Apples
There are lots of different varieties of apples, but generally you get a few weeks out of them, assuming you left them out on the counter.
“Generally, around 50 degrees is an ideal temperature for apples, but it depends on the variety,” O’Leary says. “They’re quite different in how they react to temperature. [I would ballpark that most last] maybe a month.”
Of course, if apples are stored properly, they can last for months on end. Generally, this means a cool, dark place with little humidity. “When I was growing up in Ireland, we had a guy with an orchard nearby,” O’Leary says. “He’d pick apples in the fall, and he had an area where he stored them that was covered and below ground. They would keep until next summer.” Generally, an apple that has gone bad will be soft, mushy and brown.
Shelf Life: Depending on storage conditions, weeks to months.
Potatoes
You can stock up on this powerful source of carbs and hold onto them for months, provided you keep them out of the fridge.
“Too low of a temperature and you’ll get [the potato’s] starch converted to sugar,” O’Leary says. “Generally, you don’t want them refrigerated. Around 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature.” O’Leary says when potatoes were harvested in his home in Ireland, they’d last from the fall to the next summer with no problem: “We would generally harvest potatoes in the fall and we’d have them until the new crop came in next May. We’d keep them over six, nine months. They’d still be good.” Generally, a spoiled potato becomes soft and discolored. Potatoes may also sprout if you leave them unattended, but his doesn’t mean they’ve gone bad. Just remove the sprouts, and they’re still good to eat.
Shelf Life: Provided you’ve stored them in a cool, dark place, potatoes last quite a long time—maybe even six months. On your counter top, they will probably last at least two weeks.