More than a billion people worldwide eat potato, and global total crop production exceeds 300 million metric tons. There are more than 4,000 varieties of native potatoes, mostly found in the Andes. They come in many sizes and shapes. There are also over 180 wild potato species.
How many potatoes is there?
There are more than 200 varieties of potatoes sold throughout the United States. Each of these varieties fit into one of seven potato type categories: russet, red, white, yellow, blue/purple, fingerling, and petite.
Where do potatoes grow naturally?
The potato is native to the Peruvian-Bolivian Andes. It was cultivated in South America by the Incas as early as 1,800 years ago. The Spaniards who colonized South America introduced potatoes into Europe during the second half of the 16th century.
Are potatoes natural?
The potato is a starchy tuber of the plant Solanum tuberosum and is a root vegetable and a fruit native to the Americas. The plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Potato cultivars appear in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.
Why are potatoes important?
Potatoes are a valuable source of nutrition in many developing countries, contributing carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals to the diet of millions. Research is underway to increase the vitamin content of modern potato varieties, using biotechnology to boost the micronutrient level in the tubers.
Where is the first potato found?
Peruvian Andes
The earliest recorded trace of the spud was found in the Peruvian Andes at around 6000BC. Research implies that communities of hunters initially came to the South American continent 7000 years before harvesting wild potato plants. The plants sprouted around Lake Titicaca situated high up in the mountains.
What is a white potato called?
White potatoes are medium-starch potatoes, also known as all-purpose potatoes. As medium starch potatoes, white potatoes also have moderate moisture content, and while they can be used to make fluffy, starchy potato dishes, like mashed potatoes, they hold their shape better than russet potatoes do.
Can dog eat potatoes?
White potatoes belong to the nightshade family of vegetables, which includes tomatoes; like tomatoes, raw potatoes contain solanine, a compound that is toxic to some dogs. However, cooking a potato reduces the levels of solanine. If you do feed your dog a potato, it should be baked or boiled, with nothing added to it.
Is there a potato Emoji?
Potato was approved as part of Unicode 9.0 in 2016 and added to Emoji 3.0 in 2016.
Is a potato a fruit?
More specifically, potatoes are tubers, a type of root vegetable. They aren’t the roots of the potato plant themselves, but rather they grow off of those roots. Potatoes are certainly edible, and they’re almost exclusively used in savory dishes, with or without a protein. Potatoes are not fruit, however.
Is potato healthier than rice?
Overall, potatoes contain more vitamins and nutrients than rice, but when you add toppings such as butter, sour cream, gravy, bacon bits and salt, the number of calories and fat grams in a baked potato increases significantly.
Who invented potato?
The humble potato was domesticated in the South American Andes some 8,000 years ago and was only brought to Europe in the mid-1500s, from where it spread west and northwards, back to the Americas, and beyond.
What is the sweetest potato?
Satsuma-Imo (AKA Japanese Sweet Potatoes)
Their dry, russet potato-like flesh is incredibly sweet and more starchy than other sweet potatoes. They taste amazing simply roasted or sauteed.
Can I eat potatoes every day?
Eating one medium-size potato a day can be part of a healthy diet and doesn’t increase cardiometabolic risk — the chances of having diabetes, heart disease or stroke — as long as the potato is steamed or baked, and prepared without adding too much salt or saturated fat, a study by nutritionists at The Pennsylvania
What did Europe eat before potatoes?
Cereals remained the most important staple during the Early Middle Ages as rice was introduced late, and the potato was only introduced in 1536, with a much later date for widespread consumption. Barley, oats, and rye were eaten by the poor.
Is it safe to eat potato skins?
Yes. Eat the skin to capture all the russet potatoes nutrition. The potato skin has more nutrients than the interior of the potato. It has lots of fiber, about half of a medium potato’s fiber is from the skin.
Why were potatoes illegal in France?
However, French people did not trust the new food, which was used mainly for feeding pigs, and in 1748 growing potatoes was banned by parliament as they were thought to spread disease, especially leprosy.
Is potato a vegetable?
“Potatoes are put in the starchy vegetable category, due to the amount of carbohydrates they contain,” says Dunn. “But they are a type of vegetable and they contain plenty of vitamins and minerals.”
How do potatoes save the world?
The introduction of the potato to Europe in the 16th century changed agriculture, allowing farmers to grow more crops on less land. In turn, this allowed communities to feed themselves on smaller amounts of land. As a result the price of land dropped.
Which potato is best?
Starchy potatoes get soft and fluffy, so they’re the best potatoes for mashed potatoes, soups, and casseroles. They include common types of potatoes such as Idaho Russets and sweet potatoes. All-purpose potatoes are the happy medium—not too starchy, not too waxy, so they’re a great potato staple.
What are pink potatoes called?
Red Thumb Potatoes
The Red Thumb potato is a fingerling potato with red skin and creamy pink flesh. Fingerlings, just as the name implies, have a finger-like shape that’s long and tubular.