Capricious tuber: we store peeled potatoes correctly

Correct storage technology

The shelf life will vary depending on the type of vegetables and the container they are stored in. Some need closed containers and regulation of humidity, others need containers with partially retained air permeability, thirdly, open containers, or, on the contrary, with tight-fitting lids.

At room temperature

The shelf life of peeled potatoes and other root crops is short. They lose moisture very quickly and undergo oxygen oxidation at room temperature; they must be stored in water.

• Potatoes and eggplants can be soaked in citric acid solution. To do this, dissolve 1/2 tsp. in a liter of cold water and pour over the vegetables.
• Leafy vegetables and herbs should be placed in a glass of water like a bouquet.
• Onions, garlic, ginger, leeks, cucumbers, together with the container, wrap tightly with cling film or aluminum foil.

Tomatoes don't like the climate of the refrigerator, so store them in a bright place, stalks up. It is better to sprinkle the cut slices with salt and cover with foil.

In a refrigerator

It is important to keep all food sealed in the refrigerator. And do not wash before storage

• Place leafy vegetables and herbs in a single layer on a paper towel and let the moisture dry. Then gently roll the contents into a new towel and store in a ziplock bag without closing it.
• To store root vegetables, moisture is necessary, so place a damp paper towel on the bottom of the container, the tops should be trimmed.
• Store fragrant chopped vegetables (onions, garlic, etc.) in an airtight glass container. The green part of the leek is best cut off.
• Cabbage loves to absorb odors from outside, it is best to wrap it in a paper towel and place it in an airtight container.
• To avoid winding, lay the tomato halves cut down. Store no more than 24 hours.
• It is better to store eggplants and potatoes in a container with water, no longer than a day. Place parts of a squash, pumpkin in a container or foil in one layer so that they do not touch.
• Peppers are sensitive to cold and can freeze. Store it in a paper towel in a container or bag, away from other vegetables.

Do not store the temperature too low, vegetables can freeze, this will destroy their texture and taste changes. The recommended humidity level should be 85-90%.

In the freezer

Many vegetables are blanched before freezing. To do this, immerse them in boiling water for 30 seconds to 5 minutes, and then immediately rinse them under cold water.

After that, transfer the vegetables to paper towels, let them dry from excess moisture. Transfer to freezer containers or bags and store in the freezer drawer.

• To extend the shelf life of ginger and garlic, finely grate and freeze in an ice cube tray. As needed, simply remove the cube and toss it directly into the pan. In a similar way, you can freeze a mix of spices and aromatic herbs.
• Freeze beets, carrots, peppers, broccoli and cauliflower using the quick freeze function.
• Freeze beans and corn on a board or platter before putting them in freezer bags.
• Store sorrel and spinach leaves in the most airtight container possible.

Freezing cabbage is not a good idea; for longer storage, it is better to pickle or salt it. If, for some reason, the cabbage was still frozen, find out if it can be reanimated and what to cook from it.

With frequent defrosting, vegetables will lose their texture and become limp, so always freeze in portions.

Video - how to freeze vegetables for the winter

Step-by-step instruction

Placing peeled potatoes in cold water will help extend their shelf life. How long can peeled potatoes be kept in the refrigerator? At low temperatures, it will not lose its qualities for 24 hours. Keeping potatoes longer this way will make them more watery and practically tasteless.

How to do it:

1. Pour cold water into any deep container.
2. Rinse the peeled fruit.
3. Place the tubers in the water.
4. Place the dishes in the refrigerator.
5. Before cooking, the vegetable must be washed again under a cold stream.

You can learn more about storing peeled potatoes here, and more about storing raw, boiled and fried potatoes in the refrigerator can be found here.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with: Choosing an electric brush cutter according to all the rules

Long-term storage

Vacuum packing will keep vegetables fresh for a long time

How to keep peeled potatoes for a day? Another option is when peeled potatoes are doused with boiling water. In this case, the decomposition of the nutrients of the upper layers of the potato tuber is purposefully achieved.

