Potato

The glycemic index of a food is an indicator of the impact of food on blood sugar. Study results vary, but the glycemic index of potatoes appears to average in the 80s, which is considered high. By comparison, table sugar has a glycemic index of 59, making potatoes higher on the glycemic index than sugar. Waxy varieties such as new red potatoes are slightly lower on the glycemic index than russet potatoes. Vitamins and Minerals Potatoes provide many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium. They are a good source of folate, niacin, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and manganese. To get the most out of the potato, you should eat the potato skin as well as the flesh, as some micronutrients are more concentrated in the skin. Potatoes are a healthy source of carbs and fiber, helping provide energy that is filling and nutritious. Potatoes contain several nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, and B vitamins. Health Benefits Potatoes should be considered a nutritious vegetable, even though they contain a lot of starch. Their other healthful plant compounds make them a worthwhile part of a balanced diet. If you or your child has a potato allergy, remember to read ingredient labels carefully. A surprising number of products contain potato flour and/or potato starch. Adverse Effects Acrylamide is a toxic substance that forms in starchy foods when they are processed or cooked at high temperatures. It affects potatoes and other starchy foods. Acrylamide...

There’s no question that we love a good When it comes to making baked potatoes in the oven, the process is simple. All you need is the right What type of potato is best for baking? You can really bake any kind of potato, but the best potatoes for baking are those that are low in moisture and high in starch, like a russet or an Idaho potato. Waxier potatoes like yukon golds or red-skinned potatoes won’t result in a fluffy center when baked. What temperature do you bake potatoes at? We recommend baking potatoes at 400˚ to get the best texture inside and the crispiest skin on the outside. Should baked potatoes be wrapped in foil? No! Wrapping potatoes in foil holds the moisture in—which means the potatoes will start to steam. If you wrap them in foil you’ll be left with soggy potatoes instead of crispy ones. Baking them on a baking sheet (or even directly on the oven rack) spaced apart lets the air circulate around them for more even cooking. Should I poke holes in potatoes before baking? Yes! Pricking the potatoes with a fork creates tiny holes that allows steam to escape. This prevents your potato from bursting open in the oven (and making a mess!). How long should you bake a potato for? Depending on the size, 50 minutes to 1 hour at 400˚ should do the trick and result in perfectly fluffy flesh with crispy skin. How do you tell if a baked potato is done? Once your timer goes off, you can check to see if your potato is done by piercing it with a paring knife—it should slide ...

From mashed potatoes, scalloped cheesy potatoes and the fast-food fried variety, potatoes are everywhere. They’re by far one of the most popular vegetables in America. But are potatoes good for your health? There seems to be a lot of misconceptions on the health benefits of potatoes. UC Davis Health dietetic intern Adrienne Posner breaks down the nutrition facts on potatoes and why you may want to serve them at your next meal. Are potatoes vegetables? Yes. Potatoes are stem tubers and are considered a starchy vegetable. As the name implies, these vegetables contain more starch as compared to others. This isn’t bad. It means that the vegetable delivers more calories and typically less fiber. Starch is a type of carbohydrate that our body breaks into glucose to use as energy. Therefore, starchy foods could be a good food source if you want to add calories or add a food choice to round out a meal. Many cultures serve sides of rice, pasta, or potatoes with meals. These choices add calories and give a “full feeling” to hungry families. Other types of starchy vegetables include: • corn • green peas • winter squash, such as butternut or acorn • sweet potatoes and yams • beans and lentils Potatoes for health and nutrition In addition to starch, potatoes contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They’re rich in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. Potatoes were a life-saving food source in early times because the vitamin C prevented scurvy. Another major nutrient in potatoes is potassi...

• Any potato will do. I love Yukon Golds for this, but you can also use Russets, red potatoes, or even tiny new potatoes. • Slice straight down into the potato, but stop just short of cutting all the way through. You can rest the potato on a large serving spoon to use as a guide. • Make your slices as thick or as thin as you like — my knife skills tend to average slices that are 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thick. • Brush the potatoes with olive oil, melted butter or a combination of both. Heck, use • That second application of fat is key. Halfway through cooking, the potatoes start to fan out giving you space to coax some butter down into the nooks and crannies, plus the second coating ensures crispy perfection. Make a few Hasselback potatoes for a family dinner or a whole sheet pan of them for a dinner party. My recipe here is for four potatoes, but you can certainly multiply that for a crowd. In my opinion, any dinner — big or small, casual or fancy — can only be improved with the addition of Hasselback potatoes. Cut slits in the potatoes, leaving the bottom intact. Cut parallel slits into each potato, stopping just before you cut through so that the slices stay connected at the bottom of the potato. Space the slices 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch apart. You can rest the potato in a large serving spoon (or on 2 wooden chopsticks) and use that as a guide for when to stop slicing — slice straight down and when your knife hits the edge of the spoon, stop slicing. Bake 30 minutes, then brush...

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Potatoes are an incredibly versatile root vegetable consumed in a variety of dishes around the world. While many people consider vegetables to be healthy, potatoes have managed to stir up some controversy. Because of their starch content, many people believe they should limit their intake. Also, potatoes are commonly associated with unhealthy fried and processed foods. This article takes a deeper look at the potential health effects of potatoes. Scientifically known as Solanum tuberosum, they belong to the nightshade family of plants ( Originating in the South American Andes, potatoes are now cultivated in 160 countries worldwide, with 1,500–2,000 different varieties that range in color, size and nutrient content ( Nevertheless, many varieties are similar in composition, consisting of a starchy flesh covered by a thin, nutrient-rich skin. Potatoes can be boiled, steamed, fried, baked or roasted and used in a wide assortment of dishes. Summary: Potatoes are an edible plant tuber cultivated around the world. There are many different varieties of potatoes that can be used in a range of dishes. There are many types of potatoes that include an array of different nutrient sets. One medium (6.1 ounces or 173 grams) Russet baked potato, including the flesh and skin, provides the following ( • Calories: 168 • Fat: 0 grams • Protein: 5 grams • Carbs: 37 grams • Fiber: 4 grams • Sodium: 24 milligrams • Vitamin C: 37% of the RDI • Vitamin B6: 31% of the RDI • Potassium: 27% of the RDI...

Jenny Dettrick / Getty Images Sweet Potatoes Although they may be sold in the same part of the produce section, sweet potatoes technically aren't potatoes. All potatoes are tubers, but sweet potatoes are actually categorized as a root vegetable and part of the nightshade family. They have a reddish orange skin that's quite tough, meaning most sweet potato dishes are peeled before or after cooking. The interior is a bright orange, creamy, and sweet, making it good for both savory and sweet dishes. Turnervisual / Getty Images White Potatoes Named after their pale colored skin and flesh, white potatoes are similar in taste and texture to russets, though with their much thinner skin you can often skip the step of peeling for a variety of recipes, as the exterior will become very soft while cooking. jerrydeutsch / Getty Images Fingerling Potatoes Roughly the shape of a large finger, fingerling potatoes range in size between two to four inches. They come in a variety of colors such as white, purple, yellow, and red. Fingerling potatoes have thin skins and a waxy interior that's often streaked with veins of color. They're commonly cooked whole or simply halved because their fun shape is often shown off in dishes. Rizky Panuntun / Getty Images Yellow Potatoes With a naturally buttery flavor and velvety smooth interior, it's no surprise that yellow potatoes are one of the most popular potato varieties. Their skin is thin but crisps up perfectly when fried or roasted. Yellow potatoe...