Tips about Potatoes

Types of Potatoes & What They’re Good For

• Russet: Great for baking as the results are light & fluffy; Also best used for mashed, hash browns and French fries.
• Red or Bliss: This is a waxy potato that’s best to use for salads, oven roast and soups (other varieties tend to get mushy).
• Yellow-Fleshed: Has a nice creamy-texture that is best used in gratins.
• New or Baby: If you don’t grow your own; these can get pretty pricey! But new potatoes are perfect for boiling, roasting or steaming.
• Instant: Suitable for casseroles and meat pies or a quick-fix mashed potato.

For a bunch more Potato recipes go to: http://tipnut.com/make-potatoes/

Assorted Q&A

 

1. Why do potatoes turn black (grey, purple, brown, pink, etc.) after they’re peeled? Skinned potatoes will start turning color if they’re exposed to the air too long. Make sure to cover cut & peeled potatoes completely with water to avoid discoloration. If they’re going to be sitting longer than two hours before being cooked, make sure the water is very cold.
2. What are riced potatoes? Some consider riced potatoes the perfect method to making mashed potatoes since the results are lump-free. If you have trouble achieving nice, creamy mashed potatoes a ricer is definitely the kitchen gadget for you. You can pick up a potato ricer in pretty much any department store, they’re cheap and a pretty common kitchen tool (they work by placing a cooked potato in the ricer then squishing the potato through holes by squeezing the ricer shut with your hand).
3. Can you peel potatoes a few hours ahead of time? You can peel them ahead of time but keep them covered with very cold water to avoid discoloration. However, if you keep them soaking in water too long, they will lose much of their starch and you may find them tasteless or have poor quality texture. Your best bet is to use a two-hour limit when preparing them ahead of time.
4. Are potatoes fattening? They are high in carbs, but very rich in vitamins and minerals. They’re not fattening by themselves, but just a tablespoon of butter on top nearly doubles the calories (small potato: 110 calories; with just a TBS of butter: 212 calories). Skip the high fat toppings and they can be a guilt-free treat (a small potato provides 45% Vitamin C, 8% Fiber, 6% Iron, 18% Potassium, 0% Cholesterol–Daily Value).
5. What is the best way to store them? Store in a cool, dry, dark location (don’t refrigerate). Do you notice your potatoes turning green after a week or so? That’s because they’re getting too much light. If you don’t have a good dark spot to keep them, stick them in a heavy brown paper bag to protect them from the light.

Mashed Potatoes:



To Prepare:

• Cut potatoes into small even pieces so that they cook quickly & evenly. Small pieces mash up easier than those that are larger.
• Cover them with cold water then place on stove to cook. Add salt once the water starts boiling. Starting them in cold water will help them cook evenly (if you start with boiling or hot water, the outer potato cooks faster and you’ll have chunks of mush floating in the water).
• Cook until just tender. Remove from heat and drain immediately. If you cook them too long, they become water logged and turn into tasteless, runny mashed glop. If you don’t cook them long enough, they can have hard lumps when mashed.
• Once drained, place the pot back on the stove on low heat (lid off) to remove even more of the moisture, just a couple minutes will do and shake the pot frequently so they won’t burn.
• Use a potato masher, a potato ricer or a blender to mash to desired consistency before adding any ingredients, this will help prevent lumps.
• When adding cold ingredients like milk or butter, bring them to room temperature first, this helps prevents lumps. Some suggest to heat the milk first (just warm to near boil) which draws an added flavor and makes a creamier texture.
• Add a healthy pinch of baking soda along with the milk to help fluff them up (another option is baking powder mentioned in 45 Cooking & Baking Tips).
• Use a fork or spoon to stir once you start adding ingredients, this helps cream them nicely. I prefer using a wooden spoon at this stage.
• How Many Potatoes Do You Need? Count on 3 medium ones to make about 2 cups of mashed. I prefer making 2 cups per person (adults) so there’s lots to go around plus leftovers.

