Potatoes are a popular food in Vietnam and many countries around the world. They are used to make many delicious dishes. However, it has been a long-standing habit for us to peel the skin when cooking, except for boiling or baking potatoes. Recently, nutrition experts have recommended using potato skins because they are high in nutrients.
Why have we always peeled potatoes?
According to folk experience, when processing potatoes, we usually wash and peel them before soaking them in water before cooking. Peeling potatoes is a habit similar to peeling other types of food. Potatoes grown directly in the soil have skins that can feel dirty, in contact with manure and soil. Moreover, potato skins are not attractive in color.
Part of the reason why some people hesitate to eat potato skins is because they find them more unpleasant than eating the flesh of the potato, especially when the potato is green. This is because potatoes contain alkaloids that can cause toxic symptoms.
Potato skins are very good
Potato skins are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They make up a large portion of the fiber in potatoes. Moreover, potato skins are high in iron compared to the flesh of the potato, which helps with anemia. Potato skins also have antioxidant properties that help reduce inflammation and boost the immune system. Potato skins are also rich in vitamin C, vitamin B3, and potassium, comparable to the potato flesh. Especially, potato skins are high in calcium compared to the flesh of the potato, containing 7 times more calcium.
That’s why the new recommendation from experts is that we don’t necessarily have to peel potatoes when cooking.
When to use the skins and when to peel?
We only need to remove the potato skins when the potatoes sprout or when the skins turn green. This is when the potatoes undergo biological changes that cause the solanine content to increase, which can be toxic to the body.
Normally, you can use potato skins. However, before cooking, whether it’s the skin or the flesh of the potato, you should cut and soak them in cold water for at least 30 minutes to reduce alkaloids in the potatoes. Our ancestors used to teach us to slice and soak potatoes before using them. Moreover, potatoes need to be thoroughly cooked, not eaten raw, and should not be eaten when they are still firm and unripe as alkaloids can cause toxicity.
Before using, you should wash them thoroughly, scrub off any dirt and gray discoloration, then you can use potato skins. Especially in braised dishes or grilled potatoes with meat, or curried potatoes, keeping the potato skins adds extra tenderness to the potatoes.
Potato skins can also be used for beauty purposes. You can grind and filter potato skin water for hand and hair care, making the hair shiny and promoting hair growth, as well as smooth skin.
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