In this form, tubers can be stored for a long time. Often housewives prepare boiled potatoes in their uniforms before big holidays for salads to make their work easier. A vegetable cooked in a jacket can be stored from 2 to 10 days, it all depends on the amount of nitrates added to the soil during cultivation (you can determine their content in the tubers when buying in the above way).

If you are wondering how to save peeled potatoes for a day with minimal loss of quality indicators, then this method is not suitable. It is much better to put all the tubers in a plastic bag, pump the air out of it and hide it in the freezer.

Vegetables do not need to be thawed before cooking, but should be immediately placed in boiling water. It is preferable to store potatoes as a whole, this way you can save more nutrients. But, boiling it whole is often very problematic, because the roots of the temperature drop begin to crack and fall apart.

If the vegetable is to be sautéed or used in soup, you can pre-cut it and then put it in a bag. Storing peeled potatoes in vacuum sealed deep-frozen is considered to be the most effective.

• peel off;
• a thin layer needs to be removed from young potatoes, the peel is removed from the old one along with part of the tuber itself;
• wash each root vegetable;
• dry with a paper towel;
• slice;
• pack tightly in cling film;
• put in the freezer.

In the freezer

If the product stays in water for a long time, its density will change. Therefore, if you plan on cooking, it is better to put it in the freezer, after folding it in a bag and tying it.

Potatoes do not need to be thawed before cooking. Just dip it in already boiling water to which you added a little salt.

You can keep the product even longer in cling film.

1. Peel the tubers first and wash them well. This is necessary in order to wash off the starch.
2. Dry on a towel, cut into slices.
3. The product can then be wrapped in foil and stored in the freezer.

After you remove the potatoes, you do not need to defrost them. It should be immediately put into a frying pan, which will already be well heated.Dip in boiling water for cooking.

How can this be explained? There are several reasons

1. Deterioration of the taste of a vegetable, because it is known that starch (found in such abundance in potatoes) breaks down into sugars already at a temperature of + 5C.
2. The tubers become dark and have an unpleasant sweetish aftertaste.
3. The potato damp, sprouts quickly and is more prone to spoilage and decay.

In addition to these reasons, one can also name one more - the inconvenience of storing a large amount of vegetables due to the fact that it simply takes up a lot of space in the refrigerator. But if it nevertheless happened that you purchased potatoes and are going to store them in the cold, then it is best to use them within a week so that they do not stale.

Important! Store potatoes in the refrigerator as far as possible from the freezer and carefully monitor the required temperature.

How to properly store potatoes in the refrigerator

Pre-boiled potatoes, which may not always be eaten immediately, deserve special attention. How long can boiled potatoes be stored in the refrigerator? Chefs generally do not advise doing this, since every hour the potatoes lose their taste and nutritional qualities. As a last resort, you can put unpeeled (boiled "in uniforms") tubers in a food container, close and use within 3 days, no more.

If you have purchased a large amount of potatoes for the winter, then be sure to take into account the basic rules for storing vegetables.

Optimal conditions for storing potatoes:

• in the cellar;
• on the insulated balcony;
• in the pantry.

The most important thing is to observe the required temperature (it should be 5-7 degrees Celsius) and humidity (no more than 85%). If you still need to store potatoes in the refrigerator, then you need to place them in a paper bag, in no case a plastic one. It is believed that under such conditions, the vegetable can be stored for 5-6 months and eaten as soon as possible.

The same storage rules apply to young spring and early summer potatoes as to mature ones, but it should be remembered that the younger the potato, the more useful it is. In summer, it is hot in a city apartment and often there are no other places to store potatoes except the refrigerator, in this case, purchase them in small portions.

You should never eat withered, shriveled, greenish-stained potatoes. It is imperative to cut off these places, and discard completely green potatoes.

So, in order to preserve the amount of vitamins and nutrients as much as possible, you should purchase potatoes as needed. If you need to store this vegetable for a large amount of time, then you need to carefully monitor the storage temperature and from time to time carefully sort out, ventilate the potatoes. By observing these simple rules, you can preserve vitamins and great taste of potatoes for a long time.

