Potatoes

Tots Love Taters

Potatoes are so beloved that kids tend to think of them as treats more than veggies. The mellow satisfying flavor lends itself to almost any preparation imaginable, so everyone has their favorite. We like ours baked until fluffy and topped with green onions and Bacon Ranch. And of course, everyone loves fries: for a healthier version, try slicing potatoes into sticks and baking them until crisp. Serve them with Ranch dip and watch your little ones gobble them up!

A Rainbow of Potatoes

With 5,000 varieties of potatoes worldwide, there's a lot to choose from. Bring your kids to the grocery store or the farmers market and let them discover the endless variety — brown Russets, Yukon Golds, white fingerlings, tiny egg-shaped new potatoes and red, purple, even blue! (Green, however, is usually the sign of a bitter potato.)

Stuffed with Goodness

Plain potatoes are very healthy. They’re high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium. They’re also low in fat, but the (good) carbs make you feel pleasantly full. Much of the nutrients are in the skin, so just scrub well and enjoy.

Growing Potatoes: Up with spuds

We’ll be honest: growing your own potatoes can be tricky — but with these simple tips your family can enjoy the taste of farm-fresh fries all summer long.

• Start with sprouts. Growing potatoes is easiest when you start with ordinary store-bought potatoes that have already begun to sprout. Cut an egg carton in half and put the potatoes in it, either whole or cut up with at least with two sprouts or eyes on each chunk. Place on a sunny windowsill for up to 10 days.
• Transfer outdoors. Once the sprouts are strong and sturdy, go ahead and plant the potatoes in the ground. Place them 12 to 15 inches apart in 8-inch furrows with the sprouts facing up.
• Keep the soil moist and airy. Potatoes do best in loose soil that is well-drained. It’s best to water every 2 to 3 days.
• Stay warm. Full sun is best but partial sunlight is fine, too. When colder weather is on the way, protect them with plastic or even a blanket.
• Pick the flowers. To grow the biggest potatoes, remove the plant's flowers.
• Harvest when the tops fall off. The entire crop is ready to be picked once the leaves on the top die off, usually about 90 days after planting. Smaller potatoes, however, can be left in the soil to keep growing for another few weeks.
• Pull gently. Loosen the soil and then reach under the plant to harvest.

Pick, Store & Prep Potatoes

Potatoes are usually the one exception for kids who say they don't like veggies. So don't fight it — follow our tips for perfect, popular spuds.

Pick

• Smooth and firm is best. Look for potatoes that are uniform in color with no cuts, wrinkles, soft spots, or sprouted eyes.
• Stick to one size. It’s best to buy potatoes that are roughly the same size, so they’ll cook at the same pace.
• Don't go green. Though markets are carrying more varied colors of potato, any with a greenish tinge should be avoided. This shows that they've been exposed to light and will be bitter.

Store

• Keep cool, not cold. When stored in a cool, dark place, potatoes can last a few weeks. But avoid the refrigerator — at 40 degrees and under, the carbs turn into sugars, which gives them an odd taste. At room temperature, they’ll only last about a week.

Prep

• Trim any green sprouts.
• Don't toss the peel. Just soak in cold water to loosen the dirt and then scrub the nutrient-rich peel under cold running water. Now they’re ready for any recipe. Even mashed potatoes are great with the peel!
• Do toss the green. If there are any green areas that appear on or under the skin, peel them away. These will taste bitter and can even make you sick!
• Microwave for a quick snack. Hungry and in a hurry? Remember: potatoes won't lose their flavor in the microwave, but will be ready in a fraction of the time. Pierce each 6 to 10 times, wrap in plastic wrap and heat for 10 to 12 minutes.

Potato Recipes

Potatoes plus Ranch are a wonderful combination in just about any kind of dish.

• 

  Cowboy Potatoes & Asparagus with Rancher Dip

  Roasted veggies get a double shot of Ranch with our Fiesta Dip Mix and Buttermilk Dressing

  View recipe

• 

  Cheesy Cheddar Potato Boats

  What could be better than potatoes and cheese? Potatoes and cheese and Ranch, of course.

  View recipe

• 

  Quick Potato Salad

  Our Bacon ranch adds smoky depth to this creamy side.

  View recipe

  Watch the video

Test Your Potato Knowledge