The Easiest Ways to Wash and Scrub Potatoes For Cooking

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Make sure your potatoes are safe for the dinner table before preparing them

Co-authored by Jennifer Levasseur

Last Updated: May 7, 2024 Approved

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All potatoes need to be cleaned, even if you plan on peeling them later on. Cleaning potatoes not only gets rid of potential chemicals and pesticides, but also dirt and bacteria. The most common way to clean potatoes is to use a vegetable scrubbing brush or another bristled brush. If you don't have one, however, you can still clean the potatoes another way.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Scrubbing Brush

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1
Start with clean hands. Be sure to wash your hands first using an antibacterial soap, and to rinse them well. You don't want to transfer any bacteria to your clean potatoes.
- Wash the potatoes just before you plan to cook and eat them. Do not wash the potatoes before storing them, as this could lead to early rot and spoilage. ^{[1]
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^{[2]
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Research source} All potatoes should be washed, including organic ones, and ones you plan on peeling. Organic potatoes may be free of chemicals and pesticides, but they will still be covered with dirt and bacteria. You also want to wash potatoes that you plan on peeling. If you don't wash them first, you might end up dragging some of the bacteria or dirt onto the flesh when you go to peel them.

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3
Dampen the vegetable scrubber or bristled brush. Try to avoid using the same scrubber you use for your dishes. It may contain some soap residue, which might get onto the potato.
- If you don't have a vegetable scrubbing brush, find a clean sponge with a scratchy, scrubby side, and use that instead.
4
Scrub the potato using a circular motion. Focus on any dirty areas as well as the eyes, where most of the dirt collects. ^{[3]
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- Do not use any soaps, detergents, or produce cleaners. You may not end up getting all of the residue off. Also, research has proven that a simple scrubbing is pretty effective. ^{[4]
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- If you notice any sprouts, pull them off. Don't leave them on the potato.
Overtime, the scrubber may start to turn off-color. If this happens, simply rinse both the scrubber and the potato under water.
If you have a white dish scrubber, you can wait until it stops getting off-color. If you don't, wait until the potato is a few shades lighter. It may have splotches of different colors. That's fine.
This can help remove any leftover dirt and bacteria. ^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using an Exfoliating Bath Glove

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Do not wash them any sooner, and certainly not before storing them. If you wash the potatoes before storing them, they may never fully dry, and start to rot.
2
Find a clean, exfoliating bath glove. You can find them in make up shops and in the beauty section of a department store. They are usually made of a coarse, scrubby material.
- Make sure that the glove is new. Use it only for washing potatoes. Do not use it again to exfoliate your body.
You will be using the glove to scrub the dirt away.
If you are concerned about wasting water, turn the faucet off. Do not use any soap, dish detergent, or produce cleaner. If you use these, you may not get all of the residue off the potato.
Roll and turn and tumble the potato in your hand. The glove's scrubby material will act like a vegetable scrubber, and buff the dirty away.
The potato should be a little lighter in color than before. If you need to, repeat the scrubbing and rinsing process.
Drying the potato off may also help wipe off any extra dirt and bacteria.
If it is very dirty, add some soap, but make sure that you rinse it out completely.

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Question

For how long can I leave potatoes in water

Community Answer

Leave the potatoes long enough for the dirt to settle at the bottom of the sink. This shouldn't take longer than 20 minutes.

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Can you use soap?

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No, never use soap to clean potatoes. Keep scrubbing them until the dirt comes off. Soap residue can be difficult to get off, an it will make the potatoes taste bad.

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I have a stock of 40 pounds of potatoes and found one wet-looking potato; when I turned it over it had worms in that look like maggots. Can I use the other potatoes? They still look okay.

Community Answer

Yes, you can still use the other potatoes. Remove all other potatoes and throw away the sack in case there are worms still in the bag. Wash all potatoes and make sure there are no worms on the others. After washing the potatoes, store them in the refrigerator and try and use them soon as possible

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Tips

White vinegar diluted with water can help disinfect potatoes, but simple water and scrubbing is just as effective. ^{[7]
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If the potatoes are very dirty, consider soaking them in a clean sink filled with water first. ^{[8]
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When peeling the potato, be sure to cut away any sprouts or discolorations. If you leave those on and eat them, you could get very sick. ^{[9]
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Warnings

Don't use soaps, detergents, or produce cleaners when washing the potatoes.

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Don't wash potatoes before storing them. If they are very dirty, simply brush the dirt off, but don't use water. If you wash the potatoes, they may end up rotting earlier.

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Avoid washing potatoes in the dishwater. Even if you use cold water and no soap, there may still be some soap residue, which can get on the potatoes. The dirt from the potatoes can also get stuck in the wheels and tubes. ^{[10]
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Things You'll Need

Using a Scrubbing Brush

Clean vegetable brush
Sink
Cool water
Paper towel

Using an Exfoliating Bath Glove

Clean, unused, exfoliating bath glove
Sink
Cool water
Paper towel

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The Easiest Ways to Wash and Scrub Potatoes For Cooking

Steps

Using a Scrubbing Brush

Using an Exfoliating Bath Glove

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

Using a Scrubbing Brush

Using an Exfoliating Bath Glove

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