“The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s about what you’re made of not the circumstances.” (Anonymous)
The humble potato is
a staple in most households. It is easy to fry, mash, roast, boil, steam, and
bake. This versatile vegetable is impressive as it can be incorporated into
almost any type of meal. It’s not surprising that these edible tubers (Solanum tuberosum) from the
nightshade family are one of the highest consumed crops around the world.
There are over 4,000 varieties of potatoes in existence
today. They can be classified into a
number of categories based on the cooked texture and ingredient functionality. It's
time to break out that potato peeler, and start cooking the right potato needed
for your specific recipe:
All-Purpose:
All-purpose potatoes, like Yukon Golds, are less starchy than your typical
high-starch potato. They hold their shape better than them, too. They are
decently absorbent and fluffy, making them suitable for any type of potato dish
like mashed potatoes.
Starchy:
Starchy potatoes include Russets, Idahos, and many yams and sweet potato
varieties. They are high in starch, low in moisture, fluffy, and absorbent.
This makes them ideal for baking,
frying, boiling, and mashing. Because the flesh flakes and separates easily
after cooking, they do not hold their shape.
Waxy:
Waxy potatoes are low in starch, high in sugar and moisture, and tend to hold
their shape even after cooking. They have thinner skin, a smoother texture, and
are generally smaller and rounder. Common varieties include French fingerling
or Red Bliss. They’re ideal for boiling, roasting and
incorporating in dishes like gratins or
potato salad where you’ll want the potato to stay intact.
The usefulness of the humble potato does not
stop at the dinner table. Consider a few unexpected uses for America’s favorite
tuber:
A cold or hot compress: This is a
century-old trick. Potatoes retain temperature for a pretty long time. So on
those freezing nights, you can keep warm by having slices of hot potatoes in
your pockets and gloves. If you want to stay cold, chilled potatoes will work
great.
Clean windows: Potatoes make for
an excellent, eco-friendly, and non-toxic glass cleaner. Take a raw potato and
glide it over your windows, eyeglasses, or even car windscreen and then use a
clean cloth to wipe off the juice. The result will be a gleaming
glass and undamaged hands. This cleaning method is also effective on clear
plastic like in ski or swimming goggles.
Gravy thickener: Mashed
potatoes make for excellent thickeners for gravies and stews
Remove rust: Cut a potato in
half, and rub the exposed surface on rusted tools. The acid in the potato will
lift the rust without difficult scrubbing.
Safely extract a
broken light bulb: To
remove the base of a light bulb that has broken in its socket, simply turn off
the power, press the point of a potato into the edge of the base and
turn.
Soothe burns: Potatoes have
antibacterial properties that will aid in the healing of minor burns, and the
moisture will ease the pain. Cut into thin slices, and apply to the burn or grate
and mix with water for use as a poultice.
Create fun art: Cut a potato in
half and carve designs into the surface to create a decorative homemade
stamp.
Remove berry stains: Stains left on
your hands from picking or handling berries can be easily removed by rubbing
them with a sliced potato.
Clean silverware: Use the water
left behind after boiling potatoes to remove tarnish from silver without the
use of abrasives.
A beauty aid: Potatoes are
great for reducing wrinkles and blemishes, or taking care of dark circles under
the eyes. A facial of mashed potatoes and lemon juice, or slices of potatoes
placed over the eyes for 20 minutes or so revitalizes and rejuvenates the
skin.
Rescue salty soup: Is your soup
too salty? Toss in a few chunks of potato into the pot and remove after 10
minutes to draw excessive salt from the broth.
Grow more potatoes: Cut a potato
into pieces, and plant in the ground or large pot. Potatoes are easy growers
and will begin to sprout in a matter of days.
Remove warts: Just rub the fleshy
end of a potato on your wart, and don’t wash off the juice. Repeat the process for
a few days, and that wart will be gone for good.
Shine your shoes: Wipe your shoes
with a piece of raw potato before you apply the shoe polish. You’ll get a
stunning shine once you buff your shoes dry.
Windshield deicer: In the nights
before freezing temperatures, Cut a potato in half, and wipe one half over your
windshield. The sugar in the potato juice creates a thin barrier over your
window shield, which stops ice from forming, and so in the morning, you won’t
have to go through the hassles of scraping.
“Stressed? Eat
sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes work as a powerful stress-busting food because
of their sweet flavor and high concentration of carbohydrates, two common
stress-related cravings. To boot, sweet potatoes are high fiber keeping you
physically fit and emotionally satisfied.” (www.RawFoodM.com) [i]
[i] Adapted from:
· “15 Unusual Uses for Potatoes” by Pauline
· “9 Unusual Uses for Potatoes” by Mick
Telkamp
· “A Guide to Popular Types of Potatoes”
by Jessica Gavin
· “Super Spuds: The 8 Types of Potatoes
to Know” By Hayley Sugg
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