It is considered a staple food and scores with its versatility - we show what the potato has to offer in terms of calories and nutritional values.
Originally from South America, the potato has enjoyed popularity since its introduction to Europe greatest popularity, which is certainly due in part to their different uses based. In 1950, potato consumption was a whopping 186 kg per capita. In 2016, the value was still an impressive 57 kg. To this day, the potato is simply indispensable - whether boiled, served as fried or baked potatoes or as a delicious potato salad. How we prepare the nightshade also has a major impact on the caloric and nutritional value of the tuber. You can find out everything you need to know about potatoes and their nutritional values here.
potatoes and calories
Because of their high carbohydrate content, potatoes are often mistakenly referred to as fattening foods. In the cooked version, the tuber itself only has a calorie content of 71 kcal per 100 grams and is thus still well below the value of rice, which in cooked form has about 100 kcal per 100 grams having. With a water content of 77%, the vegetable, also known as the potato, is also particularly low in fat.
It probably got its unjustified reputation as a fattening food because of the high-fat preparation options it offers in the form of French fries or chips, for example. Because the calorie content of fried potatoes compared to the normally cooked version varies enormously. While the cooked variant only has a calorie content of 71 kcal per 100 grams, the The calorie content of the mostly greasy and deep-fried fries is four times that of the jacket potato, at 291 kcal per 100 gram. Mashed potatoes made with milk are even healthier. With a calorie content of 88 kcal per 100 grams, they do not deviate much from the value of their cooked counterparts.
Potatoes and Nutritional Values
On the one hand, the potato is particularly rich in starch, which is why it is only edible for us humans when cooked. Unfortunately, the loss of valuable vitamins and minerals when preparing the tuber cannot be prevented. For this reason, potatoes should only be cooked with their skins whole so that as many ingredients as possible are preserved.
The green spots and buds on the potato should definitely be removed, as they contain solanine, which is toxic to us. In addition to filling carbohydrates, the potato also provides various vitamins such as vitamin C, B1, B2, B5 and B6, the concentrations of which in the potato depend greatly on the method of preparation depend. They also contain essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.
With almost 5000 varieties, the potato variety really powerful. However, the different varieties also differ in the concentrations of certain nutrients.
Of course, the potato is such a staple because it is so nutritious and healthy. How to grow potatoes in your own garden, you can here read.