Storing Root Vegetables
These are carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, radishes, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, yams, and regular old potatoes.
Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
What's great about these varieties is that, in many cases, you don't even need to keep them in the fridge. If you have a cool, dry spot in your house, like a garage, cellar, or closet, where the temperature is consistently between 40 and 50 degrees, you can keep potatoes and sweet potatoes in a paper bag there for up to three months without them spoiling. Avoid damp, cool places, however — those mimic potato growing conditions, and will encourage them to sprout. Large potatoes tend to last longer than baby ones.
Carrots, Parsnips, and Turnips
Carrots, parsnips, and turnips are best kept in the fridge wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel or dishcloth — just remove their leafy tops first, if they came with them. They'll last there for three to four weeks.
Beets and Celeriac
Beets and celeriac also can be kept in a damp, clean towel in the fridge, minus their leaves, where they'll last about 10 to 14 days. For radishes, remove their greens and then put them in a resealable plastic bag with a folded damp paper towel. They'll also be good for up to two weeks.
You don't have to throw away the greens you're removing, either — freeze them in a bag for stock or throw them into a greens-heavy sauce, like a pesto, salsa, or gremolata.