Potatoes are always welcome at the dinner table, but washing, peeling, and slicing them whenever you want to cook them can be a laborious process. To save time in the kitchen, make all preparations ahead of time, then place the peeled potatoes in a bowl filled with water. Add a liquid that has mild acidic properties, such as lemon juice or vinegar, to keep them from turning black. Once peeled, potatoes should be kept fresh for 1-2 hours at room temperature or for about 24 hours in the refrigerator.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Storing Potatoes in Water
Step 1. Peel the potatoes and wash them with cold water
Once you have removed the peel, rinse them under running cold water. Stack some paper towels. As soon as the water starts to run clean, turn off the tap, place the potatoes on napkins and pat them gently to dry.
- If you need to prepare large quantities, peel all the potatoes, then place them in a colander and rinse them together.
- When a potato is peeled, the liquid starch inside it is exposed to the air and begins to rapidly change the color of the pulp, generating the formation of dark pink or brown shades. Doing a quick rinse removes excess starch, slowing down this process.
Step 2. If desired, cut the potatoes
At this point you will have the option to cut the potatoes into cubes, slices or any other shape required by the recipe you have chosen. This operation can substantially reduce preparation and cooking times; otherwise it is possible to leave them whole. However, the shelf life will be more or less the same.
- Use a sharp knife. Blunt-bladed knives damage potatoes by releasing more of the enzymes responsible for spoilage.
- To make a puree, cut the potatoes into cubes of about 3-4 cm. To make dishes like fried potatoes or au gratin, cut them into slices about 1.5 cm thick.
- The smaller the potatoes, the faster they will absorb water. It is for this reason that it is best to wait until the last minute to prepare dishes such as hash browns, fried potatoes or mixed vegetables.
Step 3. Fill a large bowl with cold water
Choose a container large enough to hold all the potatoes you have prepared. This way you won't have to keep multiple containers on the counter or in the fridge. Pour the water roughly to the center of the bowl, making sure you leave enough room for the potatoes you peeled.
- Avoid overfilling the bowl, or it may overflow when you soak the potatoes.
- If you have decided to make a puree, fill the cooking pot directly instead of using a bowl. When it comes time to make dinner, you can simply put the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil.
Step 4. Add lemon juice or vinegar
Choose an acidic ingredient, such as lemon juice or distilled white vinegar, and pour a few drops into the water. Stir until completely distributed. There are no exact doses, but it is generally recommended to measure around 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of lemon juice or vinegar for every 4 liters of water. For a 2-5 liter bowl, calculate roughly ½ tablespoons or 1 1/4 tablespoons.
The sour element will not affect the flavor of cooked potatoes
Step 5. Put the potatoes in the water bowl
Make sure the liquid allows you to completely cover the potatoes. Once immersed, they cannot be damaged by the action of the oxygen found in the surrounding environment.
During decomposition, potatoes give off gas. As a result, if they do float close to the surface of the water, they may not be as cool as you thought
Part 2 of 2: Keeping Potatoes Fresh
Step 1. Cover the bowl
Airtight containers with locking clamp ensure better results. If you don't have one available, cover the opening of the bowl with cling film or aluminum foil and press it on the edges to create an airtight environment. The contents of the container will thus be protected from the air, and you will also limit the chances of it accidentally spilling.
Before closing the container, remove as much air as possible inside it
Step 2. If you store potatoes at room temperature, use them within 1-2 hours
Are you going to cook them right away? It is not necessary to store them in the fridge. Just leave the bowl on the counter and take the potatoes out of the water when you need them. Being a limited time interval, they should not show particular discolouration alterations.
Storage at room temperature can be useful for those who prefer to prepare all the ingredients at once before proceeding with cooking
Step 3. Store the potatoes in the fridge for up to 24 hours
If you're not going to use them right away, you need to keep them cold. Place the bowl on one of the middle shelves of the refrigerator and leave it in it overnight. Be sure to drain the water the next day if you intend to bake or fry them.
Leaving potatoes in water for more than a day can cause them to soak in liquid, thereby altering their flavor or texture
Step 4. Change the water if necessary
In some cases it is the water used for the preservation of potatoes that undergoes alterations, rather than the potatoes themselves. If that happens, just drain it. Return the potatoes to the bowl and add clean water.
- If you leave them in the dirty water, the potatoes will soak in contact with the same enzymes that cause them to blacken under normal conditions.
- Most of the enzymes are excreted in the first few hours, so you shouldn't change the water more than once.
Advice
- Use a manual vegetable peeler to remove the last few bits of peel before soaking the potatoes in the water.
- Peel, cut and store the potatoes a day in advance to get you ahead with the preparations for an important meal.
- If you need to prepare a dish that requires a crunchy texture (such as potato pancakes or French fries), it is best to wait and cut the potatoes just before cooking.
- If you wash the peeled potatoes well and change the water every day, you may be able to keep them for up to 3 days.
