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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, local 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
local 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 June 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.
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