POTATO KNOW HOW

“Don’t drop potatoes or put anything heavy on top of them - they are as fragile as eggs” Tony Taylor - Fresh Connection

Looking after potatoes

• Store potatoes in a well ventilated, cool, dark place.
• Don't put them in the fridge as the flavour changes will be noticeable.
• Always remove them from any plastic packaging.
• Handle carefully - even though they look tough potatoes do bruise easily.
• A heavy paper bag or cardboard box makes a good storage container.

what causes greening?

• When potatoes are exposed to light they can develop a green colour resulting in chlorophyll formation in the surface layers. Associated with this is the formation of a toxic alkaloid, solanine.
• The amount of green pigment depends on the intensity of the light, length of exposure and age of potato.
• New potatoes are susceptible to greening.
• Some varieties have quite a yellow flesh - don’t confuse this with greening.
• If you do purchase potatoes with lots of greening return them to your retailer. If there are small amounts of greening simply peel or scrape away the greening and use the potato normally.

what should you look for?

• Choose potatoes that haven't got any cuts, bruises, green patches or shoots.
• Sometimes you may choose a smooth looking potato over a misshapen one and assume that it is a better product. This is not necessarily the case as some varieties characteristically have skins which are netted or have eyes in them.
• A potato does not have to look good to cook brilliantly!