Do You Have to Peel Potatoes? When to Peel & When Not To

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A guide to leaving the skin on potatoes versus removing it
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To peel or not to peel? This might be the first question you ask when preparing a potato dish. Ultimately, your decision comes down to your personal preferences. Potato skins have a lot of nutritional benefits and add a rustic, crunchy texture to dishes while peeled potatoes are great for creamy and smooth recipes. Regardless if you peel your potatoes or not, always scrub them with water and remove scabs, bruises, and green spots. Keep reading to learn useful tips for determining when to peel potatoes and when to keep the skins on.

Things You Should Know

  • Potato peels contain lots of nutrients like fiber, so keep the peels on to reap their benefits.
  • Keep the peels on waxy or new potatoes, as their skin is thinner. Or, leave on the peel to add texture and heartiness to boiled, roasted, and mashed potatoes.
  • Peel potato skins on floury potatoes with thick skins like Russet potatoes. Or, remove the skin if you want super creamy mashed potatoes and soups.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

When to Leave the Skins On Potatoes

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  1. Potato peels are full of fiber, which helps boost your digestive health. So, leave the peels on regardless of the type of potato you’re eating and the dish you’re making to add extra fiber content into your diet. [1]
    • Potato peels also contain a good source of iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin B, and vitamin C. [2]
    • If you can’t stomach the texture of potato peels, don’t worry! The flesh of the potato is full of beneficial vitamins like vitamin C and potassium.
    • Note : Wash your potatoes under lukewarm water and scrub the skin with a vegetable brush , regardless if you’re removing the peel or not. This gets rid of dirt, bacteria, and pesticide residue. Then, cut off any scabs, sprouts, green spots, or bruises. [3]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Decide Whether or Not to Peel Potatoes
    Waxy potatoes, such as yellow or red potatoes, have thinner peels and more flavorful flesh. Small new potatoes, which are the first of the season, are flavorful and usually too small to peel easily. Keep the peels on these spuds since they don’t typically get in the way of the texture or flavor of your dish. [4]
    • New potatoes are great when prepared simply. Roast the tiny potatoes or steam them to preserve their delicious flavor.
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  3. 3
    Keep on the peels for crispy baked, roasted, and pan-fried potatoes. If you want your potatoes to have a satisfying crunch when you roast them or make baked potatoes , coat the outside with olive oil and a pinch of salt and set them in a hot oven. [5] Or, pan-fry your spuds in a pan of hot vegetable or sunflower oil. [6]
  4. Thick soup, creamy chowders, and chunky stews typically have a heartier texture if you leave the peels on the potatoes. To make the dishes easier to eat, keep the potatoes about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in size or smaller. [7]
    • When making creamy soups , opt for starchy potatoes that break apart easily, like Russet, Yukon Gold, and yellow potatoes.
    • For thick stews and chowders, go for potatoes that hold their shape better, like red, purple, and fingerling spuds. [8]
    • If you use potatoes with thicker peels, like Russets, cut them into even smaller pieces so you don't get large bites of skin.
  5. Whether you're making scalloped potatoes , roasting potatoes, whipping up mashed potatoes , or frying up french fries , cook them with the peels on. You'll find that they're heartier than if you peel the potatoes. The peels also give the sides a more rustic appearance. [9]
    • When leaving the peels on, it’s especially important to cook the potatoes thoroughly so the peels are tender.

    Tip: If you're making baked potatoes, leave the peel on to get the best texture.

  6. If you're in a time crunch, peeling your potatoes is an extra step that can add to your cooking time. If you and your guests don’t mind the texture of peels, use any potato to make your dish. Or, choose a waxy or new potato with thin skins that are less noticeable. [10]
    • As always, make sure you clean your potatoes and trim away blemishes with a small paring knife before you cook them.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

When to Peel Potatoes

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Decide Whether or Not to Peel Potatoes
    Potatoes can start to turn green if they’re exposed to light for a long time. This indicates that the potato is producing solanine, which can be toxic and make the potato taste bitter. Simply peel the potato or cut off any small spots of green before cooking your spuds. [11]
    • Warning : Do not serve green potatoes to children, even if you cut off the green spots. Children are more susceptible to the toxin.
    • If the potato is covered in green spots, throw it out.
    • To prevent green spots from forming, store your potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place that gets good air circulation.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Decide Whether or Not to Peel Potatoes
    Floury or starchy potatoes like Russet and white potatoes tend to have a thicker peel. If these spuds have a chewy or firm texture that’s too much for you, simply peel off the skin whether you’re boiling, roasting, mashing them, or adding them to soup. [12]

    Tip: Instead of throwing your potato skins out, make crispy, chip-like potato skins! Toss the skins in olive oil and salt and set them in your oven or air fryer for 10 minutes at 400º F (204º C). [13]

  3. To make the smoothest mashed potatoes, peel the spuds before you purée them. Or, if you want roasted potatoes to melt in your mouth, remove the peels. [14]
    • If you're making potato salad or another cold potato dish, remove the peels so they don't separate when you boil them.

