| I purchased potatoes that were rotten inside. They looked fine at the store. Why would this happen? |
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| Your purchase may have been on the shelf longer than intended at the store. |
| What causes black spots in a potato? |
| Black spots are usually bruises which are caused by rough handling. One type of bruising happens when the skin is broken. The potato forms a thicker
layer of skin to protect and/or heal the wound. The
second type of bruising shows up just under the skin or
deeper inside the potato as a blackspot. This happens when
potatoes are dropped more than six inches or something heavy
is placed on top of them. Handle potatoes gently. Store
in a cool, dark place. Remove any blackspots before cooking. |
| Can I eat a potato that has sprouts on it? |
| A sprout
of any size can be toxic, but you would have to eat many
sprouts to get sick. Do not buy potatoes if they have
sprouted already or have a green tint to the skin. There is
no problem with the potato, just cut off the sprouts, and it
will be fine for eating. |
| What causes potatoes to turn green? |
Greening is a natural process for potatoes
that have been over exposed to light on the farm, in the
supermarket or in the home storage. It is not normally found
in potatoes that have been grown and stored under proper
conditions.
The bitter taste in green potatoes is due to
elevated levels of glycoalkaloids (a naturally occurring
compound) found in the green skin or in the tissue just
under the green skin. Glycoalkaloids are not destroyed by
cooking. Any green areas should be cut away and discarded
before cooking and eating. If the greening is severe,
discard the whole potato. |
| Is it ok to cook potatoes in the microwave? |
| Yes it is fine to use a microwave when
cooking potatoes. Cooking potatoes can be much faster and
more convenient when using the microwave. Scrub your
potatoes. Dry them and prick with a fork. Wrap them in a
paper towel and place them on the microwave tray. Do not
cook for too long (about 3-4 minutes). Potatoes will
continue to cook after they're removed from the microwave.
Tip – wrap the cooked potato in foil and it will continue to
cook and stay warm. |
| What is a healthy way of cooking potatoes? |
Some people think of potatoes as
'fattening' and consider them taboo on a weight-reducing
diet. Nothing could be further from the truth. One medium,
baked potato only contains about 100 calories. Baked or
boiled potatoes are already conveniently portioned, making
it easy to control the calories. It is the extras, such as
fat added during or after the preparation, that increase the
number of calories.
As a substitute for popular
high-calorie potato toppings, consider these alternatives:
yogurt with chives; whipped low-fat cottage cheese blended
with lemon juice; grated parmesan cheese; calorie reduced
salad dressings; or a mixture of herbs. |
| How can I keep the nutrition in my potatoes? |
| Cook your potatoes with the skin on whenever possible. Steaming rather than
boiling is also a good solution. |
| What is the best way to mash potatoes? |
| Try placing a quarter of a lemon
into the cooking water. This will help to prevent potatoes
from breaking up. Cooking them in their skins will also
prevent water logging. Once the potatoes are cooked the skin
can easily be pulled from the end of the potato. When you
mash, add warm milk to the potatoes slowly. |
| What is the best way to boil potatoes? |
Leave the skin on while
boiling your potatoes. This will ensure that the potato
retains its nutrients and flavor. Once cooled, the skin can
be removed if desired. Potatoes should be scrubbed before
boiling, rather than soaked. Soaking potatoes in water can
reduce both nutrients and flavour.
Place potatoes in the
cooking water before they are heated. Another option is to
put your potatoes into boiling salted water. |
| Can I eat potatoes raw? |
| It is ok to eat potatoes raw. They
are, however, a little harder to digest raw than when
cooked. |
| How should a baked potato be opened? |
| Do not use a knife when opening a baked potato; the surface
will flatten and the fluffy texture will be altered. Pierce
the potato with a fork, once lengthwise and crosswise. Press
the potato at both ends and it will "blossom". |
| When is a baked potato done? |
A fork will easily pierces a
baked potato when it is done. If the potato is still hard on
the inside, bake it for a little longer. Be careful not to
over-bake, or drying of the underskin can occur.
How can
I prevent the inside of my potato from turning dark when I
cook with skewers?
Heat the skewers first. This will seal
the potato and prevent the center of the potato from turning
dark. |
| When frying potatoes how can good results be achieved? |
| Rinse potatoes in cold water before frying.
This will remove starch, which can cause the potatoes to
stick together during the frying process. Soaking potatoes
in salt water before cooking for a few minutes will result
in crispier potatoes. |
| When I slice a potato and leave it out, it turns brown. Can it still be eaten? |
| To prevent the browning of the potato, soak the cut potato in a
mixture of water with a tablespoon of concentrated lemon
juice or white wine vinegar. |
| Where should potatoes be stored? |
| Store Potatoes in a cool, dark and well
ventilated place. They should be kept in a cool area, away
from the light. A cellar is an ideal location, but any place
where they won't be exposed to excessive heat or light will
help to prevent spoiling. |
| Should I wash my potatoes before storing? |
| No. Dampness can cause decay so it is
recommended to not wash your potatoes before storing. |
