Sweet potatoes last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on whether they’re raw or cooked and how you store them.

Quick Scoop

  • Whole raw sweet potatoes:
    • About 1–2 weeks at normal room temperature on the counter in a dry spot.
* Around 3–5 weeks in a cool, dark pantry or cellar (roughly 55–60°F / 12–16°C).
  • Cut raw sweet potatoes:
    • About 2–5 days in the fridge when sealed well; they keep best if submerged in cold water and the water is changed daily.
  • Cooked sweet potatoes (baked, roasted, mashed, etc.):
    • Roughly 3–5 days in the fridge in a shallow airtight container.
* Up to about 1–12 months in the freezer for best quality, depending on the source and type (chunks, puree, fries).
  • Canned sweet potatoes (unopened):
    • Typically around 1 year past the printed date when stored in a cool pantry, assuming the can is undamaged.

When to Toss Them

Signs your sweet potatoes are no longer good to eat include:

  • Very soft, mushy, or shriveled texture.
  • Strong off or sour odor.
  • Large dark or blackened areas, or widespread mold.
  • Leaking liquid or an obviously slimy feel.

If there’s just a tiny dry dark spot, many home cooks cut it off and use the rest, but if you’re unsure, it’s safer to throw it out.

“If it smells weird or feels mushy all over, don’t overthink it—just bin it.”

Also, cooked sweet potatoes left out at room temperature for many hours (for example, overnight or ~24 hours) should be discarded rather than reheated; reheating won’t reliably make them safe again.

Mini How-To for Best Storage

  • Store whole raw sweet potatoes in a cool , dark, well-ventilated place (not the fridge, unless your climate is very hot and humid).
  • Keep them away from direct sunlight and from moisture-heavy spots like next to the sink.
  • Refrigerate:
    • Cut raw pieces in water or sealed containers.
    • Any cooked sweet potatoes within 2 hours of cooking.
  • Freeze cooked sweet potato in portions (mashed or in chunks) if you won’t eat it within a few days.

Simple Example

If you bought a bag of sweet potatoes two weeks ago and they’ve been sitting in a cool, dark pantry, still firm with no major dark spots or bad smell, they’re probably still fine to eat. But if the same potatoes are now soft, wrinkled, and smell off, it’s time to toss them.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.