When we dig up the potatoes, we just brush the dirt off and down to the root cellar, we just bring up a couple lbs at a time and I keep them in the veggie draw............wash them as I need them. I have not had a problem with them in the fridge. Potatoes that you buy at the store are wash & dried before bagged........I also put 5 lbs in the fridge. Once in a while we get a bad one, that can't be helped.