How long do sweet potatoes last?

Checked 25 Oct 20264 official publishers, 5 sources

Fresh: keeping it in the fridge is not recommended and 2-3 weeks in the pantry.

Storage times for sweet potatoes by state and place
State	Pantry	Fridge 40 °F
Fresh	2-3 weeks FoodKeeper Extension Extension	Not recommended Extension
Canned	30 months Extension	Not stated

Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

Source	State	Pantry	Fridge
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Fresh	2-3 weeks	-
National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia)	Fresh	2-3 weeks	-
NDSU Extension	Fresh	2-3 weeks	Not recommended
Utah State University Extension	Canned	30 months	-

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

“Potatoes – white – sweet ... For longer storage, keep below 50 F.” Extension
“to prevent darkening, dip whole sweet potatoes or slices for 5 seconds in a solution of 1/2 cup lemon juice to 1 quart water.” Extension
“Fresh sweet potato ventilated boxes or bags 55-60°F Dry basement 6 months” Extension
“Choose medium to large sweet potatoes that have been cured for at least one week.” Extension
“Cook until almost tender in water, in steam, in a pressure cooker or in the oven. Let stand at room temperature until cool.” Extension
“To keep mashed sweet potatoes from darkening, mix 2 tablespoons orange or lemon juice with each quart of mashed sweet potatoes.” Extension
“heat potatoes in oven at 350ºF without peeling until slightly soft. Cool, remove peel and wrap individually in aluminum foil.” Extension

What the sources say

FoodKeeper lists yams and sweet potatoes together and gives them 2 to 3 weeks in the pantry from the date of purchase.¹

The National Center for Home Food Preservation gives the same 2 to 3 weeks, and contrasts it with up to 2 months for white potatoes in a cupboard at 50 to 70 °F.²

The NDSU Extension food storage guide agrees on 2 to 3 weeks in the pantry, against 1 to 2 weeks for white potatoes, and adds a short instruction: do not refrigerate sweet potatoes.³

For longer storage, the potato row of the NDSU guide, which covers white and sweet potatoes, says to keep them below 50 °F.³

None of these sources gives a refrigerator time for fresh sweet potatoes, and FoodKeeper has no freezer time for them.¹²³

Utah State University Extension lists 6 months for fresh sweet potatoes in ventilated boxes or bags in a dry basement at 55 to 60 °F.⁴

Canned sweet potatoes in their original package last much longer: the same Utah State chart gives 30 months in a dry basement at 70 °F.⁴

For freezing, the National Center starts with medium to large sweet potatoes cured for at least one week, cooked until almost tender in water, in steam, in a pressure cooker or in the oven, then cooled at room temperature.⁵

To keep mashed sweet potatoes from darkening, it adds 2 tablespoons of orange or lemon juice to each quart; whole sweet potatoes or slices can instead be dipped for 5 seconds in 1/2 cup lemon juice to 1 quart water.⁵

For baked sweet potatoes, it heats them unpeeled in a 350 °F oven until slightly soft, then peels them and wraps each one in aluminum foil.⁵

Rules that apply here

Freezing and refreezing

Potatoes Onions

Sources

USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 422: Yams/sweet potatoes. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Yams/sweet potatoes. DOP_Pantry: 2-3 Weeks
Preserving Potatoes - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. store fresh white potatoes for up to 2 months in a cupboard kept at 50-70°F (sweet potatoes last only 2-3 weeks)
1 • FN579 • Food Storage GuideNDSU Extension. NDSU Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25. Potatoes – white – sweet 1 to 2 weeks 2 to 3 weeksDon’t refrigerate sweet potatoes.Potatoes – white – sweet ... For longer storage, keep below 50 F.
Food Storage in Home | USU. Utah State University Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Canned sweet potato original package 70°F Dry basement 30 monthsFresh sweet potato ventilated boxes or bags 55-60°F Dry basement 6 months
Freezing Sweet Potatoes - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. to prevent darkening, dip whole sweet potatoes or slices for 5 seconds in a solution of 1/2 cup lemon juice to 1 quart water.Choose medium to large sweet potatoes that have been cured for at least one week.Cook until almost tender in water, in steam, in a pressure cooker or in the oven. Let stand at room temperature until cool.To keep mashed sweet potatoes from darkening, mix 2 tablespoons orange or lemon juice with each quart of mashed sweet potatoes.heat potatoes in oven at 350ºF without peeling until slightly soft. Cool, remove peel and wrap individually in aluminum foil.
REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.