Potatoes Are Not a Vegetable…April Fools!

The Truth About Potatoes: Yes, Potatoes Are Vegetables!

Surprise! Despite common misconceptions, potatoes are most definitely vegetables. Let’s take a look at a few common questions about potatoes, as well as some easy ways to include them in your meals!

Are Potatoes a Vegetable or a Carbohydrate?

Potatoes are a vegetable that contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are a big group of nutrients that provide energy to your body, and there are three main types of carbs: sugar, starch, and fiber. Over the years, potatoes have gained an unfair reputation as a low-quality source of carbs, but nutrition research shows otherwise.  Potatoes actually rank more similarly to legumes, with a higher carbohydrate quality than whole grains.

Are Potatoes a Vegetable or a Starch?

Similar to carbohydrates, potatoes are a vegetable that contain starch. Starches are a form of carbohydrates, and can also be found other veggies like parsnips, chickpeas, butternut squash, peas, lentils, and beans. Starch is broken down into sugar in the body, which helps to give you energy.

Potatoes also have a kind of starch called resistant starch, which can be beneficial for blood sugar and gut health. When potatoes have been cooked and cooled, like in this delicious Lemon & Herb Potato Salad, the amount of resistant starch actually increases. We wrote a whole article about it if you’re interested in more of the specific health benefits and recipes!

Are Potatoes Healthy?

Potatoes are a nutrient-dense vegetable. They are good source of potassium, sodium-free, and have shown to be beneficial to incorporate into diets if you’re trying to manage things like hypertension. Potatoes also have better nutritional value per dollar than many other raw vegetables, and alongside beans are one of the least expensive sources both potassium and fiber.  If you’re curious about more health-related benefits, you can read Health Benefits of Little Potatoes for a more thorough break down!

How Long Have Potatoes Been Eaten?

Potatoes have actually been eaten by humans for thousands of years! As far back as 400 BCE, archaeological evidence shows that potatoes were grown and cultivated by the Incas in Peru. Potatoes were such an important vegetable that they weren’t just a source of food but a measurement of time determined by how long it took for a potato to cook.

You can find more about the fun and sometimes silly history of potatoes, like how they weren’t embraced by Europeans until Frederick the Great planted a royal field in order to enhance their popularity, in our Origin of Potatoes article.

What Are Some Easy Ways to Make Potatoes?

Potatoes, especially Little Potatoes, can actually be cooked in five minutes or less. Our Recipe Center has a free downloadable ‘cheat sheet’ for you to save that includes the easiest ways to microwave, roast, grill, boil, or air fry so you never have to Google “how long to boil potatoes” ever again.

Some other recipes that are an easy way to add potatoes in are: Classic Beef Stew (which is especially good with Little Reds™!), in salads like this Green Bean, Tarragon, and Little Potato Salad, or in bowls like this Hot Honey Potato Breakfast Bowl or a Meal Prep Shawarma Bowl.

We hope this helps to answer some of the most pressing potato questions, as well as give you some great resources to learn more about this wonderful vegetable!

References:

https://apre.org/potatoes-and-public-health/nutrition-facts/