Can You Store Squash With Potatoes

You can store squash with potatoes, but it’s not the best idea if you want your squash to last.
 
While both are hardy winter vegetables that seem like perfect pantry buddies, they actually have very different needs when it comes to long-term storage.
 
If you’ve been wondering whether you can store squash with potatoes, the short answer is yes, you technically can, but you probably shouldn’t.
 
In this post, we’ll look at why storing squash with potatoes can be a problem, what happens when you do it, and how to store both of them so they stay fresh for as long as possible.
 
Let’s get into it.
 

Why You Can Store Squash With Potatoes (But Shouldn’t)

You can store squash with potatoes, and many people do it without thinking twice.
 
But just because you can store squash with potatoes doesn’t mean it’s the smartest move for your harvest.
 
Here’s why this common pairing often backfires.
 

1. They Need Different Humidity Levels

The biggest reason you shouldn’t store squash with potatoes comes down to humidity.
 
Potatoes prefer a humid environment, usually around 90 to 95 percent humidity, which keeps them from shriveling and going soft.
 
Squash, on the other hand, wants things on the drier side, ideally around 50 to 60 percent humidity.
 
When you store squash with potatoes, the moisture that keeps your potatoes happy can cause your squash to develop mold, rot, and soft spots.
 
That’s why storing squash with potatoes often ends with one of them spoiling way too soon.
 

2. Potatoes Release Ethylene Gas

Potatoes give off ethylene gas as they sit in storage, and this gas speeds up the ripening process of whatever is nearby.
 
When you store squash with potatoes, that ethylene can cause your squash to ripen faster than you’d like.
 
Once squash gets overripe, its texture turns mushy and its flavor goes downhill fast.
 
So if you want your squash to hold up for months, keeping it away from ethylene-producing veggies like potatoes is key.
 

3. Different Temperature Preferences

Potatoes and squash also disagree on temperature.
 
Potatoes store best between 45 and 50°F, while most winter squash varieties prefer something closer to 50 to 55°F.
 
That’s a small difference, but it matters over weeks and months of storage.
 
If you store squash with potatoes at the potato-friendly temperature, your squash may chill and develop watery, bland flesh.
 
And if you go warmer for the squash, your potatoes might start sprouting.
 
There’s just no perfect middle ground when you store squash with potatoes.
 

How to Store Squash and Potatoes the Right Way

Since you now know why storing squash with potatoes isn’t ideal, let’s talk about doing it right.
 
The good news is that you can store squash and potatoes separately, and both will last for months if you follow a few simple rules.
 

1. Cure Them First

Before you store squash or potatoes, you need to cure them.
 
Curing means letting them sit in a warm, well-ventilated spot for a week or two so their skins toughen up.
 
This step is what allows winter squash and potatoes to last through the cold months instead of rotting in a few weeks.
 
Skip curing and you’ll find that even perfect storage conditions won’t save them.
 

2. Give Each One Its Own Space

Once cured, keep your squash and potatoes in separate areas.
 
Store potatoes in a dark, humid spot like a cellar or a bin with a damp towel over it.
 
Store squash in a cool, dry place with good airflow, like a pantry shelf or a ventilated basket.
 
This way, you never have to worry about whether you can store squash with potatoes again, because they’re each in their happy place.
 

3. Check on Them Regularly

Even when stored correctly, one bad squash or potato can ruin the whole batch.
 
Check your stash every week or two and pull out anything that’s soft, moldy, or smelling off.
 
This small habit keeps the rest of your harvest fresh and stops rot from spreading.
 
It’s the easiest way to make sure storing squash with potatoes never becomes an issue in the first place.
 

What Happens If You Do Store Squash With Potatoes?

If you’ve already stored squash with potatoes, don’t panic just yet.
 
Short-term, you might get away with it, especially if you eat them within a few weeks.
 
But over the long haul, you’ll likely notice your squash getting soft and spotty while your potatoes start sprouting or shriveling.
 
The takeaway is simple: you can store squash with potatoes for a little while, but it’s not a good long-term plan.
 
Separating them is always the better move if you want your harvest to last.
 

So, Can You Store Squash With Potatoes?

You can store squash with potatoes, but it’s not recommended if you want either one to last.
 
They need different humidity, different temperatures, and the ethylene gas from potatoes speeds up how fast squash goes bad.
 
The smartest approach is to cure both, store them separately, and check on them often so nothing spoils.
 
That way, you get to enjoy your squash and potatoes for months instead of watching them rot away.
 
Now you know the truth about whether you can store squash with potatoes.