If you've ever been to a grocery store, you've probably noticed something intriguing happening in the fruit and department.

As the day ends and the employees finish scanning and totalling up customers' items, they engage in a peculiar ritual. They carefully cover the potatoes with plastic sheeting as if shielding them from some mysterious force.

This sparked our curiosity and raised questions about the reasons behind this unusual practice.

It's quite fascinating, isn't it? Well, after years of wondering about this peculiar behaviour, a Woolworths employee has finally unravelled the mystery behind it.

Liam, a worker at Woolworths, revealed the reason behind the practice of covering potatoes at night. Source: TikTok/Woolworths AU

The worker, named Liam, revealed the real reason why they cover potatoes in-store during the night in a video on the supermarket’s social media page.

In the clip, Liam said that the main purpose of covering the potatoes was to prevent something called 'greening'.

'When potatoes are exposed to any kind of light, including artificial light like the ones in our stores, this can cause a process called greening on a potato.' he said.

So, if you ever witness this baffling scene in your local Woolworths, you’ll know why.

But the curious question now begs to be asked—if potatoes are exposed to artificial light in supermarkets at night, does that mean they’re already exposed to it all day?

The answer to this is ‘not necessarily’. While the lights may not be turned off in Woolies’ stores during opening hours, they will usually be dimmed to an adequate level so that it doesn’t contribute to the formation of chlorophyll in the potatoes.

At home, Liam suggests storing potatoes in a dark and well-ventilated space, such as a pantry. Source: Tiktok/Woolworths AU

Surprisingly, when it comes to storing potatoes, many believe that putting them in the fridge is the best choice.

However, Liam advises against this, saying that potatoes should actually be kept in a dark, well-ventilated area such as a pantry.

See Liam’s video here:

​

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths employee has revealed why they cover up the potatoes in-store at night, with shoppers saying they were 'genuinely confused' by the strange act.
• Worker Liam Kirley shared a video on the Woolworths social media account, explaining that the reason for covering the potatoes is to prevent a process called 'greening' due to exposure to light.
• Liam recommends keeping potatoes in a dark, well-ventilated area, as storing them in the fridge can cause them to spoil more quickly.
• Over 150,000 people watched the video and thanked Liam for sharing the information, though some still questioned whether the potatoes were exposed to artificial light during the day.

Liam's video not only explains a peculiar but familiar sight in grocery stores, but it has also garnered appreciation from thousands of viewers. Some even admitted to never having seen this potato phenomenon until recently.

For those of you who have also been unaware of this odd potato behaviour, we hope you now have a better understanding of what's happening.

So, have you ever noticed this strange potato act while shopping? Share your thoughts and experiences!

 

[Ricki]

If you've ever been to a grocery store, you've probably noticed something intriguing happening in the fruit and department.

As the day ends and the employees finish scanning and totalling up customers' items, they engage in a peculiar ritual. They carefully cover the potatoes with plastic sheeting as if shielding them from some mysterious force.

This sparked our curiosity and raised questions about the reasons behind this unusual practice.

It's quite fascinating, isn't it? Well, after years of wondering about this peculiar behaviour, a Woolworths employee has finally unravelled the mystery behind it.

View attachment 23113

Liam, a worker at Woolworths, revealed the reason behind the practice of covering potatoes at night. Source: TikTok/Woolworths AU

The worker, named Liam, revealed the real reason why they cover potatoes in-store during the night in a video on the supermarket’s social media page.

In the clip, Liam said that the main purpose of covering the potatoes was to prevent something called 'greening'.

'When potatoes are exposed to any kind of light, including artificial light like the ones in our stores, this can cause a process called greening on a potato.' he said.

So, if you ever witness this baffling scene in your local Woolworths, you’ll know why.

But the curious question now begs to be asked—if potatoes are exposed to artificial light in supermarkets at night, does that mean they’re already exposed to it all day?

The answer to this is ‘not necessarily’. While the lights may not be turned off in Woolies’ stores during opening hours, they will usually be dimmed to an adequate level so that it doesn’t contribute to the formation of chlorophyll in the potatoes.

View attachment 23114

At home, Liam suggests storing potatoes in a dark and well-ventilated space, such as a pantry. Source: Tiktok/Woolworths AU

Surprisingly, when it comes to storing potatoes, many believe that putting them in the fridge is the best choice.

However, Liam advises against this, saying that potatoes should actually be kept in a dark, well-ventilated area such as a pantry.

See Liam’s video here:

​

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths employee has revealed why they cover up the potatoes in-store at night, with shoppers saying they were 'genuinely confused' by the strange act.
• Worker Liam Kirley shared a video on the Woolworths social media account, explaining that the reason for covering the potatoes is to prevent a process called 'greening' due to exposure to light.
• Liam recommends keeping potatoes in a dark, well-ventilated area, as storing them in the fridge can cause them to spoil more quickly.
• Over 150,000 people watched the video and thanked Liam for sharing the information, though some still questioned whether the potatoes were exposed to artificial light during the day.

Liam's video not only explains a peculiar but familiar sight in grocery stores, but it has also garnered appreciation from thousands of viewers. Some even admitted to never having seen this potato phenomenon until recently.

For those of you who have also been unaware of this odd potato behaviour, we hope you now have a better understanding of what's happening.

So, have you ever noticed this strange potato act while shopping? Share your thoughts and experiences!

Same reason they should be kept in a cool dark place.

 

[Macarj]

That's why at home your potatoes should be kept in the dark I keep my potatoes in the pantry in a crate under the bottom shelf

 

[CatheA]

I’ve noticed that the bags of potatoes have a very short Use By date these days. They don’t even last a week! I buy loose potatoes with dirt on them and don’t even think about a Use By date.

 

[DrivingGirl]

Never buy washed potatoes- buy loose when you can but definitely unwashed and organic when possible- the process of controlling grubs etc in the seed potato apparently is not possible to be removed by washing