Professional Storage Guide 🥔🧅

Among industrial agricultural products, potatoes and onions are among the products with the highest storage volume. However, these strategic products; It faces risks such as rapid sprouting, internal decay and serious weight loss (waste) under incorrect storage parameters. Therefore, potato and onion storage considerations have a vital economic importance for the entire supply chain, from the producer to the final seller.

In this guide; Thermal balance, humidity management, ventilation dynamics, warehouse architecture and professional solutions offered by Frigocare Cooling have been analyzed in detail.

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Why Do Potatoes and Onions Require Specific Storage Solutions? 🌡️

Potatoes and onions are biological tissues that remain alive and continue to respire even after harvest. When environmental conditions are not optimized, this breathing process;

• Uncontrolled sprouting (germination),
• High weight loss and drying,
• Pathogen-induced mold and bacterial colonization,
• It brings along problems such as loss of taste and texture caused by the disruption of the starch-sugar balance.

👉 For this reason, things to consider when storing potatoes and onions require controlled air-conditioning systems and precise engineering calculations beyond traditional methods.

Critical Technical Parameters in Potato Storage 🥔

Ideal Temperature Management

Storage temperature should be set precisely according to the intended use of potatoes:

• Seed Potatoes:4 – 6 °C
• Edible and Industrial Potato:6 – 8 °C If the temperature drops below 4 °C, the starch in the potato turns into sugar; This spoils the taste and causes darkening during frying.

Moisture and Hydration Balance

The ideal relative humidity should be between 90% – 95%. A decrease in the humidity level causes the product to wrinkle and lose its market value; If it is high, it causes soft rot. Ultrasonic humidification systems offered by Frigocare are the key component in maintaining this balance.

Sprouting and Light Control

Sprouting ends the commercial life of the product. To prevent this, it is vital to keep the warehouse area completely dark, stabilize the temperature and ensure proper air circulation.

Things to Consider in Onion Storage 🧅

Temperature and Dormancy Control

The recommended standard temperature range for onion storage is 0 – 2 °C. This low temperature ensures that the onion remains in dormancy mode, minimizing germination and tissue softening.

Low Humidity Need

Unlike potatoes, onions require a drier environment. The ideal humidity rate should be kept at 65% – 75%. High humidity causes rotting and rooting in onion necks.

⚠️ Important Warning: Onions and potatoes should never be stored inthe same warehouse atmosphere since their humidity and temperature requirements are completely opposite.

Uninterrupted Ventilation Requirement

Intensive air circulation and rapid evacuation of moist air are mandatory in onion warehouses. The design of ventilation systems should be designed to ensure the passage of air between product piles.

Warehouse Architecture and Technological Components 🏗️

Potato and Onion Ventilation-Cooling Systems

These systems do not only cool; At the same time, it prevents the formation of "hot spots" within the product piles by providing a homogeneous air distribution. Frigocare Cooling maximizes product life with sector-specifically designed ventilation units.

Soil and Stacking Strategies

• Floor: It must have a structure that prevents moisture transfer and can be easily sterilized.
• Shelf and Case Systems: Designs that do not interrupt air flow and minimize product crushing and physical damage should be preferred. Frigocare shelf solutions are based on this air circulation dynamic.

Light Insulation and Door Systems

When exposed to light, potatoes produce solanine (a toxic substance) and turn green. In order to eliminate this risk, warehouses must be equipped with cold room doors with high sealing performance and complete insulation.

Advanced Solutions and Energy Efficiency ⚡

Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Applications

These systems, in which the oxygen level is reduced and carbon dioxide is precisely controlled, are an advanced engineering application that significantly increases the shelf life of potato and onion storage compared to standard methods.

Energy Efficient Cooling Systems

We apply within Frigocare Cooling;

• Central cooling systems,
• Split type units,
• Natural fluid (CO2) systems with a low carbon footprint reduce your operating costs and shorten the return on investment.

Most Common Critical Storage Mistakes ❌