Errors

If the tightness has been broken, then the potatoes may darken. You may have not filled the food with enough water, or you have not covered it with the lid. The potatoes can be cooked, but the areas that have darkened will have to be cut off.

If the product is stored for longer than the recommended time, starch will be removed from it. As a result, the potatoes become very hard. But you can eat it.

On the third day, the potatoes will be slippery, so you will have to rinse them before eating. It will be tasteless, but not harmful to health. Product cannot be stored in this form for more than 3 days.

When stored in the freezer, there is less chance of spoiling potatoes. He can only acquire a sweet taste. If you prepare the tubers and put them in the freezer, the product can be stored for a little longer.

In any case, such methods should be resorted to only when necessary. If possible, peel the potatoes before cooking.

Types of vegetables

Depending on the classification of vegetables by the type of processing and storage, processed and fresh vegetables are distinguished. The latter, in turn, are subdivided into vegetative and fruiting groups. In the first, tubers, roots, stems, bulbs are used for cooking, in the second, fruits and seeds. Vegetative vegetables include:

• tubers - potatoes, babat;
• root vegetables - carrots, beets, parsley root, radish, celery;
• cabbage;
• onions;
• spicy - dill, parsley, parsnip;
• salad spinach;
• dessert - artichoke, asparagus, rhubarb.

Fruit vegetables include:

• pumpkin - pumpkin, zucchini, cucumbers, squash;
• tomato;
• legumes - beans, peas, beans;
• cereals - corn.

It is also important to consider the ability of products to go into a dormant state.

The conditions and storage period directly depend on this. Potatoes, onions, cabbage, beets, garlic, carrots are able to survive for a long time.

A separate group is made up of processed vegetables. Depending on the method of conservation, they are:

• frozen;
• dried;
• fermented;
• canned food.

What to store with

When storing a vegetable, it is important to take into account the food neighborhood. This factor will also affect the shelf life of peeled potatoes, even in the freezer. In close proximity to smoked fish, after storage in water, the peeled potatoes will be saturated with smell, and your dish will be hopelessly spoiled.

The smell will persist even after heat treatment. The best neighbors for potatoes are eggplants and bell peppers. Even in the freezer, it is not recommended to store meat and fish products next to vegetable cuts.

Methods for storing peeled potatoes

When storing potatoes, you need to remember that the peeled vegetable darkens very quickly, becomes covered with a dry crust and loses its taste when interacting with oxygen. There are several ways to extend the "life" of this root crop:

• immersion in cold water;
• scalding;
• cold storage;
• freezing.

The main disadvantage of storing potatoes after peeling is their blackening. You should know that vegetables grown on nitrogenous fertilizers are most exposed to this unpleasant effect. Potatoes harvested at their own summer cottage do not darken for about 2 hours.

How much potatoes are stored in cold water

To prevent blackening, the tubers should be placed in a container with cold water immediately after cleaning. So they will not only perfectly preserve their taste, but also their appearance.

The duration of storage of potatoes in this form can be no more than 4 hours. Otherwise, the vegetable will lose all water-soluble trace elements and vitamins.

Peeled tubers must be completely immersed in cold water.

So that the vegetable does not lose most of its useful properties, you should not cut the tubers in half in advance, and even more so in small slices. It is best to do this directly during cooking.

If you need to keep potatoes in water for more than 4 hours - video

Can potatoes stop turning black in the air

Some housewives use a method of storing peeled potatoes such as scalding with boiling water. In this case, the tubers do not darken in the air. As a result of heat treatment, the storage time of the blanched product is increased to 5–6 hours, while the quality of its taste will change. It will acquire a specific taste.

Processing peeled potatoes with boiling water promotes the decomposition of enzymes in the upper layers of the vegetable and its long-term storage

Can I leave it in the refrigerator overnight

If you plan to use potatoes in the next day, you can use the refrigerator. Fill the peeled tubers with water and store in the refrigerator. Its temperature should be between 0 and 6 degrees. With this storage method, the workpiece will remain fresh and will not lose its original taste until tomorrow.

