Why Fresh Potatoes Are More Useful Than Old Ones

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Potatoes are a favorite culture of Bulgarians. They are present in the emblematic Bulgarian recipes. For example, classic moussaka. If the Greek moussaka main product is the eggplant, then the potatoes are a classic in our version of this Balkan dish.

What about french fries with cheese? Again a favorite food in our lands. The same goes for potato salad, shank with potatoes, potatoes with cabbage, patatnik with cheese, potatoes with rice. In some places in Bulgaria lutenitsa with potatoes is even made. In general, this food is everywhere and is definitely our favorite. That is why growing potatoes is so common in our country.

The history of the industry began with the first European information about it in 1537, by the Spanish conquistador Castellanos. Even then, these vegetables were considered unhealthy food. However, today there are 1000 varieties of potatoes. In our country, of plant foods, they are second only to bread.

The question of how potatoes affect our physical condition is quite confusing. Half of the nutritionists say, "Eat potatoes," and another say, "Don't eat potatoes."

IN its composition of potatoes include water, starch, 0, 9% sugars, cellulose, fats and proteins, a significant amount of amino acids, mineral salts, and are usually rich in vitamin C - only 200-300 g of vegetables cover the daily requirement of this vitamin.

However, it should be noted that over time, the levels of vitamins in them decrease. It follows that fresh potatoes are more useful than old ones.

Why eat fresh potatoes?

IN fresh, spring potatoes, contains a significantly higher amount of vitamin C, and of the other vitamins more significantly are vitamins B1, PP, K and others.

On the other hand, cellulose is only 0.5%. In addition, in young and fresh potatoes, toxic chemicals are less, because they simply are not treated with such.

On the issue of healthy and high-calorie foods, it should be noted that potatoes themselves are low in calories. It has only 80 calories. This automatically makes it a food suitable for overweight people and those who want to lose excess weight.

Potatoes also have a pronounced diuretic effect. It is best to cook well washed and unpeeled. In this way, the contained vitamin C is stored to the maximum, at the expense of potassium, which is lost. When steamed, the opposite happens - potassium is preserved, but vitamin C is minimized.

When stored for a long time at temperatures above 10 degrees, the vitamins in potatoes reduce their values. This process is inevitable. Therefore, it is best to eat potatoes fresh.

Even if you do not have fresh potatoes available, eating old ones is also helpful. All their bad qualities are removed when they go through heat treatment.

Something else advantage of fresh potatoes is that they can be eaten with the skin, as it is very delicate and pleasant to the taste when cooked. Unlike old potatoesin which the skin may not be particularly tasty.

Let's remember the benefits of eating potatoes and skin.

Potato skin is a great source of potassium. Eating fresh potatoes with skin boosts your metabolism and helps support cells in generating useful energy. Potato skins are also a source of iron, which helps maintain the function of red blood cells.

Potato peel is a good source of vitamin B3, which helps cells break down nutrients into usable fuel. In addition, vitamin B3 helps cells recover from physiological stress. The skin of a potato gives you a good amount of fiber. Fiber is useful for keeping the metabolism under control, in addition to reducing the risk of colon cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Eating fresh potatoes with skin is useful in combating allergies and boosting immunity. Potato peels are a natural source of flavonoids, a type of phytonutrient that shows anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that protect your body from infection and disease.

Eating fresh potatoes with skin helps to control blood pressure. Potato peels also help your heart function properly. If you eat the skin of organic potatoes, it will help you manage your blood pressure naturally through its minerals - potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Potato peels are also good for your bones. Potato peels have certain minerals that are essential for maintaining your bone structure and strength. These nutrients include iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, copper and zinc. About 50-60% of the magnesium in your body is found in the bones. Consuming unpeeled fresh potatoes can help maintaining bone density and can also reduce the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, according to experts from the National Institutes of Health.

Cooking fresh potatoes

We have already mentioned a lot reasons why fresh potatoes are more useful than old ones. Now it's time to look at another of their advantages, which, however, concerns the cooking of potatoes. The truth is that fresh potatoes are preferable because they cook much faster.

As already mentioned, their peel contains many useful substances, it is delicate and does not need to be peeled. You can only wash the potatoes well and brush them well with a brush under running water to make sure the dirt falls off. You can then blanch them lightly, but this is not even necessary. When you are ready, you can move on to preparing your favorite dish. Just keep in mind that fresh potatoes get ready faster than old ones. Be careful not to burn or boil them. Otherwise, with fresh potatoes you can prepare different potato dishes. Among them are:

- potatoes in air fryer;

- French fries with cheese;

- stewed potatoes with butter;

- quick potato salad;

- classic baked potatoes;

- potato pie;

- stuffed potatoes with minced meat;

- delicious frittata;

- mashed potatoes, etc.