The variety of blue potatoes, also known as “The Adirondack Blue” has blue fresh skin and a slight purple tint. The variety of the potatoes is unusual because both the skin and the flesh have high levels of vacuolar pigments named anthocyanins. Anthocyanins may appear red, purple, black, or blue. It depends on the pH of the vacuolar pigments. This variety has a large and spreading greenery.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Order: Solanales
- Family: Solanaceae
- Genus: Solanum
- Species: S. Tuberoseum
- Binomial name: Solanum Tuberoseum
- Cultivar: Atom
Blue Potato Trivia
- The blue potatoes retain their color even after being cooked.
- The alumni association of the Pennsylvania State University is marketing potato chips using “the Adirondack Blue” in schools.
Blue Potato Buying Guide
Just as buying a regular potato, look for smooth, clean potatoes with a firm texture. They should have no cuts no discoloration and no bruises ideally.
Blue Potato Production & Farming in Texas
Potatoes always crave sun and that is what you should give them. With this, there is no difference between blue potatoes. Texas will provide the plants with all the sun required for them. That is why Texas is so successful in growing potatoes. Plant them in early February for the best effect. Around one pound of seed potatoes will produce around four to five pounds of potatoes.
Pesticides:
Most conventional grown potatoes are sprayed with a hefty amount of pesticides that the potatoes absorb since they’re a root vegetable.
Geography:
The vegetable that is now known blue potato has been around for thousands of years and they have originated from South America. Even though the blue potato has been around for many, many years they became popular around the world in the 1970s.
Blue potatoes are grown just like any other potato species. You should place them in a sunny spot, dig furrows that are around 6-8 inches deep. Put the seeds in and space each potato ten inches apart of one another.
Packaging:
The most common ways that you’re going to see potatoes packaged are very ordinary. They’re packaged in either nets or bags and its very easy due to many machines helping.
Enjoying Blue Potatoes
Prepare blue potatoes just like any other potato, you need to peel their skin and wash them. There is a wide range in which you can use potatoes as they’re very versatile. You can boil them, and eat them as they are, or you can make wonderful mashed potatoes as a side dish. Potatoes are also roasted and fried to make one of the most popular side dishes, french fries.
Storage:
Potatoes are one of the easiest foods to store as they do not need to be cooled, they can be kept at room temperature in a bit darker area.
Cooking:
As I’ve already said, there is a great variety of potatoes, but making blue mashed potatoes is something special.
The first step is to boil whole potatoes in a large saucepan with salted water inside. Use a smaller saucepan to melt the butter and mix it up with milk. When the potatoes are nicely cooked, dry them out and return them to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes in any way you’d like and add the mixture of butter and milk for flavor enhancing.
When Are Blue Potatoes in Season in Texas?
To find out when Blue Potatoes are in season in Texas, please check the seasonal chart below. Why is this important? We are rarely encouraged to think about the physical lengths our food travels before arriving on the market shelves. And all of this travel comes with a hefty environmental cost that is concealed from the consumer’s eye. One of the most salient benefits to eating seasonally is that you are effectively reducing your carbon footprint and supporting a more geographically sustainable food economy. Check other fruit and veg that’s in season in Texas now.