Before cooking potatoes, rinse them well under cold running water.

How to freeze raw potatoes

The longest method of storing peeled potatoes is to freeze them at temperatures down to -18 degrees. This can be done in different ways.

Peeled potatoes can be stored in the freezer for a whole day, and when deep frozen - indefinitely

How to store whole

If you plan to keep the tubers intact, use the following method.

1. Peel and rinse the potatoes.
2. Place in a plastic bag or plastic wrap.
3. Tie the bag tightly.
4. Place in the freezer section of the refrigerator.

It must be remembered that you cannot defrost potatoes before cooking. After removing it from the freezer, it should be immediately placed in salted boiling water.

How to keep sliced ​​potatoes for 24 hours

If you plan to cook fried potatoes, soup or other dish from the workpiece where you need a chopped root vegetable, you need to do this:

• peel potatoes;
• rinse thoroughly;
• dry with a cotton towel;
• cut into slices;
• wrap them tightly with cling film;
• put in the freezer.

Do not forget that regardless of the chosen storage method, dishes from peeled potatoes immediately before cooking are much tastier and healthier.

Long-term deep shock freezing

Peeled and chopped potato tubers can be stored in a deep shock freeze. This is done using a -30 degrees freezer. This method guarantees the safety of the vegetable for an almost unlimited period.

When using this method, potatoes not only will not lose their taste, but will also retain all the useful substances. For freezing, it is best to lay potatoes on a flat surface, without using bags, cling films or containers.

It should be remembered that when using a blast freezer in a home freezer, the simultaneously frozen product should not weigh more than 1 kilogram.

Storage at room temperature

The most common way to keep peeled potatoes from browning is to place them in a pot of cold water. This will preserve the vegetable's taste and appearance.

It is worth knowing that the vitamins and minerals that potatoes are rich in gradually dissolve in water. To prevent this, the tubers should be kept whole in water and cut immediately before cooking.

Country potatoes in such conditions can be stored for 3-4 hours, and store potatoes, for about 2-3 hours. Staying peeled potatoes in water at room temperature for longer than these periods will lead to the loss of all the beneficial properties of the product.

How to do it:

1. Fill a pot with cold water.
2. Peel and rinse the tubers well.
3. Place the vegetables in the water so that it covers them completely.
4. Place the lid on the cookware.

Cleaning raw

Most often, preparing potatoes for cooking is washing and peeling vegetables. There are several ways to peel potatoes.

The most important thing is that before you start cutting the skin from a vegetable, it must be thoroughly rinsed. It is advisable to use a brush to remove deep dirt.

1. The first way involves using a knife. Everyone has an idea of ​​how to peel potatoes with a knife, nevertheless, this is a very traumatic process and must be approached with caution. Usually, experienced housewives take the washed vegetable in their hand and begin to carefully cut off a thin layer of the peel until they have peeled it all off. After the skin is removed, dark eyes should be cut in the potatoes. After that, rinse the vegetable again.

• The second way to peel potatoes is less dangerous, but requires skill. To implement it, you will need a cutting board and a knife.You need to cut off the ends of the potatoes so that they can be placed vertically and fixed on a cutting board. Then, pressing it down from above with your hand, you need to cut the peel from top to bottom. At first, it may turn out that more vegetables will be cut than we would like, but experience will correct this situation.

• Another option involves the use of a special appliance for cleaning vegetables. It greatly simplifies the process and saves time, so in order to get rid of the question of how to quickly peel potatoes once and for all, it is worth purchasing this device. It will not allow you to cut off the thick layer of the peel and as a result you get a neat peeled vegetable.

Advice! For cleaning the root crop, you should choose a knife with a short blade, it is more convenient for such purposes.

It is important to remember that peeled potatoes darken very quickly in air, so they should be peeled just before cooking.

