As of: February 5, 2024, 9:12 a.m
By: Sandra Keck
Potatoes are an integral part of kitchens around the world.
But one question is causing heated debates: it's about peeling - or not.
Whether crispy fries, golden potato pancakes or grandma's potato dressing: potatoes are a staple food that is used in numerous dishes.
They are versatile and can be cooked, fried, baked, fried and a few other methods.
But what is the best way to cook potatoes?
With or without a shell?
Both have advantages and disadvantages.
Simply Tasty takes a closer look and gives tips on when it's worth using the peeler - and when you can save yourself the annoying peeling.
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You can save yourself the hassle of peeling here: potatoes with their skins on
If you cook potatoes with their skins on, you can not only use them to make jacket potatoes, but also fried potatoes and potato salad.
© Panthermedia/IMAGO
Potatoes with skins contain more nutrients than peeled potatoes.
The shell contains, among other things, important minerals such as potassium, magnesium and iron.
The peel also contains fiber, which is important for healthy digestion.
In addition, boiled potatoes with their skins on have a more intense flavor than peeled potatoes.
The peel gives the potatoes a certain bite and a nutty taste.
Last but not least: many people find peeling cooked potatoes easier than raw tubers.
Advantages of cooking with peel at a glance:
The peel of young potatoes is easily edible
Preservation of nutrients
Better consistency (potato is protected from decay)
Flavor intensity
Shell is easier to peel
Possible challenges when preparing potatoes with skin
Potatoes with skin on may contain solanine.
Solanine is a toxin found in the evening primrose family, which includes potatoes.
Solanine forms in potatoes when they are stored for too long or when they have green spots.
Green spots appear when potatoes receive too much light.
Germs in potatoes are also a sign of increased solanine content.
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Disadvantages of boiled potatoes with peel at a glance:
Toxin solanine
Dirt and pesticides on potato peelings
Aesthetic reasons
It's better to leave the skin on the potatoes for these delicious dishes:
Jacket potatoes: The simplest form of preparing potatoes is popular with young and old and is a hit, especially with butter and salt or herb quark.
Roast Potatoes: For rustic roast potatoes, the potatoes are often cooked with their skins on as this adds to the authentic flavor and texture.
Baked Potatoes: When making baked potatoes, you can leave the skin on to create a crispy texture and enrich the potato with additional flavors.
Potato Salad: Many potato salad recipes recommend cooking the potatoes with their skins on, as this improves the texture and intensifies the flavor.
With these advantages, you'll be happy to use a potato peeler
Peeling potatoes is often perceived as laborious.
But it also offers advantages.
© Panthermedia/IMAGO
Potatoes that are cooked without their skins can lose their flavor, but at the same time absorb salt, spices and other flavors from the cooking water.
In addition, the cooking time can be reduced and further processing into mashed potatoes, for example, is seamlessly possible.
The most important advantages of peeled potatoes at a glance:
Faster preparation and further processing
Better optics
Ingestion of spices
Cooking peeled potatoes also has disadvantages
First things first: many people find peeling potatoes to be laborious and annoying.
In addition, peeled potatoes contain fewer nutrients than potatoes with their skins on.
Some of the minerals and fiber are lost when peeling.
In addition, peeled potatoes have a milder taste than boiled potatoes with their skins on.
The peel gives the potatoes a more intense taste.
In summary, the disadvantages of peeled potatoes:
Time-consuming peeling
Loss of nutrients
Danger of decay
Despite the disadvantages, these dishes are the perfect examples of how to cook potatoes without peel:
Boiled potatoes: The perfect side dish for mustard parties etc.
Mashed Potatoes: For particularly creamy mashed potatoes, the potatoes are usually peeled to achieve a smooth texture.
Potato gratin: Peeled and sliced potatoes are ideal for making potato gratin because they cook evenly and have a soft consistency.
Potato Soup: In many potato soup recipes, the potatoes are peeled before cooking to achieve a fine and even consistency.
Should you cook potatoes with or without the peel?
Whether you should cook potatoes with or without the peel depends on personal preferences, the dish you choose and your individual dietary needs.
Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages that need to be weighed up.
Ultimately, depending on the recipe and the desired result, you can decide which variant is best.
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The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.