|
Commonly Asked Questions & Facts about Potatoes
Nutritional Benefits of Potatoes
- Are potatoes nutritious?
- Yes! Potatoes are naturally fat-free and
cholesterol free and a medium sized potato contains only 100
calories.
- Potatoes have as much potassium as 2 bananas and
are an excellent source of fiber when eaten with the skin.
- Potatoes contain the same amout of Vitamin C as
an orange
-
How do I get my kids to eat potatoes?
Selecting & Storing Potatoes
- What is the best
way to store fresh potatoes?
- Keep in a cool, well ventilated place:
Around 45 - 50 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal
- Try not to store potatoes in the refrigerator -
they may last longer, but the starches will turn to sugars and
change the taste of the potato
- Keep away from light when possible: Too
much light causes potatoes to turn green and may cause a
bitter taste
- What do you look
for when buying fresh potatoes?
- Clean
- Firm
- Smooth
- Regular Shape (To
avoid waste if peeling)
- Uniform Shape (To
insure consistent cooking )
- Avoid potatoes with dark areas or green
appearance
Quality of Your Potatoes
- I've found brown spots or
hollow areas in some of my potatoes. Are they rotten? Can I
still use them?
-
These areas may appear to be rotten
spots,
when in fact they are a discoloration in the tissue caused by
excessively wet and cool growing conditions in the early part of the
growing season. These brown areas or hollows are not caused by disease or
insects and can be cooked and eaten like normal. You
may cut out the area,
but it is not necessary and it will not affect the taste or use of
the potato.
- Why do potatoes
turn green? Should I peel away the green area before using?
- Potato tubers, like leaves, turn green after
prolonged exposure to light. Appearance problems are associated
directly with the green skin color which is due to chlorophyll biosynthesis. Eating concerns are due to the
biosynthesis of glycoalkaloids, mainly "solanine", that
occurs at the same time as chlorophyll biosynthesis but is not
directly related to it.
Exposure of potato
tubers to light in the field, in storage, on the store shelf, or at
home will induce the formation of a green pigmentation near the
surface of the potato. This is called "greening" and indicates the
formation of chlorophyll. This process is completely safe and occurs
in all plants.
By itself, chlorophyll is not a health concern. It
is harmless and tasteless. In potato tubers, the greening is a sign
that there may be an increase in the presence of glycoalkaloids,
especially the substance solanine. When the potato greens, solanine
increases to potentially high levels. Increased solanine levels are
responsible for the bitter taste resulting from a high solanine
concentration in potatoes after being cooked. Solanine biosynthesis
occurs parallel but independent of chlorophyll biosynthesis; each
can occur without the other. Unlike chlorophyll, light is not needed
for solanine formation, but, with light, glycoalkaloid formation is
increased. In potatoes solanine formation is localized near the
skin, usually no deeper than one-eighth of an inch (3 mm). In
processed potatoes such as chips and fries, little hazard exists
since peels are usually removed.
By removing the green areas, skin and underlying
core, the light-induced solanine is removed. Cooked potatoes cannot
turn green or produce solanine because cooking destroys the enzyme
mechanism required for its production; however, any chlorophyll and
solanine produced before cooking will remain after cooking. A good guide
is "if the potato tastes bitter, don't eat it."
For more information
on greening, click here.
The Kitchen Kleen Company
- How long have Kitchen Kleen Potatoes been around?
- Barron West planted his first crop of Russet Burbank potatoes in
1929 in the fertile northern Wisconsin soil. From a plot meant to feed a
family, Barron West's five-acre dream has grown into a 5,000-acre
family-owned business that has harvested enough prime Russets to reach
the moon and back over 25 times.
- Where are
Kitchen Kleen Potatoes grown?
- Nuto Farms, grower of Kitchen Kleen Potatoes is set in the rural
community of Rice Lake, where it has created a strong and solid
reputation as being a premier grower and shipper in the potato industry.
Nuto Farms location in Northern Wisconsin was no accident. The mild
daytime temperatures and cool nights produce a quality potato that is
high in dry matter and low in water content. A potato that really does
store well and taste great.
- What variety of
potato is Kitchen Kleen?
- Kitchen Kleen Potatoes are prime Russet Burbank potatoes. While Russet
Burbank potatoes are hard to grow, they are a high quality potato that
tastes great! For more information on potato varieties - check out our
Potato Varieties page.
- Kitchen Kleen
Potatoes are Environmentally Grown, what does that mean?
- Kitchen Kleen Potatoes are certified
"Environmentally Grown" by the Midwest Food Alliance, a non-profit
organization that provides third-party approval of farms that grow
food in environmentally and socially responsible ways,
Midwest
Food Alliance.
- Why are Kitchen
Kleen Potatoes available only from October to July each year?
- Each year Kitchen Kleen Potatoes disappear from grocer shelves for the
summer and return again in October. Our customers, like you, have come
to rely on Kitchen Kleen Potatoes for their great taste and consistent
quality, we
won’t sacrifice quality by storing potatoes year round or by using a
poorer quality variety. Our availability may be shorter, but that
is to ensure the freshness of our potatoes and the potatoes speak for
themselves. With Kitchen Kleen Potatoes, you really can taste the
difference.
- Does Kitchen
Kleen belong to any state or national associations?
- Where are
Kitchen Kleen Potatoes sold?
- Kitchen Kleen Potatoes are sold October to July each year at preferred
grocers in the Upper Midwest. Check out the
list
of cities in which Kitchen Kleen Potatoes are regularly found.
- What can I do
if my local store does not carry Kitchen Kleen Potatoes?
- Ask your fresh produce manager for Kitchen Kleen Potatoes or
visit
Nuto Farms in Rice Lake mid Oct. - June.
|