Why peelless potatoes darken quickly when exposed to air

Many housewives know that within a short time after the skin is removed from the potato, it gradually begins to darken. The reason for this is the presence of substances such as tyrosine and tyrosinase in tubers. The latter substance catalyzes the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine by atmospheric oxygen, as a result of which the peeled tuber quickly darkens. Interestingly, potatoes grown with nitrogen fertilizers turn black faster than organically grown ones.

You should know that darkened potatoes used for food are completely edible and do not harm health, this is reflected only in their appearance. After boiling or frying, the enzyme is destroyed, which explains why freshly boiled potatoes do not change their color.

How to keep peeled potatoes

How long are peeled potatoes stored? Store peeled potatoes in water for no more than 2-3 hours, otherwise all soluble vitamins will be destroyed, and carbohydrates, minerals and organic acids will get into the water. So, how to save peeled potatoes until the next day.

Until morning

How to keep peeled potatoes until the morning? If you plan to store peeled potatoes in water overnight, clean the pot in the refrigerator. In a warm room in the morning, the tubers will be covered with mucus, and bubbles will form on the surface of the water. Perishable foods such as potatoes are stored at 2-6 for no more than 72 hours.

If bubbles appear on the surface of the water the next morning, you need to sniff the water and examine all the tubers. They are most likely unsuitable for eating. When potatoes have an unpleasant smell after storage, the structure of the cellulose has changed, it is better not to eat it.

For a day

How to keep peeled potatoes for a day? You need to put all the tubers in a plastic bag, remove the air from it and put the bag in the freezer. Vegetables do not need to be thawed before cooking, but should be immediately placed in boiling water. It is preferable to keep the potatoes whole, so you can store more nutrients. When cooking, however, this is often very problematic, because vegetables begin to crack and fall apart when the temperature drops.

What to do to prevent sour potatoes

Can tubers be stored in water for a long time? Yes, if you change it constantly. Bubbles should not be allowed to form on the water, they indicate a fermentation process. A slippery coating appears on the tubers. The water will have to be changed every five hours, while rinsing off plaque.

All methods of preserving tubers allow you to extend the shelf life of peeled potatoes from one day to several days. Compliance with simple rules makes it possible to prepare a product for future use and quickly prepare any homemade dish.

General storage guidelines

First, the peel, eyes and various damages are removed. The top layer of the fruit is cut from old vegetables.Green areas should not be eaten - they contain components harmful to the body, such products are thrown away.

How to store properly peeled potatoes before cooking? Pure water is used to limit contact with oxygen. What is the shelf life of peeled vegetables and homemade potatoes? Low temperature slows down the decomposition of constituent components, prevents decay.

Grinding is carried out before preparing the dish; before that, it is recommended to store it as a whole, which allows you to preserve the beneficial qualities of the plant.

Darkening occurs for the following reasons:

1. Sugar reacts with amino acids, which are gradually destroyed, changing the taste, color, smell. Reducing the amount of sugar in the tubers helps preserve the roots.
2. Oxidation of magnesium, iron and potassium occurs when interacting with air, organoleptic properties change, destruction slows down after preventing the access of oxygen.

Refrigerator storage instructions:

• Cold water is placed in a deep container.
• The plant is washed.
• Tubers are placed in the water.
• The pan is sent to the refrigerator.
• Before cooking, the vegetable is washed in cold water.

How long can peeled potatoes be stored in water? The liquid limits the effect of oxygen, but washes out starch and other components, so the product remains usable for 2-4 hours.

For the longest time, nutrients can be stored in the freezer. If done correctly, the product will be usable for several months. Thawed root vegetables are not placed in the freezer a second time.

Freezing instructions:

• The tubers are cleaned and washed.
• Dry with a towel.
• Large fruits are cut into pieces.
• Folded in a bag or stretch film.
• They go to the freezer.

Remove from the freezer immediately before cooking.

How long can peeled potatoes be kept in a normal state in the freezer? A very low temperature slows down the decomposition processes for a long time.

