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Potatoes and other Tubers• Tubers are modified plant structures that store energy• Can be roots or stems• Provide asexual reproduction (clone)

• Provide consistent characteristics of food source• Leaves plants open to pests and disease problems

• Energy is stored as;• Starch (carbohydrates)• sugars

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Storing Tubers• Starchy tubers are converted into sugars during long cold

dormant periods• Starches resist digestive enzymes when raw therefore cooking

is necessary for nutrient value• Energy stored as sugars make nutrients readily available

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Potatoes• Members of the nightshade family like tomatoes, chillies and

tobacco• New potatoes are immature

• Lower in starch• Harvested in the spring

• Mealy potatoes• High in starch low in sugar low in moisture• Idaho (russet), chef potatoes, yukon gold

• Waxy potatoes• High in sugar low in starch high in moisture• Red bliss, fingerling, purple potatoes

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Cooking Potatoes• Mealy or Starchy potatoes• Baked, mashed, fried• Starches help thicken liquids

• Waxy potatoes• Potato salad, boiled, roasted, stewed• retain shape when cooked in liquids

• Versatile potatoes• Yukon gold, creamer, chef potatoes

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Perfect Potato Puree• Cut into large even sized pieces• Start in cold salted water• Never boil• Check for starch crystals• Drain and put through food mill with cold butter• Adjust consistency with hot milk or cream• Adjust seasoning

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Sanitation and Safety• Botulism• Solanine & Chaconine – alkaloids (bitter)• Caused by exposure to sunlight and improper storage and

cooking• Green tinged potatoes and sprouting potatoes• Stomach and throat irritation in large amounts may cause death• Cooking will not reduce toxicity

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Storage• Store in a cool, dry & dark area 45-50 F ̊�• Warm temperatures cause sprouting and decay• Cold temperatures trigger starches to turn into sugars• Do not store in airtight containers where lack of oxygen could

trigger clostridium botulinum growth

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Other Tubers• Sweet potatoes• Member of the morning glory family• Not to be confused with Yams

• Yams – native to Africa• Yucca (cassava, manioc, tapioca) – Tropical regions• Boniato, taro, malanga, galanga, jicama