How to Tell if a Sweet Potato Has Gone Bad

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Signs of spoilage, storage tips, and more!

Co-authored by Annabelle Reyes Reviewed by Ashley Crawford

Last Updated: August 22, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Signs of Spoilage
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• Choosing Fresh Sweet Potatoes
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• Shelf Life of Sweet Potatoes
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• Storing Sweet Potatoes
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• Recipes & Uses for Sweet Potatoes
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• Warnings

|Show more |Show less

If you’ve had some sweet potatoes for a while and you’re wondering if they’re still good, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over all the signs to look out for to determine whether or not your sweet potatoes have gone bad. We’ll also cover how to pick fresh sweet potatoes at the store and how to properly store sweet potatoes to prolong their shelf life, so keep reading!

How do you know if a sweet potato has gone bad?

If your sweet potato has soft or mushy spots, wrinkly skin, discoloration, or if it’s started to grow a lot of large sprouts, the potato has likely gone bad. A spoiled sweet potato may also have a musty, sour, or super sweet smell, and it will taste bitter or “off.”

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Signs That a Sweet Potato Has Gone Bad

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1. 1
   Soft spots Pick up the sweet potato and feel it for soft spots. If it feels squishy or mushy in certain areas, your sweet potato is likely past its prime. Fresh sweet potatoes won’t have any soft spots or indentations, and they’ll be very firm to the touch.
2. 2
   Wrinkly skin If your sweet potato’s skin looks shriveled or wrinkly, this is a surefire sign of decay. A wrinkly sweet potato will taste sour or “off,” and it can even cause sickness if eaten, so it’s safest to throw them away.
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3. 
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   Discoloration Fresh sweet potatoes should have a uniform color without any dark spots or discoloration. If you see brown or black spots on the sweet potato’s skin or inside the sweet potato, this is a sign of spoilage and possible mold growth. Unfortunately, the sweet potato is no longer safe to eat and should be thrown out.
4. 4
   Oozing liquid As sweet potatoes spoil, they will start to become softer and mushier, and their water content will rise. When this happens, you may notice some mysterious liquid leaking from the potato before you cut it. This is a sign that your sweet potato has gone bad and should be thrown away.

   • Once you cut into your sweet potato, it’s normal to see a bit of white, milky-looking liquid. This liquid is called “sap,” and it’s not a sign of spoilage. Your sweet potato should still be safe to eat!
5. 
   5
   Lots of sprouts If your sweet potato only has a few small sprouts but seems completely fresh otherwise, it’s safe to cut off the sprouted areas and consume the potato. If, however, your sweet potato has grown an excessive amount of large sprouts and it’s also soft or wrinkly, it’s time to toss it out.

   • These sprouts contain compounds called glycoalkaloids, which have a bitter taste and can be toxic when eaten in large quantities.
6. 
   6
   “Off” smell If your sweet potato starts to have a musty, foul, sour, or intensely sweet odor, it has likely gone bad. These smells indicate bacteria growth, which means your sweet potato isn’t safe to eat anymore.

   • A fresh raw sweet potato should smell earthy, but it shouldn’t smell overly sweet until it’s cooked.
   • As a sweet potato goes bad, bacteria will grow and convert to sugar, which causes this super sweet smell.
7. 7
   Bitter taste If a sweet potato has gone bad, it will likely have an unpleasant bitter taste. This comes from the sprouts that grow on the potato, which contain bitter-tasting compounds called glycoalkaloids. It’s dangerous to consume these compounds, so if you notice this taste, stop eating your potato and throw it away.

   • An overly sweet taste can also be a sign of spoilage, but this is harder to spot in sweet potatoes since they are naturally sweet-tasting.
   • However, if you have a regular russet or Yukon gold potato, a super sweet taste is a sign that the starches are breaking down into sugars, which means your potato is past its prime.
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Pick Sweet Potatoes at the Store

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1. 
   At the grocery store, choose sweet potatoes that feel firm to the touch. Look for smooth, wrinkle-free skin, and make sure there aren’t any soft or mushy areas. Try to pick potatoes that are uniform in color and shape, without any dark spots, blemishes, or indentations. The fresher your potatoes are when you buy them, the longer they’ll last when you store them at home!

Section 3 of 5:

How long do sweet potatoes stay fresh?

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1. At room temperature, whole sweet potatoes will last for 2-3 weeks. If you store them in a cooler, darker place, like a pantry or root cellar, the sweet potatoes may even stay fresh a bit longer (up to 5 weeks).

   • Canned sweet potatoes will last for about 1 year.
   • Cooked sweet potatoes can last 3-7 days in the fridge or 4-6 months in the freezer.
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Section 4 of 5:

How to Store a Sweet Potato to Prolong Freshness

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1. 1
   Store whole sweet potatoes at room temperature. For optimal freshness and a long shelf-life, store your sweet potatoes in a cool, dark, dry place. You can place them on the kitchen counter (as long as they’re not under direct sunlight from a window), or you can store them in your pantry. If your pantry is very cool (55 to 60°F), your potatoes may even stay fresh for up to 2 months!

   • Don’t place your sweet potatoes in a Ziploc or plastic bag—this traps moisture and leads to spoilage.
   • Don’t wash your sweet potatoes until you’re ready to cook them. Washing sweet potatoes before storing them can lead to premature mold growth.
2. 
   2
   Store peeled sweet potatoes in the fridge. “Peeled sweet potatoes can last up to a week in the fridge when stored properly,” says private chef and food educator, Ollie George Cigliano. “Store them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic. Before placing them in the fridge, ensure they are dry and free of dirt or debris by wiping them with a clean paper towel.”
3. 
   3
   Store cooked sweet potatoes in a container in the fridge. Once you’ve cooked your sweet potatoes, they need to be refrigerated to stay fresh. Place them in a tightly closed container or tupperware, and store them in the fridge for 3-7 days.
4. 4
   Freeze cooked sweet potatoes for the longest shelf life. You can store sweet potatoes in the freezer to keep them fresh longer, but it’s best to cook them first. (Freezing raw sweet potatoes has a negative effect on the taste and texture.) Before freezing, you can roast them, mash them, blanch them, fry them—whatever you prefer!
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Section 5 of 5:

Recipe Ideas & Uses for Sweet Potatoes

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1. Sweet potatoes make delicious (and nutritious) additions to your diet. Their unique taste works super well in sweet and savory dishes, and they’re an excellent source of potassium, fiber, and vitamins A, B6, and C. Here are some recipes featuring sweet potatoes if you’re looking for inspiration:

   • Sweet potato fries
   • Baked sweet potatoes
   • Mashed sweet potatoes
   • Grilled sweet potatoes
   • Air fried sweet potatoes

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Warnings

• If you think you’ve eaten a sweet potato that has gone bad, keep an eye out for symptoms of food poisoning. These include upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
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• If you think you have food poisoning, stay hydrated and get some rest. If your symptoms are severe, seek out treatment with a healthcare provider. They can prescribe medication for nausea and vomiting if needed.
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