Other storage methods:

• Lemon juice is added to the water.
• Deep freeze at -30 gr. keeps freshness for a long time.
• Vacuuming the vegetables before placing them in the freezer keeps vegetables 2-3 months longer.
• Boiling water treatment prevents browning, the storage time increases to 5-6 hours, but the taste of the product changes.

Deep shock freezing in a chamber at -30 degrees preserves the taste and useful qualities. It is recommended to lay the root vegetables on a flat surface without plastic or plastic containers. It is recommended to freeze a maximum of 1 kg at a time.

The best option is to store the skinned potatoes so the flesh will not oxidize. If the vegetable has already been peeled, there are surefire ways to keep it fresh until it is cooked.

First of all, after cleaning the tuber, you must wash it and immediately lower it into a container of cold water. As a result, there will be no contact with air, which means that no oxidation will occur. Cover the container with a lid on top.

If the preparation of the root vegetable is not planned immediately after it is cleaned, the question arises how much this vegetable can be stored in water so that it does not deteriorate. Indoors, potatoes will deteriorate faster, and in the refrigerator they can stand much longer.

How is it stored in production

Potatoes are often used in a production environment. It is used in large quantities for the manufacture of various dishes. For this, different storage methods are used.

Treatment with special substances

The main substance that is used to process vegetables is sodium bisulfite. This element helps to preserve the enzyme components from destruction. After the procedure, the roots do not change their color and do not differ from the recently cleaned ones.

See also

How to store sun-dried tomatoes at home

This storage method helps keep the vegetable for up to 2 days. In this case, the temperature should be +7 degrees. It is recommended to rinse the potatoes thoroughly before cooking. To do this, it is worth changing the water several times.

Storage in a modified atmosphere

With this method, it is recommended to fill the bags with vegetables, and then pump out the air from them. Instead, a nitrogen-carbon dioxide-based composition is pumped into the bags. The substance prevents the development of bacterial microorganisms that impair the taste and color of the product. It should be stored at a temperature of +3 degrees. Thanks to this, it will retain its freshness for 20 days.

Using vacuum packaging

For a start, the bags should be filled with peeled potatoes. Then, using a special pump, pump out the air from them. This technique slows down the oxidative processes of substances that are present in fruits. The shelf life is 18 days. It is recommended to keep it at a temperature of +3 degrees.

Types of containers for storing potatoes

Depending on the device of the potato storage, containers are prepared for the preservation of potatoes.

The most common are wooden boxes. Loose planks and an open top promote good air exchange. Boxes with 10-12 kg of potatoes are easy to move and, if necessary, sort the products.

The boxes are placed on racks or shelves so that the empty space from the wall of the storage is at least 25-30 cm, from the floor to the bottom of the box / container is about 15-20 cm and from the top of the container with potatoes to the ceiling is at least 50-60 cm. Between boxes, the empty space is 10-15 cm.

It is easy to monitor the storage of potatoes in mesh bags, which, like boxes, are available for quick determination of the preservation and, if necessary, for sorting frozen, rotting, damaged and diseased tubers.

If rodents settle in storages in winter, it is better to store the products in double wire mesh containers with small cells, the bottom of which is raised above the floor. Through a single-layer mesh, the rodents take out and gnaw the sides of the potatoes, which are closely adjacent to the mesh. Some owners store potatoes in metal barrels with fine air exchange holes, closed on top with a metal mesh.

Potatoes stored in the cellar. Herrick kimball

Useful properties of potatoes

1) Potatoes hold the record for the content of amino acids, including essential ones. If you eat 300 grams of boiled potatoes per day (the daily rate), then the body will be fully provided with carbohydrates, phosphorus and potassium. The tubers of young potatoes contain a lot of vitamin C, but during storage this vitamin gradually decreases and usually only a third of its original amount remains by the spring.

2) Potatoes contain a lot of potassium, which in turn helps to eliminate fluid from the body, which is very important especially for people with kidney and heart disease. For simple forms of chronic renal failure, the potato-egg diet is useful, but its use should be discussed with a doctor in advance.

