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potatoes
sarahhands76 says: Why do our new potatoes that we have grow go fluffy when we boil them.
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sarahhands76 says: Why do our new potatoes that we have grow go fluffy when we boil them.
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I think it depends upon the variety planted. Some potatoes are more 'floury' in nature when cooked than others.
Oh you are so right LB. My mum could do a dissertation on floury spuds as my dad would eat nothing else.
Sarah:- British Queens= ball of flour (nightmare to cook)
Maris Piper middling ie good all rounder useful for boiling, roasting, chips etc. A firm favourite with chefs. (same with Roosters)
If you have a particular texture of spud you like then read up about the different types. Some people like soapy/waxy texture...I can't think of anything worse!
I find a good dollop of butter makes them all lovely.
Oh yes! Loads of butter and fresh mint - yum!
Also if a floury potato is dug from the garden and cooked shortly afterwards, within a week or so, it will have a lots of lovely sugars. As a result, the potato has little structure and will be fluffy when cooked, or will indeed fall completely to bits if overcooked.. The longer the potato has been out the ground, these sugars are naturally being converted into more complex carbohydrates giving the potato more structure as they become more starchy when stored. Ultimately I believe that's the main difference between shop bought and home grown, storage time! Main crop potatoes bought in the supermarket today may actually be almost a year old! Unless they are imported of course, which is just madness!
hi to all the potatoes I use are cara main crop good all rounder but don't let over boil or they split open apart from that can not fault good chips boil ((( deffo jackets can only eat 2))) will have to change them this year as from start 3rd time of use ..hard to find a type as cara has the best right up might try nadinne 2nd earlys next
Sarah, if you find you can't stop them falling apart before they are actually cooked you can steam them. Not many folk use pressure cookers these days (they seem to have fallen from fashion) but they are still the best way of cooking fresh veg. Potatoes done in about 5 minutes and no falling apart, no matter what variety.
Bob I'll tell my mum you said that and she will say "British Queens" and scowl at you. 56 years of trying every cooking method known to woman and still they burst. She always had to do stacks extra to allow for mush!
Michael I've never grown spuds. Why do you have to change variety? Is it because of disease or something? I'd love to have a go at growing them in a bucket or giant container but I haven't a clue how to start.
hi plant pauper I suppose it is down to using the same strain to much my old mate used to say that you take all the goodness out of the strain ..some gardeners use for a lot longer ( so not knowing the technical terms ) I said I might change I might even yet buy a new 56lb sack of same I have never had a bad crop of CARA MAIN CROP yet it was just as a whim for a change I know I will not save any sets I will give them all away or bin them this year I gave away 2 big bags full to about 6 gardeners they say the crop is doing well ..
ps plant pauper go to wilco you can still get potatoes bags simply easy to grow that is how I got my grand son gardening put 3or 4 in base on top of about 4ins of good compost cover when tops grow and are about 6ins cover again put some compost with some manure or manure each level hand full pellets do the same about 4or 5 times till the potatoe stalks are up to top and water often don't let the bags dry out but don't make bags sodden . do it now with charlottes sets now and you will have new pots for Christmas good luck Michael 
Thanks Michael. We don't have Wilko over here but I'll have a look round some local places and see what I can come up with.