On the days when we find our fridge empty; it leaves us confused about what to cook? That's when potatoes come up as our saviour! It's one of the most popular vegetables on the planet, and it's versatile enough to help you whip up a variety of recipes in no time. The best part is that the root vegetable's bland flavour allows us to add any flavour and cook it according to our liking. From making crispy fries to using it in Indo-Chinese flavours or making extravagant potato gravies- we can do a lot with a single potato. But the one thing which holds us back to indulge in potatoes every day is their high starch content.
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We have often heard that excess starch can be bad for our health. But how exactly, you ask? As per certain studies, excess starch can increase our weight, increase blood pressure and can also increase the risk of heart diseases. In potatoes, the starch content can be highly variable. Generally, fresh potatoes contain 20% dry matter, of which 60-80% is starch, according to a study published in Nutrients Journal.
So, if you also want to get rid of the excess starch in the potatoes and enjoy a hearty dish, then here we bring you some hacks that you must try. Read them below:
3 Hacks To Remove Excess Starch From Potatoes:
1. Rinse and soak in cold water
Much of the surface starch can be washed away with a quick rinse in cold water. All you need to do is cut your potatoes and rinse them under cold water. For better results, soak the potatoes in a bowl of cold water for a few hours. At the bottom of the bowl, you'll notice cloudiness and starch. Replace the water as needed, rinsing between changes to remove any starch sediment that may have settled on the potatoes.
2. Blanch in hot water
Blanching potatoes in hot water helps to remove even more starch. They only need to be cooked for a few minutes until tender. The tiny starch granules absorb the hot water and swell and burst, transferring the starch from the potato to the boiling water. Bring a pot of water to a boil first, and then drop the peeled potatoes in.
3. Soak in salt and blanch
Soak it in salted water after peeling and cutting it into equal lengths. After 30 minutes, drain and replace the water. Then, in freshwater, boil it for 15 minutes. Remove that water and replace it, then boil again. This process helps blanch the potato and extract a lot of the starch.
Try these hacks today and remove that excess starch from your potatoes!