Many Ways to Cook White Potatoes

There is absolutely no reason for white potatoes to become boring in any household. They are so versatile that they can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack in between meals.

An average raw white potato is 5.2 ounces in size and contains 79 percent water. One potato has only 110 calories and more potassium than a banana. It is also the source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, fat, sodium, and it doesn't have any cholesterol.

The white potato is a staple food in many parts of the world and for many families. A few years ago, it was the world's fourth-largest food crop coming behind corn, wheat, and rice.

Let's see how many ways white potatoes can be cooked so they are never boring.

Ways to Cook White Potatoes

Potatoes can be cooked in many different ways. They can be prepared with the skin on them, or they can be peeled. Potatoes can be prepared whole, sliced, diced, chopped, or shredded. Most potato dishes are served hot, and some are served cold such as potato salad and potato chips.

Popular white potato dishes include the followings:

• Mashed potatoes
• Baked potatoes
• Boiled potatoes
• Roasted potatoes
• Scalloped potatoes
• Potato au gratin
• Home fries
• Hash brown
• Potato dumplings
• Potato soup
• Potato pancakes
• Tater tots
• French fried potatoes
• Potato chips

Many foods lose some of their nutritional value when cooked in a microwave oven. However, white potatoes can be easily cooked in a microwave and maintain their nutritional value. That is good news for cooks who are in a hurry.

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes can be served as a side dish along with main meals that include meat. In the United States, they are often served with gravy on top. They can be a good replacement for rice.

Mashed potatoes are easy to prepare with very few ingredients that include boiled potatoes, milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Optional toppings include cheese, sour cream, bacon, garlic, onions, or herbs to flavor the potatoes. The dish is called mashed potatoes because they are actually mashed with a durable wooden spoon or a whisk.

Baked Potato

A baked potato is a very good choice to go along with a juicy steak. Simply bake the potato in the oven or microwave oven. After the potato is done, it can be topped with some of the same ingredients as mashed potatoes; including butter, sour cream, cheese, chives, bacon, garlic, onions, salt, and pepper.

Potato Salad

Potato salad is usually eaten cold, even though some people have eaten it hot. Since it is a salad, the potato is not the only ingredient. Cooks add boiled eggs, mayonnaise or mustard, relish, onions, and celery.

Potato salad often tastes much better a day after it has been prepared. That's because the ingredients would have settled in the dish.

Fried Potatoes

Fried potatoes are usually eaten as a breakfast food. They are also called hash browns or home fries. No matter what they are called, they are easy to prepare. Simply peel the potatoes, cut them into slices, and cook them in a skillet with oil. Most people like onions and green pepper that give the potatoes enhanced flavor. Add salt and pepper to taste.

The hash browns in the little paper bag you get at McDonald's is nothing like fried potatoes or home fries. McDonald's hash browns are made with shredded potatoes without the ingredients in fried potatoes or home fries.

French Fries

French fries are usually served as a hot side dish or snack. They can be eaten by themselves or with hamburgers, cheeseburger, and other sandwiches. They are usually not served as a main dish, even though they could be for die-hard French fries lovers.

French fries are so popular that they are on the menus of most fast-food restaurants, diners, and pubs. They can be eaten plain or with ketchup, barbecue sauce, vinegar, mayonnaise, cheese, gravy, or chili.

Despite its name, French fries are not French. French was the official language in Belgium in the 1600s where American soldiers were stationed during World War I. The soldiers began calling the dish French fries, and the name stuck.

Variations include curly fries, shoestring fries, steak fries, chili cheese fries, crinkle fries, and poutine. Individuals in American eat about 30 pounds of French fries a year.

Tater Tots

Tater tots are made from grated and deep-fried potatoes. They are often served as a side dish or a snack. They are recognized by their shape and crispiness.

Tater tots came about by accident in 1953 when F. Nephi Grigg and Golden Grigg wanted to use leftover slivers of cut-up potatoes. They added flour and seasoning. When tater tots were first introduced into stores in 1956, consumers did not buy the inexpensive product because they did not see the value in them. After the price was raised, people began buying them. According to statistics, Americans consume approximately 70,000,000 pounds of tater tots, or 3,710,000,000 individual tots every year.

Potato Chips

Potato chips are thin slices of potatoes that have been deep-fried or baked. They are mostly served as a snack, but they can be eaten as a side dish or appetizer. The basic chips are cooked with salt added. In recent years, additional varieties have become available to help consumers satisfy their savory taste.

Today, potato chips come in a variety of flavors such as kettle chips, sour cream and onion, sour cream and cheddar, salt and vinegar, ranch, jalapeno, cheese, and barbecue. The average American eats over four pounds of potato chips each year.