Potatoes all round (Potatoes)

Member Name: Hanash84

Product:	Potatoes
Date:	26/07/09 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Versatile, cheap, tasty

Disadvantages: None

I am fascinated by potatoes. They are such odd looking tubers, that grow in soil in the ground, yet put into the hands of a chef or so and they are transformed into an array of different types of yummy meals.

Potatoes have been around for centuries, and are a staple food in many countries cooking.

Potatoes can be grown in a variety of ways. In containers, in barrells, in allotments, a garden or fields. A key part in their growth is sunshine, fertile soil and water. Once you get the hang of it, it is a pretty simple process that is very beneficial.

Firstly to grow potatoes, you tend to start off with seed potatoes, which then need to be placed in a well dug trench, if planting in a field or garden. Then cover lightly with soil so the shoots are pointing upwards. Once the shoots keep reappearing through the soil, a further covering would be needed. If not planting in a field or garden, then the seed potato would need to be placed in the chosen container. The potatoes will then need time to harvest, which takes about 8 weeks from the time of plantation. Watering the crop is essential and you need to keep an eye on it.
However if your in England then rainfall is not lacking the majority of the time!

Once harvested, potatoes should be stored in a cool dry place.

Once grown, there are several ways you can cook your potatoes: Boiled, Microwaved, Roasted, Baked, Fried. These methods create a variety of different meals, you could have roast potatoes, baked potatoes, boiled potatoes, chips, potato wedges, potato skins, mashed potato, potato bakes, potato salad and so on. I find it odd how the taste is different dependant on the way you cook them.

They are such versatile items that can be used for pretty much any meal. They are of the carbohydrate variety though, so eaten in excess can cause problems.

The price of potatoes varies depending on where you purchase them from, but generally they are pretty cheap and great value. Typically a bag of standard potatoes costs around £1. They last for quite a while too, I always keep some in, great for a rainy day! They come in all sizes, baby potatoes, baking potatoes, waxy potatoes and so on.

A word of caution, avoid potatoes that have turned green or have green parts on them as these are very dangerous and could do a lot of severe harm to yourself.

Some of my favourtie ways to eat potatoes are:

Spanish style, Patatas Bravas. This is a really simple dish that tastes quite impactive.

Indian style, Bombay potatoes. Again pretty simple, yet such a variety of flavours.

English style, my favourite would probably be mashed potato. Its great when your poorly too, really hits the spot.

Overall it is a great tuber to have, probably the most versatile of the vegetables as it can adapt to whatever your tastes buds are! Enjoy!

Summary: A great product!