    Tip: Peeled potato dishes tend to have a more refined and sleek appearance. If you’re trying to impress a crowd, remove the skins.

  4. If you’re after smooth, velvety stews and chowders with an even consistency, peel your potatoes. Removing the skins also ensures you get the silkiest consistency when you make a vichyssoise or bisque. [15]
    • If you don’t like the texture of potatoes in soup even when the peels are off, purée them. This gets rid of any chunky pieces of potato.
  5. Rinsing and scrubbing potatoes under cool water is an effective way to get rid of most dirt, germs, and pesticides on your spuds. [16] If you're concerned about ingesting any leftover residue that’s not washed off, peel the potatoes before you cook them. [17]
    • Alternatively, grow your own potatoes to limit pesticide use. Or, only shop for organically grown spuds.
    • Note : Always wash your potatoes, even if you’re going to peel them. This prevents bacteria or pesticides from entering the potato.
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  • Question
    Should you peel potatoes before you boil them?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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    You can, but boiled potatoes are usually more flavorful and nutritious if you leave the peels on. It’s best to use potatoes with a waxy peel, such as Yukon Gold, fingerling, or red skin potatoes.
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    Do you need to peel Yukon Gold potatoes?
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    No, Yukon Golds have a smooth, tasty peel that is easy to clean. There’s no need to peel them unless you just prefer the taste and texture of the potatoes without peels.
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    What is the easiest way to peel potatoes?
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    Boil the potatoes for 15-30 minutes, or until they’re tender. When they’re done, use tongs to quickly transfer them into an ice bath. Let them sit for 3 minutes, then remove them from the ice bath. You’ll be able to slide the skins right off with your fingers.
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      Tips

      • Regardless of whether or not you peel the potatoes, always scrub the potatoes well with water to remove dirt, germs, and pesticide residue. [18]
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      • There are no rules when it comes to whether or not you should peel potatoes. If you prefer keeping the skins on, don’t peel them. If you prefer the texture of potatoes without the skin, peel them!
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      • If you're making a potato dish for friends or family, consider how they like the potatoes. For example, if most people prefer rustic potato salad, leave the peel on.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Using a food processor to make mashed potatoes instead of mashing by hand helps blend any left-on peels evenly into the dish.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/potato-health-benefits-and-why-you-should-eat-more-spuds/2022/05
      2. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3064541/
      3. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-produce-safely
      4. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/new-potatoes
      5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-bake-a-potato-in-the-oven-165615
      6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/fried-potatoes-recipe-23085178
      7. ↑ https://eatathomecooks.com/rustic-irish-potato-and-cabbage-soup-for-the-slow-cooker-or-stove-top/
      8. ↑ https://urbanfarmie.com/best-potato-for-soups-and-stews/
      9. ↑ https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/home-fries
      1. ↑ https://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/to-peel-or-not-to-peel/
      2. ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/is_it_safe_to_eat_a_green_potato
      3. ↑ https://livenaturallymagazine.com/lifestyle/nutrition/types-tubers-guide-potato-types/
      4. ↑ https://www.marcellinaincucina.com/parmesan-crisps-2/
      5. ↑ https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/mashed-potatoes/
      6. ↑ https://bossthekitchen.com/is-peeling-potatoes-necessary/
      7. ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/faq/fruitwash.html
      8. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691500001770?via=ihub
      9. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-produce-safely

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Deciding whether to peel potatoes is just a matter of personal preference. Yellow and red potatoes usually have thinner peels, which taste fine if left on. However, russets and white potatoes have thicker peels, which usually taste better when peeled. If your potatoes have scabs or are turning green, the skins can be toxic and it's important to peel them. It’s best to peel potatoes for dishes like mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, or potato salad since they should have a smoother texture. On the other hand, potato peels contain iron, fiber, vitamin B, and vitamin C, so leave the peels on if you want a nutrient boost in your dish. Just make sure to scrub the potatoes before using them to remove any dirt or bacteria. To learn how to remove blemishes from your potatoes without peeling them, read on!

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