Potatoes are a kitchen staple. They store better than most other produce and they are extremely versatile. They are delicious when fried, roasted, baked, boiled, mashed, put in a stew, or paired with all sorts of other foods. However, they can also be filthy in their raw form. Unlike other produce, potatoes are almost always peeled before consumption. But food safety experts advise washing them anyway, for a very good reason.
Why do you need to wash produce?
WASHING GREEN GRAPES UNDER KITCHEN TAP,APPLES IN COLLANDER
Let’s start with the basics. Generally, produce can come with bacterial contamination due to contact with animals, improper storage, poor hygiene practices, and toxins in the water or soil. Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables could therefore lead to foodborne illness. However, many people assume that foods with peels don’t need washing since the peels protect the food from contamination. However, the FDA recommends rinsing these kinds of foods before peeling them. This can help prevent bacteria and dirt from transferring from the knife and cutting board onto the edible sections.
Why do you need to wash potatoes?
Hands holding and washing dirty potatoes over the sink. Preparing vegetables
With that in mind, it’s crucial to wash potatoes before peeling and cooking them to prevent food poisoning. “Potatoes are firmly in the buried-in-soil category, so they’ll need a thorough wash before cooking,” says Catt Fields White, chef and the founder of San Diego Markets and The Farmers Market Pros, to Martha Stewart. “In addition to good and bad bacteria, pesticides can linger in the soil and those need to go.”
If you’re leaving the skin on, such as for baked potatoes, it’s even more important to scrub the outside even if you don’t plan on eating that part.
How to wash potatoes
Close up of washing and rinsing potatoes in preparation for cooking. Model wearing orange disposable rubber gloves.
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Place the raw potatoes in a large bowl with cold water. Make sure they are completely submerged for about 15 to 30 to loosen the dirt particles.
Next, scrub the potatoes with a vegetable brush under cold running water. This will help get rid of any leftover bacteria.
The next step is removing the eyes and sprouts, if any. Although sprouting potatoes are typically safe for consumption, the sprouts themselves are not. You can use a peeler, knife, or even your hands to break them off.
Dry the potatoes by patting them with a clean towel.
After that, the potatoes are ready to be peeled and prepared as you normally would, depending on the recipe.
Washing tips
Washing potatoes piles under running water. Close up chef hands washing heap of potatoes in metal basin.
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If you need to wash a large amount of potatoes, you can submerge them for at least an hour, stirring them occasionally. Rinse them off and and you can skip the scrubbing step.
Additionally, never use soap, bleach, or other disinfectants to wash potatoes or any other food. They could leave residue on the produce that may be harmful if ingested.
Peeling potatoes in advance
diced potatoes in a glass bowl with water to remove the potato starch
If desired, you can prepare potatoes well before you plan to cook them. After the cleaning, peeling, and chopping, place the pieces in cold water, ensuring that all of them are submerged. This can help prevent the potatoes from turning brown while they wait to be cooked. But if you plan to use them in two hours or longer, cover the bowl with an airtight lid and place it into the fridge. Be sure to cook the potatoes within 24 hours.
Don’t wash potatoes
Woman holding Potato and shopping in department store
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Despite all of these instructions, do not wash before storing. Although it may be tempting to clean the muddy potatoes right after purchasing them, avoid doing this. The residual moisture can make the potatoes rot more quickly or even grow mold.
How to store potatoes
Baskets with potatoes and onions on shelf, closeup. Orderly storage
Potatoes are best stored in cool, dark locations to increase their shelf life, according to Healthline. But never place raw taters in the freezer or fridge since this can cause browning and mushiness. They’ll need good air circulation to prevent moisture from forming. So avoid plastic bags and sealed containers, and use open bowls, paper bags, or another container with holes. However, don’t place them in the same bowl as other fruits and vegetables, since the proximity can make the raw potatoes sprout and spoil more quickly.