Scrubbing potatoes
 

I have the hardest time getting my potatoes skins super clean so we can eat them. I have used a vegetable Bruch and even a more stiffer bristled Bruch and even a green scrubbing pad. And I have even soaked them before scrubbing them but still can't get all the black dirt stuff off completely. So just wondering how every one else does it?

can use nylon scrubbies.

For baked potatoes I peel them, boil whole potato for about 12 minutes...put in oven on either oven rack or pan with parchment paper. Bake for 1/2 hour, turn, bake another 1/2 hour. If you put on rack I find it not necessary to turn. No oil used. Bake at 425. I always had a issue with cleaning peels.

Sometimes you just have to give in and peel the potatoes!

I use warm water and a dish cleaning brush to clean mine. If I have small spots of dirt that won't come off, I cut it off/out. I find the warm water softens the dirt up better than cold.

Before we had a microwave I used to boil the potatoes for 15 minutes before baking them. (Didn't ever peel them since I love the crispy skins.) My mom told me about the process after having trouble getting them soft enough to eat by baking them. Ever so often I still do it if I am baking something in the over for over an hour.

I have a 'vegetable' brush that I got from Williams Sonoma years ago. It's rather stiff bristled. I scrub the worst of the dirt with warm water and cook as desired. Baked; sliced/diced for home fries; cut up for mashed w/peels. Doesn't matter; don't worry about whatever dirt/spots may be left behind. If there is a dark spot within the potato as I'm cutting, I'll toss that but otherwise I don't worry about it. Have been doing this for decades and no worse for wear.

The best thing I've found is a scrubbie made of nylon net crocheted into a doughnut shape.

Ahhhh, a good baked potato. Some potatoes have a blemish that doesn't wash off---don't fuss about it, just wash the potato under cool water with a vegetable brush. You do not have to "sterilized it". Bake the potato in a 400 degree oven for 50-60 minutes. When you take it out lay it in a folded dish towel , sprinkle a small amount of water on the skin and wrap the dish towel around it. (to cause a little steam and soften the skin). In 3-5 minutes gentle roll the potato ,still in the dishtowel, a bit. (this loosens the flesh of the potato, and makes it fluffy). When you cut the slit in the potato to open it, it should be light and fluffy. Love a good baked potato with juicy meatloaf---and they can be baked together in the oven at the same time. Learned this potato stuff in Idaho!

I rinse under running water to remove the obvious. I figure a 450 degree oven for 30 minutes will take care of most all dirt germs. I grew up on garden dirt. Every vegetable we ate we grew. I buy Idaho potatoes if I can't get potatoes locally grown.

I have a small scrub brush I use and it seems to work okay for me.

I use the crocheted nylon scrubbie too! I love them ... they are the best!

I gave up scrubbing, and just started buying the thinner skinned potatoes like Yukon golds, red skinned, etc. A quick wash and they are ready to use.

I use a brush that is supposed to be used for scrubbing dishes. It has hard bristles. Don't know why some potatoes are soooo dirty. They used to wash them. I also add a little white vinegar to the water and that helps loosen the dirt

I use what is called a Greenie. Several companies make them but don't get the kind with a sponge on one side. When dry they feel very stiff. This is what our school district uses to wash bakers.

I just rinse them off and bake or boil haven't died yet!!

I discovered these at my daughter's house when I went to care for her and the new grandson:
https://www.amazon.com/Fabrikators-S...rubbing+gloves

I found they work reasonably well; better the second time I used them. My arthritic fingers and hands do feel better with a brush.

Jan in VA

I just scrub the with a brush and cut out any part that I have doubts about. Oil the skins and bake in a hot oven. My mother told me...not that I believe it... that "you have to eat a tablespoon of dirt a day to stay healthy." Her mother told her. They probably had limited water in the "old country." But, she always washed her potatoes first! I do the same thing for sweet potato. I always eat the skin on both kinds.

You have to eat a peck of dirt before you die.����*������