The Russet Potatoes
Russet Potatoes are the most common type of potatoes. Other popular types of potatoes are the red potatoes and the Yukon gold potatoes. There are more than 200 potato species, and they are frequently used to feed animals on farms. Still, they are so tasty and nutritious that they eventually became a part of the human diet.
The vegetable was taken from America to Europe by the Spanish conquerors. Once in Europe, the potato became one of the favorite vegetables in most households. The tubers originated from South America and quickly became one of the most popular crops around the world.
Russet potatoes, the most popular type of potato, originate in the United States. The complete name of this potato is the Russet Burbank potato. Some people refer to them as Idaho potatoes. That name was given because it was developed by Luther Burbank in Massachusetts, United States. He later sold the rights of the potato. Sometime later, a new variety of the potato appeared. Still, with russeted skin, it was finally named Russet Burbank potato. The popularity of the potato spread immediately through the United States after that.
The Russet potato is relatively large, oval with light brown skin and white flesh.
Good potatoes must have a couple of shallow eyes, be quite firm, and preferably have no sprouts. You must refrain from picking wrinkled, soft potatoes that have green areas or are sprouting.
The Russet type has many nutrients that are essential for the human body. They have a high content of carbohydrates, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and 4 grams of fiber. Since the potato has a fair amount of carbohydrates, it also has a good amount of natural sugar. One of the most attractive characteristics of this potato is the low amount of sodium, cholesterol, and fat it possesses. They are also very low in calories (approximately an average of 120 calories per potato), making them an excellent choice for any meal.
There are certain things you must know when storing the potatoes.
The first thing to remember is to never wash them before storing them, or they will rot very fast. Second, they must be stored in a dry area at a cool temperature away from sunlight to prevent sprouting and green coloring.
The green color is produced when the potato is exposed to sunlight which is directly related to the amount of solanine. Solanine is a toxic compound that can be deadly if eaten in considerable amounts. Therefore, never store your potatoes in the refrigerator, or the starch will turn into sugar.
These potatoes are very economical, and you can make delicious healthy dishes with them. You can combine them with any meat, cheese, or butter or if you prefer the natural approach, use broccoli as a topping.