Potato: Healthy Balance

Potatoes can be eaten by anyone of any age! Potatoes are a popular vegetable, often wrongly blamed for being fattening. In fact they are low in fat, filling and full of vitamin C and other antioxidant nutrients. 

Usually fat-free, an average jacket potato, eaten with the skin, contains 260 calories, 50g carbohydrate, and almost one quarter of daily fibre, vitamin C, folate and potassium, as well as over half your vitamin B6 daily needs. 

The fibre in potato skins is important. Fibre improves digestive health, and helps prevent the build up of harmful toxins. Fibre may also reduce risk of heart disease and some cancers, and can promote a feeling of fullness, so helping to reduce snacking between meals. 

As well as providing many essential trace elements, the potato also contains a variety of phytochemicals (beneficial plant compounds) known to act as protective antioxidants in the body. These include:

• Flavonoids
• Vitamin C
• Carotenoids

Which variety of potato should I use? 

As a general rule, we recommend that you use potatoes recommended for chipping in your ActiFry. In many supermarkets there is information on the packaging telling you which varieties are suitable for making chips.

At the beginning of the main crop season or when potatoes have been freshly harvested they may have a higher water content, so we advise you cook the chips for a few more minutes.

Remember that using different potato varieties does result in a different taste, texture and flavour. 

ActiFry also allows you to prepare frozen chips. As these are pre-cooked in oil during processing, it is not necessary to add any more oil. 

Where should I store potatoes? 

The best place to store potatoes is in a dark, cool airy cupboard (between 6 and 8°C), away from the light. 

How should I prepare potatoes for Actifry? 

To obtain the best results, you must ensure that the chips do not stick together. With this in mind, wash the whole potatoes and then cut them into chips using a sharp knife or chip cutter. The chips should be of equal size so that they all cook at the same time.

Wash the chipped potatoes in plenty of cold water until it runs clear in order to remove as much of the starch as possible.

Dry the chips thoroughly using a highly absorbent clean tea towel. The chips must be perfectly dry before putting them in the Actifry otherwise they will not turn crispy. To check they are dry enough pat them with paper kitchen towel just before cooking. If there is any wetness on the paper dry them again.

Remember the cooking time of the chips will vary according to the weight of chips and the batch of potatoes used. 

How should I cut the potatoes?

The size of a chip influences how crunchy or soft it is. The thinner your chips, the more crunchy they will be and conversely, thicker chips will be softer inside.

You can cut your chips to the following thickness according to your taste:

American style: 8 x 8mm
Thin: 10 x 10mm
Standard: 13 x 13mm