3) Boiled potatoes can be eaten even during an exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers, since the fiber contained in potatoes does not irritate the intestinal and stomach mucosa.

4) Potato starch has anti-sclerotic properties: it lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood serum and in the liver.

5) The amino acids of potatoes are well balanced, so they are easily absorbed by the human body.

6) Potatoes have an alkalizing effect on the body, helping to neutralize excess acids that are formed as a result of metabolism (excess of these acids leads to premature aging).

7) It has long been known that potatoes are useful for patients with tuberculosis, because they contain tuberosin, which kills the causative agent of the disease.

With osteochondrosis, pain can be relieved with a compress of raw grated potatoes with honey.

9) Potato flowers are used to treat tumors. An infusion of these flowers lowers blood pressure and increases respiratory activity.

10) Also, potatoes are used when leaving starvation due to the same alkalizing properties of the product (however, in this case, you need to use potato broth or heavily boiled and mashed potatoes).

11) Potatoes are widely used in folk medicine: they treat the skin with eczema, burns. This product is used to treat trophic ulcers and varicose veins, boils, fungal infections - potato applications cool, relieve itching, reduce pain, promote wound healing.

12) For the treatment of sore throats, breathe over the steam of freshly boiled potatoes.

13) The peel of potatoes contains a large amount of nutrients, as: potassium, zinc, minerals and vitamins, enzymes necessary for the assimilation of starch. Potato peel is useful for vascular and heart diseases.

So, potatoes are a valuable product that stores a large amount of nutrients. However, there are contraindications for eating potatoes:

• It must be remembered that green potatoes are hazardous to health. Due to the action of light, a poisonous substance, solanine, begins to accumulate in the potato tubers. When eating a large amount of potatoes containing solanine, a person's skin begins to turn gray, and then death occurs. There is an opinion that it is enough just to cut off the green part of the tuber, and the rest can be eaten. However, many experts warn that the appearance of even a small green spot on the tuber already indicates that solanine has begun to spread. It is better not to eat such potatoes, but leave them for planting or throw them away.
• Also, potatoes can lead to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, to an exacerbation of urolithiasis and flatulence.
• It is not recommended to use potatoes for people suffering from sexually transmitted diseases and increased sex drive.
• Frequent consumption of potato juice can lead to problems with the pancreas.
• With low acidity of the stomach, potato juice is contraindicated, since it has alkaline properties.
• With obesity and diabetes mellitus, it is also not recommended to consume potato juice, so as not to provoke an exacerbation of the disease. This is due to the high starch content in potatoes.
• Colitis in the acute stage is also a contraindication for eating potatoes.

It must be remembered that when cooking, to preserve the beneficial properties, peeled potatoes must be dipped in boiling water, and not in cold water, since most of the useful substances of potatoes are water-soluble.

Baked potatoes and jacket potatoes are very useful because of the high content of nutrients in the peel of the product, however, with such cooking methods, the peel must be washed very well.

Potatoes do not go well with foods such as milk, eggs, cottage cheese, meat, fish, and various fruits. An acceptable combination would be the use of potatoes with vegetable and butter, sour cream, green and starchy vegetables (carrots, pumpkin, beets, zucchini).

Home storage

There are several ways to store peeled potatoes so that they do not lose their taste or turn black:

