Curious about how yellow and purple potatoes differ? Let’s find out!
I always thought that purple potatoes and yellow potatoes had the same taste. I didn't realize that there were many differences in taste, nutrition and cooking methods between the two until I tried them myself. Today, let's talk about the difference between yellow potatoes and purple potatoes and see which one is more suitable for you!
Difference between yellow and purple potatoes
There are certain differences between purple potatoes and yellow potatoes, as follows:
In appearance
In fact, you can tell the difference between the two at a glance from the appearance. Due to the large amount of anthocyanin substances, purple potatoes have a purple skin. When the color is deep, it may even be close to black. Yellow potatoes generally have a light yellow or golden yellow skin, and most of the flesh inside is also yellow. The color is relatively bright.
In taste
The taste of purple potatoes and yellow potatoes is also very different. Yellow potatoes will have a more soft and delicate taste. Especially after being steamed or cooked, the powdery feeling is very obvious. Suitable for making mashed potatoes. The taste of purple potatoes is relatively firm. Although it is soft and glutinous, there is also a hint of Q-tenderness and a nutty flavor.
In nutrition
There are also differences in nutrition between purple potatoes and yellow potatoes. Yellow potatoes contain a large amount of carbohydrates, vitamin C, B vitamins and minerals such as potassium, which are very helpful for maintaining the normal metabolism and function of the body. In addition to these common nutrients, the biggest highlight of purple potatoes is that they contain rich anthocyanins, which can remove free radicals in the body and delay aging.
In cooking methods
Yellow potatoes are suitable for making mashed potatoes, French fries, stews, etc.; purple potatoes are suitable for making baked potatoes, potato salads, or can be used to make purple potato cakes, purple potato soup, etc.
Are purple potatoes healthier than yellow potatoes?
I don't think it can be simply said that purple potato is healthier than yellow potato.
Although purple potatoes contain a large amount of anthocyanin substances, which is a great advantage and can help remove free radicals in the human body and has a certain potential role in delaying aging and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
But yellow potatoes are also very nutritious. Yellow soil contains a large amount of carbohydrates and can provide sufficient energy for the human body. And yellow potatoes also contain minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin B group and potassium, which are very important for maintaining the normal physiological functions of the body, such as metabolism and maintaining the normal operation of the heart and muscles.
Therefore, purple potatoes and yellow potatoes both have their own nutritional highlights. In life, you can choose according to your own preferences. If you want to consume more antioxidant ingredients, purple potatoes are a good choice. If you focus on energy supplementation and obtaining common nutrients, yellow potatoes can fully meet your needs.
What are purple potatoes best for?
Purple potatoes are suitable for making many foods, but I like to use it to make the following foods the most:
Purple potato cake
Purple potato cake is a very popular snack. The soft texture and slightly sweet taste are very suitable to be paired with ingredients such as garlic and onion. Fried into small cakes with a crispy outside and a soft inside, the taste is rich.
Purple mashed potatoes
Although many people will choose yellow potatoes to make mashed potatoes, purple potatoes are also suitable. Steam the purple potatoes and mash them into a puree. Add butter and cream to make purple mashed potatoes. It has healthy nutrition and a unique flavor.
Baked purple potato
Purple potatoes are very suitable for baking. After baking, the skin of purple potatoes is slightly crispy and the inside is soft. It retains its natural sweetness and the color is particularly bright.
You can cut purple potatoes into pieces, sprinkle with olive oil, rosemary and some garlic, and bake in the oven until golden brown. It is full of flavor.
Purple potato salad
The color of purple potatoes makes potato salad look extremely special. Cut cooked purple potatoes into pieces, add some yogurt, salad dressing and fresh vegetables to make a salad with good color, fragrance and taste. Purple potatoes with green vegetables are very suitable as snacks for parties or gatherings.
Do purple potatoes stay purple when cooked?
Purple potatoes will remain purple after they are cooked.
Purple potatoes appear purple because they are rich in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are relatively stable over specific temperature and pH ranges. Under normal cooking conditions, the anthocyanins inside the purple potato will not be completely destroyed, so it can still maintain purple.
However, there are some conditions that can cause purple potatoes to be lighter in color. For example, the cooking time is too long or certain ingredients are added during cooking that can change the pH. If a lot of alkali is added to the purple potato when boiling, it may make the purple potato blue or lighter, because the alkali will change the chemical structure of anthocyanins.
However, as long as the normal cooking method is used, the purple potato can still let us witness the iconic purple color after cooking, and this purple color makes the purple potato look very attractive and full of appetite.
Which potato has the most flavor?
Strictly speaking, there is no definite conclusion on which potato is the most delicious. Each potato has its own characteristics and can be chosen according to personal taste preferences.
If you like potatoes with a soft and mellow taste, then Yukon Gold potatoes are a great choice. Yukon Gold potatoes have a faint sweetness, and this sweetness will be more significant after steaming. The taste is soft and glutinous. Whether it is made into mashed potatoes or used for stews, it can make the dishes full of rich potato aroma.
If you prefer potatoes with a slightly crispy taste, new potatoes are quite good. New potatoes usually refer to potatoes that have just been harvested. Their skins are extremely thin and the water content is relatively high, so they taste relatively crisp. Simply boiling or stir-frying can taste its fresh and natural potato flavor, as if tasting the fresh taste just dug out of the field.
Red-skinned potatoes also taste delicious. Its taste is relatively moderate between soft and crispy. Red-skinned potatoes have their own unique flavor and can absorb the taste of seasonings well during cooking. Whether it is used to make baked potatoes, potato salads or potato soup, it can show excellent taste and make you unable to stop eating.
There are also purple potatoes. In addition to having the fragrance of ordinary potatoes, they also have their own unique flavor. Purple potatoes have a slight nutty flavor. This flavor is fused with its own soft and glutinous texture, bringing a rather novel experience to the tip of the tongue. Especially when making cold dishes or baked purple potatoes, this unique flavor will be more prominent.
Which potatoes are healthiest for diabetics?
For diabetic patients, choosing suitable potatoes is extremely important. I think low-starch potato varieties are healthier, such as fingerling potatoes. Fingerling potatoes are not large in size and are slender in shape, so the starch content is relatively less. This means that after eating, the blood sugar will rise more slowly than high-starch potatoes.
Since diabetic patients need to control the intake of carbohydrates, especially high-starch foods that are easy to cause rapid fluctuations in blood sugar. After being cooked, fingerling potatoes have a relatively firm texture and a little faint sweetness. They can be eaten baked or used to make salads. They are very delicious with simple cooking.
New potatoes are also quite suitable. New potatoes have just been harvested and have a relatively high water content and the starch is not so concentrated. Their glycemic index will also be slightly lower. Moreover, new potatoes have a relatively crisp and tender taste and original flavor. They are suitable for boiling or stir-frying, which can reduce the intake of additional oil and sugar and is more beneficial for diabetic patients to control blood sugar.
But it should be noted that no matter what kind of potato, diabetic patients should pay attention to controlling the quantity when eating. And it is also very important to eat with other foods. For example, eating with vegetables rich in dietary fiber and high-quality protein foods can make the blood sugar rise more smoothly.
Cooking methods should also be as healthy as possible and avoid methods that add oil and calories such as frying.