Flavor Twists:

• When cooking, add an onion (cut in quarters) or clove of garlic to the water, strain out when draining the water.
• For a touch of tang, try buttermilk instead of regular milk.
• For richer taste, try whipping cream instead of milk, whip first until stiff then mix in.
• Try whole milk or half-and-half for a richer tasting dish.
• Mix in some cream cheese for a creamy dish with added flavor.
• Try adding sour cream for creamy potatoes.
• Mix in fresh herbs like chives, dill, parsley for added flavor.
• Try mixing in roasted garlic.
• Try adding cheeses like Parmesan, shredded Cheddar.
• Dare I say it? Top with freshly cooked bacon bits.
• Try flavoring your butter with garlic or lemon before adding to potatoes. Melt the butter with minced garlic or lemon peel, heat for a couple minutes then add.

Keeping Them Warm:

• You can make them ahead of time and keep them in the slow cooker on low heat, they will keep nicely for a few hours (mentioned in 50 Quick Tips For The Kitchen).
• If the potatoes are done before the rest of the meal is ready, prepare them then cover with a towel. This should keep them warm for about 1/2 hour.

Leftover Ideas:

• Fry them up with onions the next day.
• For handy individual portions, freeze in muffin tins, pop out then place in airtight bags and place in the freezer. Remove what you need for meals.
• Use as a tasty topping for meat pies.
• Mix in one egg white, place potatoes in a buttered casserole dish and top with a bread crumb crust and shredded or Parmesan cheese. Heat in the oven and serve.

Roasting:
I have two different methods for roasting potatoes, one is quick & easy while the other has a few more steps involved (good for larger pieces). Both give good results!
Easy Method:

Try Adding Herbs For Extra Flavor

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Peel medium sized potatoes and cut into quarters then halve each piece again…you want small and uniform pieces.
• Pat them dry with a paper towel then toss with olive oil so they are fully coated.
• Place them in a shallow pan that has a tablespoon or two of olive oil.
• Season with salt.
• Place the pan in the oven and cook for 30 minutes, then turn the vegetables over, cook another 20 to 30 minutes or until they are done.

Perfect Oven Method: Larger Pieces

• Cut large potatoes into halves or quarters, peeled or unpeeled is fine.
• Boil in water for about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Return them to pot and cover with lid, shake them hard to soften the edges (depending on the amount you are making, you may need to do this in batches). If your pieces are small, they may break up in this step–do this for larger pieces only. Doing this step helps the oil grab onto the surface of the vegetable and makes a crispier finished product.
• Place a shallow pan in the oven with about 3 tablespoons of olive oil, preheat oven to 425°F.
• Once the oven is ready and the oil is hot, add pieces to the hot pan and turn them to coat evenly with olive oil.
• Cook for 30 minutes, then turn them, season with salt and herbs then cook another 30 minutes or until they are cooked through and brown and crispy on the outside.

Tips:

• For an extra crunchy result, try cooking with the skins on.
• When they are just about done, sprinkle with your favorite spices and herbs for more flavor (garlic, parsley, rosemary).
• New baby potatoes are the perfect size for this cooking method, just wash them and they’re ready to go.
• After parboiling, you can refrigerate them until ready to cook (saves time for later).

Baked: Both Oven & On The Grill
Here are two different ways you can cut the time needed for baking them in the oven and then I added a few methods and tips for grilling them.


First, here are the instructions for oven-baked…
Scrub and clean potatoes as you normally do, then:

• Parboil them first by boiling in water for about 5 – 7 minutes. Drain, then dry with a clean tea towel.
• Bake in the oven as usual, you’ll find the cooking time cut in half (approximately).

