When preparing a meal for guests, there are so many ingredients to chop, proteins to marinate, and sides to prep, you’ll want to make sure all that hard work pays off.The last thing you need is a side dish full of gray potato salad or a muddled brown mash.Here’s how to keep potatoes from turning brown, so they’ll be worthy of both your finest dinner party and your casual weeknight meals.When this starch is exposed to oxygen, they undergo a process called oxidation, which leaves your potato with a grayish or brownish tint.Place your mandoline and grater directly over the bowl and cut straight into the water to keep your potatoes as white as possible. .
How to Keep Peeled Potatoes From Turning Gray or Oxidizing
This is a harmless natural reaction and it is perfectly fine to cook and eat potatoes even if they have turned gray.Potato skins and fruit peels are the natural ways oxygen is blocked from reaching this enzyme.To prevent this reaction, the enzyme must be deactivated by cold, heat, or acid, or you must provide a barrier to keep oxygen out.A pinch of a crushed vitamin C tablet in a little water works just fine even after the potatoes have already turned gray.Combine both these methods by soaking the potatoes in a bowl of cold water mixed with vinegar or lemon juice.Although kluski were once considered peasant food, today they appear at gourmet restaurants in Europe as a side dish instead of potatoes. .
Why You Should Keep Cut Potatoes in Water
), try our favorite technique: Peel and cut raw potatoes, then store them in a container with water in the refrigerator to prevent them from turning brown.Start by scrubbing potatoes under cool running water to remove dirt; dice, slice, or chop as directed in recipe. .
Can You Eat Peeled Potatoes After Turning Brown?
Although cream, yellow or purple flesh is common, red, pink or blue is not unheard of. .
Why Potatoes Turn Brown After Cooking Them and What to Do About It
Although it's one of the healthiest ways to prepare this starchy vegetable, boiling can cause the potatoes to turn dark after they're peeled.But don't fret: Darkening potatoes is just a side effect of oxidation and isn't anything you need to worry about where safety is concerned.If you're prepping a dish for a potluck meal or family dinner, there are a few tricks to avoid your taters turning on you.Boil your potatoes with the skin on while using minimal water, almost as if you're steaming them, Kristi Mathieson, RD, recommends.As with darkening due to oxidation, slightly bruised potatoes are still generally safe to eat.Different types of potatoes contain different antioxidants, which can be helpful in fighting free radicals, aka toxins found in the environment.Low in calories, potatoes make a healthy source of carbs to include in a meal or eat before a workout.Starchy vegetables are a healthy carb source that are not only versatile but high in nutrients like fiber, according to the FDA. .
Can I Peel and Slice Potatoes Ahead of Time?
Whether you’re planning a Thanksgiving menu or hosting a special dinner, finding ways to cut down on prep work can be game-changing, especially if you’re feeding a large crowd.Here's the problem: When you slice into a potato, you expose its natural phenols to oxygen, a chemical reaction that results in an almost immediate pinkish hue.Small cuts, like diced potatoes, get waterlogged faster, so are best kept in cold water for a short time, like while you prep other ingredients.Such a fine cut takes on water quickly and is typically cooked until golden—think latkes or potato pancakes—so none of that discoloration will show anyway.If your dish depends on the most crisp exterior (like pommes Anna) or requires your potatoes to give off very little moisture (like a gratin with other water-heavy veggies), there's no need to cut those ahead of time and soak them. .
