To peel or not to peel? Expert tells how she cooks potatoes | Cooking & Eating

Potatoes are tubers that grow underground. They contain fiber, vitamins (C and B6) and minerals (potassium and also some calcium and phosphorus). According to the Nutrition Center they provide energy and ensure good intestinal function. They fit into the Wheel of Five and are a good addition to bread and other grain products.

The Dutch still love potatoes. On average, we eat them three to four days a week. They are more popular with the elderly than with the young. If you look at the different regions, northerners are real potato eaters. They are the least popular in the west of the Netherlands.

Potatoes are quite cheap. Depending on the type of potatoes and the offers you find, they usually cost less than a euro per kilo. You can find offers online at Supermarktscanner.nl and Reclamefolder.nl, among others.

Maryam Ismaili Shekoh often hears that people don’t know whether to eat the peel or not. “You can just eat the peel. It also contains fiber and vitamins.”
Make sure that you only eat potatoes in their skins if they are fresh and undamaged. And cut away suckers, brown, green and bruised spots. If you eat the peel, you also have less to throw away.”

It is best to store potatoes in a cool and dark place. They don’t necessarily have to be in the fridge, according to the culinary expert. “Preferably store them somewhere between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius. Then they stay good longer. At a higher temperature you get offshoots faster and you cannot eat them, because they can contain a toxic substance.”

This is how Ismaili Shekoh cooks potatoes:
– Wash potatoes.
– Cut out suckers and dark spots.
– Cut potatoes into equal pieces.
– Pour small bottom water into the pan and put a lid on the pan. “When the water boils, you can lower the heat source.”
– The potatoes will be done in 20 to 25 minutes.
– You can check if the potatoes are cooked by poking the potatoes with a fork. “If they are soft, then they are done.”
– Drain potatoes.

Good nutrition for school-going children: children get their energy from their food. What is good and healthy food for your school-going child? And does that include potatoes? Parents of Nu explains what good meals are and good snacks.