Why soak potatoes before cooking?
In fact, potatoes always contain a certain amount of solanine – a substance that can be fatally toxic with a dosage of 0.2 – 0.4 grams per 1 kg of body weight. This substance is more present in potatoes with green skin and sprouted potatoes.
Peeling and soaking potatoes before cooking is a simple way to reduce the amount of harmful toxins.
After peeling, you should soak the potatoes in water for at least half an hour before cooking to allow the solanine to break down in the water, then rinse them with clean water.
In addition, soaking potatoes in water after peeling is also a way to help the potatoes maintain their yellow color and appear fresher. If peeled potatoes are exposed to the air, the starch layer on the surface will react with the air and light, resulting in discoloration. This is also why it is necessary to soak potatoes before cooking.
Tips for choosing good potatoes:
– First, you need to observe the outer skin of the potatoes. You should not choose potatoes with even a slight scratch on the skin. Scratches, no matter how small, can still affect the quality of the potato. Especially, dirt and bacteria can penetrate inside. Therefore, if you want delicious and safe potatoes, you should only choose intact ones.
– Most importantly, you need to check if the potatoes have sprouted. If they have sprouted, you should absolutely not choose them. Sprouted potatoes contain toxins that can affect your health.
– Next, hold the potatoes and press them to feel. If the potatoes are firm, they are fresh and tasty. These potatoes can be stored for a long time and retain more nutrients.
– Finally, among potatoes with similar sizes, the heavier ones will taste better.
Not difficult at all, right? Just remember these 5 steps, and the potatoes you buy will be delicious, nutritious, and completely safe for your health.
Notes on storing potatoes:
If you want to prolong the storage time of potatoes and keep them from deteriorating for several months, you need to understand the main factors that cause spoilage, especially light.
Normally, the amount of solanine in the skin and flesh of potatoes is very low. However, when potatoes show signs of spoilage such as sprouting or greenish skin, the solanine level increases significantly.
This toxin increases significantly when potatoes are exposed to light, so you need to store potatoes in the dark.
Temperature and air also affect the quality of potatoes. A temperature of about 7.2-10 degrees Celsius helps potatoes maintain the best condition. If stored at a temperature below 5 or 6 degrees Celsius, the starch in potatoes will convert to sugar, affecting their quality and taste.
Some other notes for storing potatoes:
– Do not wash potatoes before storing: Do not think that removing the dirt on the surface of the potatoes is hygienic. In fact, it will promote the growth of fungi and bacteria.
– Do not store potatoes with onions: Onions emit ethylene, which stimulates potato sprouting.
Therefore, when choosing potatoes, you should choose ones with even yellow color, no sprouts, and a firm and smooth skin. The storage environment for potatoes should also be well-ventilated and protected from sunlight.
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