Potatoes, (Solanum tuberosum)

Potatoes are a root vegetable and come from the nightshade family. The “eyeballs’ ‘ are called the genus Solanum the fruiting parts of the potato. They do contain the toxin solanine which is dangerous for human consumption! Normal potato tubers that have been grown and stored properly produce glycoalkaloids in small amounts. However, if stored in too much lite can accumulate high enough glycoalkaloids to affect your health.

Types of Potatoes

There are close to 4000 varieties of potatoes. The main categories of potatoes are:

Red
White
Russet (Rough Skins)
Yellow (Yukon Gold)
Sweet
Purple

In culinary they are often differentiated by the waxiness of the potatoes. The comparative ratio of two different potato starch compounds is called amylose and amylopectin. For example for mashed potatoes, you would use a potato that has a higher content of amylopectin. As for nutrition, raw potato is made up of 79% water. 17% Carbohydrates, 88% is starch, 2% protein. Potatoes are rich in vitamins B6 and Vitamins C approximately giving you 23 – 24% Daily Value.

Fun Fact About Potatoes

Did you know that the potato was discovered being first domesticated in Southern Peru and Northwest Bolivia between 8000BC and 5000BC?