Fun Facts

• A little lemon juice or white vinegar added to the cooking water will prevent discolouration of boiled potatoes when cooked.

• Do not store potatoes with onions as the onions give off a natural gas that accelerates the decay of potatoes.

• Potatoes first appeared in Europe in 1586 and made it to North America in 1719.

• Floury potatoes are the best potatoes to use for mashing.

• If peeling potatoes, keep the peelings as thin as possible as many of the valuable ingredients are in or just underneath the skin!

• If you are looking for a low fat topping to add to your potatoes try low-fat yoghurt, cottage cheese, ricotta or fresh herbs.

• Potatoes have not also been used for cooking. In 1907, French Chemist Louis Lumiere used microscopic grains of potato starch to create the first auto chromes. (Auto chromes were used in photography before the development of colour film)

• Place an apple in when storing your potatoes to keep them from sprouting!

• Soaking a potato in water will result in the loss of vitamin C.

• To make the perfect chips, fries and wedges you should use a floury potato that is high in starch.

• Warm temperatures encourage potatoes to sprout and shrivel. Remember to keep potatoes in a cool, dark, dry place.

• When mashing potatoes it is best to mash them with a masher, ricer or mouli. Do not put them in a food processor, as this will make them gluey!