1. To prevent the vegetable from darkening, it must be placed in a container with water. The container must be covered. This method allows you to store the crop for no more than 4 hours. Otherwise, it begins to lose water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, C, PP, carbohydrates and other organic substances. Experienced housewives advise using the water in which they were lying when boiling potatoes.
2. In order to extend the shelf life by a day or two, the tubers can be placed in the refrigerator.The low temperature will not spoil the potatoes until the next day. To do this, it must be placed in a jar of water and refrigerated overnight.
3. Instead of low temperatures, high temperatures can be used. To do this, you need to scald the product with boiling water. This will help prevent oxidative stress that darkens the vegetable. In this way, it is recommended to process young potatoes.
4. If there is a desire and funds allow, then you can purchase a vacuum pump and pack vegetables yourself in an airtight container. This will allow you to make some supplies and save time when preparing food.
5. You can store the product in the freezer. For this, the tubers are placed in a plastic bag. This vegetable can be left for 24 hours. When cooking, there is no need to defrost, the potatoes must be immediately placed in boiling water. If the vegetable is intended for subsequent frying or soup preparation, then the tubers can be cut appropriately before freezing.
6. Another storage method is quite laborious, but justifies the effort. Each peeled vegetable is wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in the freezer. This method is best used for small quantities of potatoes. The disadvantage of freezing peeled potatoes can be the acquisition of a sweetish taste by vegetables, and over time, a complete loss of taste.
7. If you do not want to peel the vegetable, then it can be baked in the oven with the peel. This method will help preserve all the nutrients.

In a refrigerator

Leaving the product at room temperature for 5 hours or longer will result in loss of beneficial properties.

If you need to prepare overnight or 2 days in advance, only store the potatoes in the refrigerator.

1. Pour cold water into a deep bowl.
2. Peel and rinse the tubers.
3. Dip the potatoes in the water, then cover the dish with a lid.
4. Put it in the refrigerator.
5. Before using the potatoes for cooking, you will need to rinse them again.

Basic rules for storing potatoes

• The stored potatoes must be provided with ventilation.
• It is more practical to store potatoes to provide for the family in small containers (10-12-15 kg), installed on pallets or shelves, covered with any protective cover on top from freezing.
• Before storing potatoes, it is imperative to carry out a thorough bulkhead and separate diseased, damaged, green tubers from healthy ones.
• It is practical to spread a layer of beets on top of the stored potatoes. By absorbing moisture emanating from "breathing" potatoes, beets protect the latter from excess moisture, leading to a fungal infection.
• Putting a few apples in a box of stored potatoes will slow down their germination.
• When storing potatoes in bulk, the embankment should not exceed 1.5 m in height. From above you need to cover the potatoes with burlap or an old blanket, blanket. This technique will reduce freezing during any weather cataclysm and preserve the possibility of free air exchange. If the floor is very cold, you can use felt to insulate it, covering it with a moisture-absorbing material on the side of the potato.
• With any type of winter storage, it is necessary to sort out the tubers 2-3 times, removing the diseased and green ones.
• Early potato varieties are usually eaten straight away. They are not subject to storage.

Early potatoes left over after November are stored as planting material. It is not used for food. Tubers shrivel, lose moisture, become tasteless.

Potatoes for planting are stored under the same conditions as food.

When storing purchased potatoes, the following varieties can be recommended: Gatchinsky, Atlant, Scarlet, Chaika, Slavyanka, Zhuravinka, Dolphin, Kolobok, Tiras, Nevsky.When stored properly, they retain their taste almost until the next harvest of early potatoes.

From early and early maturing potato varieties, Hostess, Rocco, Aurora, Pyrol are stored for up to 3 months. But, as a rule, early varieties are stored only as planting material.

Can I freeze?

The longest and most effective method of preserving skinless potato tubers is to freeze them at temperatures as low as -18 ° C.

This can be done in several ways. Under the right conditions, the shelf life can be several months. But remember that thawed potatoes cannot be re-frozen.

Wholly

To freeze whole peeled potatoes, it is better to take small tubers. But too large potatoes can be simply cut in half before freezing.

How to do it:

1. Peel and wash the potatoes.
2. Dry the fruit with a tea towel.
3. Fold gently in a plastic bag or wrap in plastic wrap.
4. Place in the freezer, in the vegetable section.

In pieces

To prepare a semi-finished product, you need to do the following:

1. Peel the potatoes.
2. Wash in cold water.
3. Dry well with a towel.
4. Cut the tubers into bars or wedges.
5. Salt the food to avoid blanching when frozen.
6. Arrange the potatoes in 1 layer on a tray and cover with plastic wrap.
7. Place the potato tray in the freezer.

Important! Do not defrost potatoes before cooking. Take it out of the freezer and cook it right away.