How-to Guide
How to Cure Sweet Potatoes for Storage
The short answer
Right after digging, cure sweet potatoes for about a week at 80 to 85 degrees F and 90 to 95 percent relative humidity. This warm, humid rest heals cuts and bruises, sets the skins, and converts starch to sugar for sweeter flavor and much longer storage.
After curing, move them to cool storage around 55 to 60 degrees F with high humidity. Properly cured and stored, sweet potatoes can keep for four to six months.
Cure right after harvest
- 1Handle gently — Dig carefully and avoid nicking the roots; curing heals only minor wounds, so start with sound roots.
- 2Hold warm and humid — Cure about one week at 80 to 85 degrees F and 90 to 95 percent relative humidity.
- 3Improvise if needed — Without a curing room, a warm covered porch or garage for a week partially cures roots, and works best with an early-fall harvest while it is still warm.
Store after curing
Once cured, keep sweet potatoes at 55 to 60 degrees F with roughly 85 to 90 percent humidity and good airflow. Do not refrigerate.
⚠ Cold storage below about 55 degrees F causes chilling injury; refrigerating sweet potatoes damages them. Warm conditions cause sprouting and shriveling.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.
- Penn State Extension — Sweetpotato Curing and Storage — Cure at warm, humid conditions to heal wounds, set skins, convert starch to sugar, and extend storage.
- Iowa State University Extension — How do I harvest and store sweet potatoes? — Cure one week at 80-85 F and 90-95% humidity, then store at 55-60 F; keeps four to six months.