Thursday, December 10, 2009

To Peel or Not to Peel

Getting ready to make latkes? Think twice before you peel those potatoes. Peels add a lot more than flavor and texture.

When you toss potato peels, you're tossing a significant amount of fiber, potassium, vitamins and phytochemicals.

It's true with other vegetables as well. The skin of sweet potatoes and eggplant, for instance, contain vitamins, minerals and the potent antioxidant quercetin. Most of the fiber in apples and pears is in the skin.

What about pesticide residue?

Organically grown is your best choice, especially with apples, pears and potatoes, which can be heavily sprayed. If conventionally grown produce is your only choice, be sure to wash it carefully. (Organically grown produce should also be washed to get rid of the dirt.)

So when you make latkes this Chanukah, save yourself the time and energy of peeling potatoes. You'll be saving some valuable nutrients at the same time.


Chag Sameach! Happy Chanukah!

Posted by Chana Rubin, RD at 1:00 AM
Labels: , ,

2 comments:

  1. Potato peel contains solanine, a substance that is poisonous in large quantities. It is concentrated in the peel, especially in older potatoes. So the answer is not so obvious. The older the potato, the more solanine throughout the flesh of the potato. Green spots on peel should always be removed. Potatoes should be stored away from sunlight, which increases solanine.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine

    Most of the vitamins are just under the peel. So cooking the potato in the peel and then removing the thin layer of skin is the best peeling method.
    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Hannah. Yes,you should always cut or peel away any green stuff on a potato. The best policy is to buy very fresh potatoes and store them in a paper bag if you don't use them right away.
    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)