Potatoes

Pretty much every culture in the world uses potatoes in some form or another. They are a very healthy part of any diet, and contain vital nutrition that our bodies need.

See my Spuds article from Acreage Magazine, September 2010 issue for more information about the origin of potatoes and how they came to be that tuber we eat today.  There are a few recipes included in that article that you might want to try

Personally speaking, I think that the potato has been given a really bad rap.  What with the recent advent of "low carbohydrate" diets, people have been turning away from the potato because they believe that its starch will be unhealthy for them.

On the contrary, the potato is an especially healthy food, and should be incorporated into your daily diet

Some of you may have heard that green potatoes are dangerous. This is true.  Because the potato is a member of the nightshade family, its leaves are poisonous.  Potatoes that are left in the light for an extended period of time will begin to turn green.  This green color is due to the development of solanine, which tastes bitter and can make humans sick. If you have a potato that has a green portion, simply cut off that potion.  The rest of the potato is absolutely fine to eat.

Although there are thousands of varieties of potatoes, there are essentially two types of potatoes:

• Boiling
• Baking 

Baking potatoes are usually longer, and have a very thick coarse skin.  These potatoes become quite fluffy when they are cooked, which makes them exceptional at baking, but causes them to break apart when you try to use them in a soup or stew, or for potato salad.

Baking potatoes are often called "Idaho" potatoes.

Boiling potatoes can be elongated, or they can be mostly round.  Their skin is thin and waxy, and they retain their shape when they are cooked, making them perfect for adding to soups, stews, and for making potato salad.

Yellow-skinned white boiling potatoes

Red-skinned boiling potatoes

Boiling potatoes can be elongated, or they can be mostly round.  Their skin is thin and waxy, and they retain their shape when they are cooked, making them perfect for adding to soups, stews, and for making potato salad.

I've often been asked if you can grow potatoes from the ones you get at the grocery store.  You certainly can.  However, these are often sprayed with a chemical to prevent eyes from erupting, which is how the potato begins to grow.  If you use organic potatoes and a few of them begin to sprout eyes, you might consider trying a small potato patch.  Cut the sprouting potato into chunks with 2 - 3 eyes per chunk and bury them a few inches beneath the surface of well turned soil. Growing potatoes is a really great activity, and it is especially fun to get your kids to help with the process.