Kitchen Kleen Potatoes

      

     FAQ

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 amount of Vitamin C as an orange
   

• How do I get my kids to eat potatoes?

  Create a baked potato bar. Bake potatoes and lay out all
  their favorite toppings (like pizza and taco toppings) so they
  can make their own loaded baked 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?

Avoid potatoes with dark areas or green appearance

Clean
 Firm
 Smooth
 Regular Shape (To avoid waste if peeling)
 Uniform Shape (To insure consistent cooking)
 

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.

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?

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 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."
 

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.
 
• 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?
  
  Nuto Farms, grower of Kitchen Kleen potatoes is a proud member of:

 
• The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers
  Association
• The National Potato Council
• The United States Potato Board
• Kitchen Kleen Potatoes are also certified Environmentally Grown by the Midwest Food Alliance.
   
• Where are Kitchen Kleen Potatoes sold?


Kitchen Kleen Potatoes are sold October to June each year at preferred grocers in the Upper Midwest. 
 
• 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.
 
• 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.