topic Re: Bad potatoes in Community Chat

Bad potatoes

madzonie — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 06:38:50 GMT

Is it just in my area (southeastern AZ), or are bagged potatoes really messed up these days? I mean the regular old russets...not reds or golds, or speciality potatoes.

It seems every bag we buy is full of potatoes that have bruises, bad spots, big gashes, soft spots, etc? I spend a lot of time cleaning them up before cooking, and have a fair amount of waste. I seem to recall years ago a bag of potatoes might have one or two with bad spots. These days almost every one has a blemish.

I know I could buy individual potatoes by the pound,and pick out the "good" ones. But I just like picking up a 10 lb bag now and then for general purposes.

These potatoes are either from ID or WA, & I just don't get it how so many get past quality control before going into the bags.

Re: Bad potatoes

Beth-QVC — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 07:56:50 GMT

This thread has been removed by QVC because it is argumentative

Re: Bad potatoes

Plaid Pants2 — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 08:13:04 GMT

I love a nice, big baked potato for dinner, where the skin is nice and crispy, and the inside is all hot and fluffy.

Add some real butter and sour cream, and yummers!

That one potato is the whole meal for me.

Re: Bad potatoes

Pook — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 09:06:28 GMT

What I noticed is that potatoes go bad faster after buying than thet used to.

Re: Bad potatoes

CelticCrafter — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 09:47:10 GMT

No it isn't just you @madzonie.

I only buy russets and more times than not I end up throwing half the bag away before I can use them all.

Sometimes I wonder if I should go through the bag and just throw half them away when I buy them and I only buy a 5 pound bag.

Re: Bad potatoes

qualityshopper — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 09:48:49 GMT

Madzonie, I was just wondering about this myself tonight. Decided to make a big pot of potato soup and used all of the potatoes we had left out of our bag of russets. Don't know how many bad spots I had to cut out and throw away. Like you, I don't remember seeing that many in previous years. Never notice this problem in our gold potatoes.

Re: Bad potatoes

Nataliesgramma — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 10:52:02 GMT

Yes... I have noticed this too. I tried a different Grocery store and brand....and they were the same...

Re: Bad potatoes

rustee — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:01:40 GMT

I have switched to sweet potatoes.

Re: Bad potatoes

Bri21 — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:01:42 GMT

I make sweet potatoes more than regular white potatoes. I haven't noticed the white potatoes going bad more quickly

My issue is with bananas. They go from green to black almost overnight

Re: Bad potatoes

Desertdi — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:02:22 GMT

Hmmm.......I'm in PHX, and only buy one big spud at a time........but I have to pick thru the pile in the grocery store for about 5 minutes to find a "good" one................

Re: Bad potatoes

VaBelle35 — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:05:08 GMT

I don't buy anything in a bag or pre-wrapped anymore for just that reason.

We have an organic grocery chain in my area and they don't wrap anything, so I can buy just what I need instead of having to buy 3 or a whole bag. Then I can look them over closely and make sure they aren't decomposing.

Re: Bad potatoes

VaBelle35 — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:07:52 GMT

re bananas

My ideal banana is half green, but once they start getting black spots, I'm out.

My house is always warm, so I keep my bananas in the basement where it's dark and cool and I can get through the week without them getting black spots.

Re: Bad potatoes

Bri21 — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:14:35 GMT

@VaBelle35, I don't eat bananas with any black spots on them either. I like the very top to have a little green on them.

Re: Bad potatoes

phoenixbrd — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 12:18:31 GMT

Where is Sids....she will set the record straight on the potatoes.

Re: Bad potatoes

SilleeMee — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 12:55:08 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
Where is Sids....she will set the record straight on the potatoes.

@phoenixbrd, I was just going to say the same! @sidsmom will have a field day with this one.

Re: Bad potatoes

SahmIam — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 12:56:26 GMT

Yep, same thing here with potatoes being bleh... and not only in a bag but when purchased individually. I return them. Yep, I do. I'm not paying good money for cr*p produce. At this time, when we eat them (rarely), it's red skin potatoes.

I've found the same issue with apples (mushy on the inside though no bruises on the inside), onions (brown mush on the inside and doesn't matter if bagged or purchased individually) and garlic (spoiled on the inside via mush/mold). Doesn't matter where I go... I'm finding Costco to be one of the worst places now for produce. But Whole Foods has sold rotten produce as well as the big chains.

SOMETHING is going on with our produce, that's for sure. I'm putting in a Victory Garden on my deck this spring (can't have them on the ground as per the HOA). We'll see if that produces some good stuff.

Re: Bad potatoes

Poodlepet2 — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 13:30:17 GMT

I am not a fan of spuds, but they're my DH's life blood! I think that was the only vegetable he ate until he met me.

He always buys big bags-which I consider a waste because half of them are bad. This has been happening for a couple of years now-no matter where they come from.

About 2 years ago, I decided to try to grow them and it couldn't have been easier-and I had a ball watching them grow! They produce beautiful fragrant blooms. The best part? They are resilient and you would have to try real hard to kill them!

I bought these "grow" bags made for root vegetables and tubers, but you don't have to. You can grow them in garbage cans: just drill some holes for drainage. Make sure you buy seed potatoes....and away you go. It doesn't really matter very much when it comes to Sun: they grow anywhere. Careless about watering? No problem: they are low maintenance and use very little water.

You can even grow them in a garage or basement. Have fun!

Poodlepet2

Re: Bad potatoes

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 13:35:39 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@phoenixbrd wrote:
Where is Sids....she will set the record straight on the potatoes.
@phoenixbrd, I was just going to say the same! @sidsmom will have a field day with this one.

So was I!

Re: Bad potatoes

Lovingq — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 14:08:32 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
Where is Sids....she will set the record straight on the potatoes.

She gets her information from Dr McDougall, the same man that mass produces processed food items that you will find on the shelves of Whole Foods and Sprouts that contain a whole lot of sodium. But getting back to the subject of potatoes, one has to find the right type of food that strengthens their immune system and potatoes simply don't work for me. Everything you eat affects the bacteria in your gut and if you want to avoid getting sick you need to find what works for you to build up your immune system.

Re: Bad potatoes

SANNA — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 14:58:27 GMT

Everything in moderation is good. Baked potato has a lot of potassium that is good for your heart. But potato is really high in glycemic and known to elevate and inflammatory process, like arthritis in people. I switched too to sweet potato. But whenever , not too often , eating out I eat regular potato. In fact, I will be in France in June and I will eat a lot of fried young potato, it will be in season. Yummm