Discover How Are Potatoes Cleaned and Sorted

Bought a lot of potatoes but don't know how to handle them? Today, let's talk about how to wash and sort potatoes. Let's take a look together!

How to Cleaned Potatoes?

Prepare Tools

Prepare a soft-bristled brush and a large basin.

Soak

Put the potatoes in the basin and soak them for 10 - 15 minutes. This will soften the dirt on the surface of the potatoes, making them easier to clean.

Scrub

Hold a potato in one hand and gently scrub the surface with the soft-bristled brush. Remember to pay attention to the depressions on the potatoes, as this is where dirt often gets trapped. Scrub thoroughly.

After scrubbing, rinse the potatoes in water until the water runs clear.

Remove Sprouts and Bad Spots

During the cleaning process, if you find sprouted areas or small black spots on the potatoes, you can gently scrape them off with a small knife. This not only makes the potatoes cleaner but also prevents you from eating the bitter parts.

How to Sort Potatoes?

Sort by Size

First, sort the washed potatoes by size. Large potatoes are suitable for making stews.

Medium-sized potatoes can be used to make shredded potatoes. They are easy to shred, and the stir-fried shredded potatoes have a crisp texture.

Small potatoes are suitable for roasting whole or making baked potatoes.

Sort by Freshness

Examine the surface of the potatoes. Potatoes with smooth skins, no sprouts, no greening, and no wrinkling are fresh. These potatoes can be stored in a cool, ventilated place for eating in the near future.

If you find that the skin of a potato is a bit wrinkled and the moisture has been somewhat lost, it is recommended to consume it as soon as possible. You can use it to make mashed potatoes to make it delicious again through cooking methods.

Sort by Usage

For making French fries, choose potatoes with more regular shapes and high starch content. They will be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside after frying.

For making cold shredded potatoes, choose potatoes with a crispy texture and high moisture content.

Is It Okay to Eat Unwashed Potatoes?

It is not recommended to eat unwashed potatoes.

You know, during the growth process, potatoes come into contact with bacteria, fungi, and parasites in the soil. These microorganisms will adhere to the surface of the potatoes. If not washed, they may irritate the human gastrointestinal tract, resulting in discomfort symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Secondly, pesticides may be sprayed on potatoes during their growth, and the pesticide residues may remain on the potatoes. If not washed, the residual pesticides may enter the human body and pose a threat to human health.

In addition, unwashed potatoes may also carry substances such as stones and weeds, which not only affect the taste but also harm the human teeth.

Do I Need to Wash Potatoes Before Baking?

Yes, they should.

Potatoes should be washed before baking. Although the high temperature during the baking process can kill some bacteria, the dirt, impurities, and possible pesticide residues on the surface of the potatoes cannot be completely removed by high temperature.

Washing potatoes before baking can not only remove the surface impurities but also allow you to check the potatoes during the washing process. If there are sprouted, greened, or rotten parts, they should be discarded.

How Do You Know If Potatoes Are Still Safe to Eat?

You can judge whether potatoes are edible from the following aspects:

Check the Appearance:

Good potatoes have a uniformly colored skin, usually yellowish or brownish. If there is an obvious green color on the potatoes, it may indicate the presence of solanine, which is toxic.

Secondly, if the surface of the potato is rotten, moldy, or has obvious damage, it indicates that it has been contaminated by microorganisms. Such potatoes should not be eaten and should be thrown away directly.

Examine the Texture:

You can touch the potato with your hand. Fresh potatoes should be firm and elastic. If the potato is very soft and has obvious depressions, it means the inside has started to deteriorate and cannot be eaten.

At the same time, if the surface of the potato has a sticky feeling, it may be a sign of microbial growth, indicating that the potato is no longer fresh and is not recommended for consumption.

Taste the Flavor:

If the potato is cooked, you can cut a small piece and taste it. If there is an obvious bitter or astringent taste, it means the solanine content is high. Such potatoes should not be eaten as they have mostly deteriorated.

Smell the Odor:

Normal potatoes have a faint earthy smell. If the potato has a pungent, putrid, or other abnormal odor, it indicates that the potato has deteriorated. This abnormal odor is produced by the decomposition of substances inside the potato, and eating it may lead to problems such as food poisoning.

How Long Can Potatoes Store?

If you have a small amount of potatoes, you only need to store them in a cool, ventilated, and dark place. They can be stored for about half a month.

If you want to store them for a longer time, you can put the potatoes in the refrigerator. Under the low temperature in the refrigerator's cold storage area, their shelf life can be extended, and they can be stored for about a month.

If you have a lot of potatoes, you can consider the following storage methods:

Cardboard Box Storage Method: Line the bottom of a cardboard box with newspaper and sprinkle baking soda. After putting the potatoes in, cover them with another layer of newspaper and baking soda. Seal the box and place it in a cool, ventilated place. Potatoes can be stored for several months.

Brine Soaking Method: Soak the potatoes in brine for 10 - 15 minutes, then dry them and put them in a cardboard box for storage. This can not only extend the shelf life but also prevent sprouting.

Apple Storage Method: Put potatoes and apples together in a cardboard box or a black plastic bag. The ethylene released by apples can inhibit potato sprouting.

Cellar Storage Method: Put potatoes in a cellar and cover them with dry sandy soil. They can be stored for several months.

Do Potatoes Last Longer in the Fridge or on the Counter?

At room temperature, potatoes can generally be stored for 7 - 14 days. However, if the temperature is relatively high, the storage time may be shortened to 5 - 7 days.

If you want to store potatoes for a short period (1 - 2 weeks), it is better to put them on the counter. Potatoes are suitable to be stored in a cool, ventilated, and dark environment to prevent them from sprouting, turning green, or spoiling.

If you put potatoes in the refrigerator, they can be stored for a longer time, at least 15 - 20 days. However, it is not recommended to store them for too long.

Because the low temperature in the refrigerator's cold storage area will convert the starch in potatoes into sugar, resulting in a poor taste, and there may even be sprouting or greening.