Potatoes, belonging to the Solanaceae family, are perennial herbs with edible tubers and are the fourth most important food crop in the world. They are second only to wheat, rice, and corn.

Potatoes have different names in different countries.

For example, in the United States, they are called Irish jicama; in France, they are known as a ground apple; in Germany, they are called ground pear; in Italy, they are referred to as a ground bean, and in Peru, they are called Baba. Potatoes, wheat, rice, corn, and sorghum are considered the world's top five crops.

Potatoes have more advantages than rice and flour, and can supply a large amount of heat energy to the human body, making them a "perfect food". Potatoes and whole milk alone are sufficient for humans to maintain life and health.

Due to the comprehensive nutritional content of potatoes and a relatively reasonable nutritional structure, they are very beneficial to health, although their protein, calcium, and vitamin A content is slightly lower.

However, this can be compensated by consuming whole milk.

Potatoes are rich in lysine, which is lacking in cereals, and mixing potatoes with cereals can improve protein utilization.

The water content in potatoes is as high as 70%, and their starch content is only about 20%. Moreover, potatoes contain only 0.1% natural fat, which is unmatched by other foods that can be used as a staple food. Potatoes are rich in soft dietary fiber.

The cellulose in potatoes has a small specific gravity and a large volume, which takes a long time to digest and fills the stomach cavity after eating, prolonging the time for gastric emptying and creating a feeling of fullness.

Let's now introduce two ways to eat potatoes:

Baked Potato Chips

Baked potato chips are a very simple snack that is neither time-consuming nor demanding on cooking skills.

Ingredients: 2 potatoes, a little salt, and an appropriate amount of olive oil.

Steps:

1. Prepare two potatoes and peel them for later use.

2. Cut the potatoes into strips slightly thicker than chopsticks.

3. Rinse the potatoes in cold water three times to remove the surface starch.

4. Boil the potatoes in boiling water for three minutes, drain the water, and remove them.

5. Put the potatoes in a bowl, add a small amount of salt and olive oil, and mix well.

6. Spread a layer of tin foil on the baking tray, place the potato strips evenly on it, and put it in the oven.

7. Set the temperature to 210°C for 30 minutes. Take the potato chips out of the oven, and serve with salt or tomato sauce.

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes, use potatoes as raw materials, add some corresponding seasonings, cook them in a container, and mash them with tools.

Alternatively, boil the potatoes first, peel them, and mash them into a puree, then add other auxiliary materials and stir them evenly to make food.

Ingredients: 2 potatoes, a little salt, butter, and whipped cream.

Steps:

1. First, clean two potatoes and steam them.

2. While the potatoes are hot, mash them with a tool to make them more delicate.

3. Add some butter to increase the milk flavor. If the potatoes are a little dry, add some whipped cream or milk (about 100ml).

4. Add a spoonful of edible salt. If you prefer a sweet taste, add some white sugar instead of salt.