Have you ever wondered why your potato is purple inside?
When I was cooking, my friend suddenly asked me, "Why is your potato purple?" I told her about the characteristics of purple potatoes. Not only is the color special, but they are also rich in nutrition. I believe you must be very curious. "Why are there potatoes that are purple?" Let's talk about it today!
Why is the inside of my potato purple?
The inside of a potato being purple is mainly due to the following reasons:
First, consider that it is determined by the variety of the potato. If you buy purple potatoes, then you will get potatoes with purple skin and purple flesh. This is a normal situation because purple potatoes contain a large amount of anthocyanin substances.
If you buy ordinary potatoes but there is purple inside, this may be because the potato has been affected by some special factors during the growth process. For example, the mineral content in the soil is relatively special, or the environmental conditions such as light and temperature have changed. These factors may cause some pigment changes inside the potato, resulting in purple parts. However, as long as the potato has not sprouted, molded, and has no peculiar smell, it can generally still be eaten.
Finally, it may be that the potato has been invaded by diseases or pests, resulting in some changes in the internal tissue and then abnormal color. If you find that in addition to turning purple, the potato also shows signs of softening and rotting, it is best not to eat it anymore.
Are yellow potatoes okay to eat?
Of course yellow-skinned potatoes can be eaten.
Yellow-skinned potatoes are a common potato variety in life. Yellow-skinned potatoes have a relatively powdery and glutinous taste and are suitable for making dishes such as mashed potatoes and braised potatoes. And when cooking yellow-skinned potatoes, they can absorb the taste of seasonings well, making every bite full of rich flavor.
Secondly, from a nutritional point of view, yellow-skinned potatoes contain rich carbohydrates and can provide energy for the human body. Yellow-skinned potatoes contain various vitamins such as vitamin C and vitamin B group, which can enhance immunity and provide metabolism.
But be careful to eat yellow-skinned potatoes in moderation in life. Yellow-skinned potatoes contain a large amount of dietary fiber and starch. Eating too much can easily increase the burden on the human gastrointestinal tract.
How do you know if a potato has gone bad?
Observe the appearance:
Generally speaking, the surface of fresh potatoes should be clean and smooth. If there are significant black spots, mold or signs of decay on the skin of the potato, it means that it has begun to deteriorate. Especially the green parts on the surface, that is because solanine is produced due to exposure to sunlight. Such substances are harmful to the body and should not be eaten as much as possible.
Check hardness:
Fresh potatoes should be hard and elastic. If you find that the potato is soft, collapsed or extremely loose in texture, it indicates that it has lost some moisture and become overripe or started to spoil.
Smell:
Fresh potatoes usually don't have too strong a smell. If you smell a rotten or sour smell from the potato, it is very likely that it has gone bad. It is best to discard it.
Look at the eyes:
After potatoes are stored for a period of time, they may sprout eyes. This is a normal phenomenon. However, if the eyes grow very long or there are obvious signs of sprouting on the surface of the potato, it is best to remove the eyes before eating, because these eyes contain solanine and it is also not recommended to eat.
Color change:
If the color of the potato becomes extremely dark or there are black spots and other situations, it usually means that it has begun to rot and it is best not to eat it.
Can red potatoes be yellow inside?
The inside of a red potato can be yellow.
For some red potato varieties, the skin is red but the inside is yellow. This is a normal color manifestation. This kind of red-skinned and yellow-hearted potato, like other potatoes, contains rich carbohydrates.
With its own unique taste, it is generally relatively soft, glutinous and sweet, and is very suitable for making potato salads or stews. When cooking, its yellow core can absorb the taste of seasonings well, and the dishes made are also very delicious.
However, for some red potatoes, the inside may show other colors due to factors such as variety or growing environment. But as long as there is no spoilage, mold or strange smell, it can generally be eaten normally.
Pink inside potato safe to eat?
Whether pink potatoes can be eaten needs to be determined according to the actual situation.
If it is a special variety of potato and its internal color is pink by itself, then it can be safely eaten. Because some colored potatoes contain different pigments, resulting in special colors such as pink inside. Like ordinary potatoes, they contain carbohydrates, vitamins (such as vitamin C, B group) and minerals (such as potassium), which can provide energy and nutrition for the human body.
But if the potato turns pink for other reasons, there may be problems. For example, if the potato is infected by bacteria or stored improperly, resulting in internal discoloration, accompanied by softness, mold, and peculiar smell (such as sour smell or musty smell), in this case, do not eat it at all, because it may contain harmful toxins., like excessive solanine, which will cause discomfort to the body and even cause food poisoning after consumption.
What are Yukon Gold potatoes best for?
Yukon Gold potatoes can be used to make many foods. Here are some of my favorite things to make with it:
Mashed potatoes
Yukon Gold potatoes have a fine texture and are easily mashed into a silky smooth puree after cooking. When making mashed potatoes, just peel and cut Yukon Gold potatoes, cook them, then add an appropriate amount of milk, butter and salt, and stir with a spoon or blender to get a super delicious potato. The mashed potatoes made from Yukon Gold potatoes have a rich taste, and the milk fragrance and potato fragrance are perfectly combined.
French fries
Yukon Gold potatoes are also very suitable for making French fries. After cutting Yukon Gold potatoes into strips, the fried French fries are golden in color, with a crispy exterior and a soft interior.
But be careful, before frying Yukon Gold potatoes, rinse the potato strips with clean water to remove the surface starch. Fry them in hot oil until the skin is golden, take them out and drain the oil, and sprinkle with salt or your favorite seasonings.
Baked potatoes
Yukon Gold potatoes are also very suitable for making baked potatoes. Just wash the Yukon Gold potatoes, then make a few cuts on the surface, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with seasonings such as salt, black pepper and rosemary, and bake in the oven.
After baking, the Yukon Gold potato has a crispy skin with a faint burnt aroma, and the inside is soft and tender, very delicious.