Peeled potatoes: how to keep them from browning?
Potatoes are considered one of the most staple foods and can be used to prepare a wide variety of delicious dishes. But sometimes housewives cannot calculate the exact amount of ingredients needed. You don’t have to throw away the peeled potato tubers; you can save them for your next meal.
Why does the potato darken?
Unfortunately, peeled potatoes quickly lose their consumer properties and qualities. Within a couple of hours after removing the skin, the tubers are covered with a dark bloom. This process occurs due to the oxidation of organic matter. Potatoes contain enzymes, when they interact with oxygen, a chemical oxidation reaction is triggered, as a result of which the vegetables darken.
It is worth noting that peeled potatoes darken very quickly if a large amount of nitrogen fertilizers is applied under it. This process is an indirect confirmation of an excess of nitrates.
It is not recommended to cut potatoes in advance, it is better to do this immediately before preparing the dish. Whole tubers are stored much better. Otherwise, vegetables will quickly lose their taste and nutrients. Some housewives prefer to preserve the potatoes by pouring cold water over them. Please note that tubers can be stored in this way for no longer than three to four hours, since water-soluble vitamins B1, C1, PP and B2 are destroyed, carbohydrates and organic acids, minerals (potassium, iron, sodium, magnesium and calcium) go into the water. Rinse the peeled potatoes thoroughly and place them in a container of cold water (the water should completely cover the vegetables). In this case, the supply of oxygen will decrease, and oxidation will slow down.
There is another way to store peeled potatoes – scalding the tubers with boiling water. This heat treatment literally promotes the decomposition of enzymes in the upper layers of the vegetable. Blanched potatoes are stored for much longer, but they acquire an unusual and specific taste. You can also do it in a simpler way: tie several peeled tubers tightly in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer, while the vegetables can be stored for a longer time (up to twenty-four hours). Do not defrost vegetables before cooking, but place them in boiling water immediately.
If potatoes are to be fried or used in soup, they can be pre-cut and frozen
Created modern technologies can allow for long-term storage of peeled potatoes. For this, vegetables are placed in a sealed package filled with a special gas. But this method has a high cost, therefore, it is not rational for home use.
Read next: Ceramic Coated Pot