Baking potatoes – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What are baking potatoes?

Whether they’re eaten plain, buried in gravy, or served ‘loaded’ with sour cream, cheese, bacon, and chives, one thing is for sure: you can’t go wrong with baked potatoes.

While virtually all potatoes can be baked, the most common type of potato used for a variety of dishes and cuisines is the baking potato or russet potato. The russet potato is high in starch and has a thicker brown outer skin. The russet potato is often the choice of baking potato because while the outside can crisp up and hold its shape, the insides remain fluffy. Shop baking potatoes.

Where did the baking potato originate from?

It is believed that baked potatoes originate from South America, or more specifically, Peru. The Inca Indians in Peru were said to be the first to originally cultivate potatoes and when the Spanish conquistadors conquered Peru, they brought the potato to Europe. From there, the cultivation of potatoes grew and now potatoes, of all varieties, are widely available and enjoyed worldwide.

What is the nutritional value of baking potatoes?

When raw, potatoes have a high amount of water, but cooked potatoes are mainly comprised of carbs due to their high amounts of starch. Baked potatoes also contain modest amounts of protein and fiber, have almost no fat, and contain quite a few significant vitamins and minerals within their skin.

Potatoes are not considered high-fiber foods, however, the amount of fiber is highest in the potato’s skin. Dried potato skins are their own are comprised of about 50% fiber.

The real hidden gem is the skin of a baked potato. Within a baked potato’s skin, there are several good sources of vitamins and minerals.

One whole potato skin is the equivalent to:

• 9% of your Daily Value (DV) of vitamin C
• 16% DV of manganese
• 23% DV of iron
• 7% DV of potassium
• 2% DV of calcium

What kind of potatoes are good for baking?

While most potatoes can be baked, there are certain types of potatoes that are better for baking than others. Potatoes high in starch like russet potatoes (dark brown skin with beige flesh) and sweet potatoes (known for their sweet, orange flesh) are great for baking.

The most popular baking potato by far is the humble russet potato. Its high-starch content fares well in dry heat, making the russet potato an ideal candidate for the oven. Virtually other all-purpose potatoes like Yukon Gold, redskin potatoes, or even purple potatoes can be baked, however, some of these high-moisture potatoes do better in wet heat cooking methods like steaming or boiling.

How to store baking potatoes

To prevent pre-mature spoiling, baking potatoes need proper ventilation and airflow to avoid the accumulation of moisture. The best way to properly store baking potatoes is to store them in an open bowl, mesh bag, or paper bag. Do not store baking potatoes in a sealed bag or closed storage container as it can speed up the chances of expiration.

Baking potatoes fare best when in a dark, cool, and dry place. Do not store potatoes in the fridge as it can increase the chances of spoiling. The cold temperatures can also potentially turn the potato’s natural starch into sugar, resulting in discoloration and an odd flavor profile.

Unless you are eating and cooking the potatoes immediately, baking potatoes should not be washed and then stored.

A good tip to remember is not to store potatoes near-certain produce like bananas, apples, or onions. These produce items can produce ethylene gas, which can cause produce in the same vicinity to ripen (and potentially spoil) much faster.

At what temperature are baked potatoes done?

The temperature and cooking time for a potato will vary on the type of recipe. But for a simple baked potato recipe featuring russet potatoes, typically, the recipe will suggest preheating your oven to 350 degrees and bake for 60-75 minutes.

When cooked properly, a baked potato should be crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

How do you pick the best baking potatoes?

When shopping for baking potatoes at the grocery store, select potatoes that are firm and have no visible sprouts. Potatoes that are soft, have dark spots, cut surfaces, or green in color should be avoided.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for baking potatoes and more via the Instacart app. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products.

How do you know if a baking potato has gone bad?

Besides signs of mold or discoloration, one telltale sign of a spoiled baking potato is the visible growth of sprouts. Sprouts form from the “eyes” on the outside of a potato’s skin. These “eyes” are indentations from where tubers stem from and grow new plants.

If a potato has recently sprouted, you can still consume the potato as long as the sprouts are snapped off entirely. Because of its chemical composition, eating the sprouts on a potato could cause harmful side effects.

What are baking potato alternatives?

If the typical russet potato isn’t your speed, you can try to replace it with a sweet potato or yam. Both of these are great for baking, making them ideal for baked potato alternatives. View potato varieties.

If you want to find an alternative outside the potato family, you can browse other root vegetables as substitutes. While some of these root vegetables may not be the best option to cook and serve as a traditional baked potato, some root vegetables, like parsnips and turnips, can be pureed to form a healthier alternative to mashed potatoes.

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