so they can stay dry.
This way, they share the cool space but don’t directly affect each other’s humidity or ethylene exposure.
2. Don’t Wash Them Before Storing
Moisture is the enemy of long-term storage, so never wash carrots or potatoes before you put them away.
Brush off excess dirt with your hands or a dry cloth instead.
If you store carrots with potatoes that are still damp, you’re basically inviting rot to move in fast.
Save the rinsing for right before you cook or eat them.
3. Remove the Carrot Tops
Carrot greens pull moisture and nutrients out of the root, which shortens their shelf life.
Twist or cut the tops off before storing carrots with potatoes so the roots stay firm longer.
Leave about an inch of the green, and don’t cut into the carrot itself.
This one step makes a huge difference when you’re trying to store carrots with potatoes for weeks at a time.
4. Check for Damage Before Storing
Any bruised, cut, or soft carrot or potato should be set aside and used first.
One rotten potato can speed up spoilage in everything around it, carrots included.
So before you store carrots with potatoes, give each one a quick once-over and toss the bad ones.
Healthy roots store longer, and that goes double when they’re sharing space.
5. Use a Cool, Dark, Ventilated Space
Light makes potatoes turn green and carrots go limp, so pick a dark spot like a cellar, garage, or pantry corner.
Good airflow helps keep ethylene from building up around your produce.
If you can store carrots with potatoes in a place that stays consistently cool, you’ll get the best results.
Just avoid anywhere too warm, like next to a water heater or in a sunny kitchen.
So, Can Carrots Be Stored With Potatoes?
Carrots can be stored with potatoes, but you’ll get better results if you keep them in separate containers and manage humidity carefully.
Potatoes release ethylene that can soften and bitter your carrots, and their different moisture needs mean one will always be slightly unhappy.
Still, with the right setup, storing carrots with potatoes is totally doable for short to medium-term storage.
Keep them cool, dark, and dry, check on them often, and you’ll enjoy both for weeks to come.