You could also cut them in half, rub butter or fat over the cut side and bake as usual. Because they are half in size, they’ll cook a lot faster.
If you like onions, before baking (but after parboiling if using that method) try slicing the potato in half but not all the way through to prevent it from separating (you could also cut it in thirds). Place slices of white onion in the cut, a dab of butter, then wrap in foil and bake (cut side up). Delicious!
Here’s a simple recipe you can try:

• Coat potatoes with oil (olive or canola), sprinkle generously with Kosher salt and lightly with pepper (optional).
• Place directly on middle rack* in preheated oven (350 degrees) until done–about 60 minutes for 4 potatoes.
• Use a fork to test for doneness, they will be soft inside when speared.

*Make sure to have a cookie sheet or pan on the rack underneath to catch oil drippings.
You can also cook them on the grill, they turn out delicious! Here are three different methods you can try.
Getting Started:

• Preheat grill on high.
• When ready to start grilling, turn off heat under the section you will be cooking them on. The indirect heat from the rest of the grill will be enough to cook them.
• Wash and scrub potatoes well under cold water, leave skin on but cut off any bruises and eyes. Pat dry then use a knife or fork to prick a few holes into each.

Foil Wrapped Method (on the grill):

• Wrap each prepared potato in two layers of aluminum foil and add a small pat of butter or a drizzle of oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired.
• Once foil-wrapped, place each directly on preheated grill, close lid and cook. Turn after 30 minutes or so then continue to cook until they’re done.
• Tip: Remove foil during the last 10 minutes to give them a crispier skin.

Crunchy Skin Method (on the grill):

• Rub olive oil or vegetable oil (butter works too) all over and sprinkle with Kosher or sea salt.
• Place them directly on grill that has been preheated (with heat turned off as above) and close lid.
• Turn them over halfway through cooking (usually about half an hour).

Ember Roasted Method (directly on hot coals):

• Rub each with oil.
• Place directly on hot coals, turn over after 25 minutes or so.
• Cook until tender and the skin is charred all over (about 45 minutes depending on size).
• Remove from heat, cut them open and serve (skin will be burnt so just eat the inside).
• Tip: You can also wrap with foil first (2 layers) then place directly on coals if you want to enjoy the skin.

Sliced & Foil Wrapped (BBQ):
Ingredients:
4 potatoes (large)
1/4 cup butter (melted)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (or garlic salt)
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp celery salt
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
Directions:

• Peel and slice potatoes.
• Mix the melted butter with the seasonings & Worcestershire sauce then pour over the slices.
• Wrap in double thickness of foil (packet-style).
• Cook on grill for 30 minutes or until brown.

You can also make baked potatoes with this recipe, simply cut 5 or 6 slices into the potato (but not slicing completely so they stay whole). Place each on a square of foil, drizzle the melted butter with seasonings over each (trying to get some in between the slices) then wrap in foil tightly. Cook until they are fork tender.
Tips:

• How long does it take to grill them? Depending on the size, it usually takes between 45 minutes to an hour to fully cook (small potatoes take about 25 minutes). You can cut down the cooking time by slicing them in half before grilling.
• Need a quicker cooking time? Before placing them on the grill, try parboiling them as mentioned above for oven-baked, boil them in water for about 5 – 7 minutes. Drain, then dry with a clean tea towel. Proceed as directed in the methods above.
• Help! They aren’t cooking well with indirect heat! Try positioning them in the center of the grill so that they receive heat from all sides. If that doesn’t work, turn heat on low for the section you are cooking the potatoes on. Turn them more frequently if you turn the heat on so that the skins don’t burn.
• How to tell when they are fully baked? Insert a knife or fork into the thickest part of the potato, it should be soft. Or you can squeeze the sides and if they’re soft and squeezable, they are done.
• Want more flavor? If baking them in foil, try adding a bit of sliced onion or fresh herbs before wrapping the foil closed. Or instead of salt & pepper, try sprinkling with garlic salt or lemon pepper before cooking. Delicious twists!
• Topping ideas: Try a pat of butter, flavored butters, a dollop of sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, diced green onions or chives.

Source: 101 Things to Do with a Potato By Stephanie Ashcraft
For 40+ things to do with Potatoes go to: 40+ Things To Make With Potatoes