How to Construct a Potato Bin

Keep potatoes fresh with a potato bin.

Properly stored, potatoes can be kept usable for extended periods of time. But the right environment is necessary. You need a spot that's dark and cool, yet well ventilated. One good way to extend the life of your potatoes is to build a potato bin. A properly built potato bin, placed in a good location in your home, will let you keep your potatoes fresh for extended periods of time. Best of all, you can build a potato bin with readily available materials and simple tools.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-inch plywood
• Circular saw
• Sandpaper
• 1-inch wood screws
• Screwdriver
• 1- by 4-inch boards

Instructions

1. Cut two 3- by 2-foot pieces of plywood. Sand the edges to remove splinters and burrs. Cut two 2- by 2-foot pieces of plywood. Sand these also.

2. Place the pieces together to form a box, open on the top and bottom, with the shorter pieces overlapping the ends of the longer pieces. Screw the pieces together where they overlap, using wood screws spaced every 4 inches.

3. Cut a 2-foot by 3-foot, 1 inch piece of plywood. Sand as necessary. Place this on top of the open box and screw on with wood screws every 4 inches. Turn the box over.

4. Cut a piece of plywood that measures 2 feet by 3 feet, 4 inches. Place a 20-inch piece of 1- by 4-inch board on each end of the plywood sheet, 3 inches in from the short edges. Screw this onto the board.

5. Flip the panel over and place it on top of the bin, with the 1- by 4-inch boards facing in. The boards will ensure that the lid doesn't slip off.

References

• "Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables"; Mike Bubel, et al.; 1991