Can You Dehydrate Potatoes?

Potatoes are root vegetables and a starchy tuber plant, and they can last for long and store well. With this fact, dehydrating potatoes may seem too odd. But, this is not so. Many people believe that dehydrating the slides will keep them safe and help prepare a quick dish when they wish so. But can you really dehydrate potatoes? 

Can you dehydrate potatoes? Yes, you can dehydrate potatoes from raw potatoes, blanched or cooked, partially cooled, and fully cooked ones. But if you want to enjoy using your dehydrated potatoes, the half-cooked potatoes are the best because they rehydrate well.

Fresh or uncooked potatoes do not really work well for rehydration and softening. When you try drying an uncooked potato, they stay rubbery and crispy. For the fully cooked potatoes, they do not absorb water. 

Hence, when you try using them, they develop uneven textures from soft to hard chunks. Runny white water may also be seen on fully cooked dehydrated potatoes, and this may make your cooking hard. When this happens, take a blender and pour the dehydrated potatoes in it, then blend to make mashed potato. 

Do You Need to Cook Potatoes Before Dehydrating?

There are various methods of dehydrating potatoes. Many people simply slice the potatoes into tiny pieces and dehydrate them. Others prefer cooking the potato first before drying the sliced potatoes. Although many people swear by their preferred methods, it’s really a case of preference and culture.

So, do you need to cook potatoes before dehydrating them, or you just go straight to drying them? Technically, you can dry your potatoes without cooking them. But this is not advisable because your potatoes will turn black when you do not cook them before drying. The process of cooking your potatoes before dehydration is called blanching. 

So, to answer this question, yes, you do need to cook potatoes before dehydrating. This way, you prevent them from turning an unattractive black. After dehydrating, you can use the thinly sliced dried potatoes to make potato chips or prepare potato dishes. 

Can You Fry Dehydrated Potatoes? 

For you to fry most food items, they need to have a little bit of moisture. Dehydrated potatoes are an exception to the rule, as you can always fry them. The only downside is that they will be extra-crunchy and crispy, which you may not like. Fresh potatoes have about 80% of water. On the other hand, dehydrated slices already have the moisture taken out.

So, if you want to fry dried potatoes, make sure to rehydrate them so that a little amount of moisture can seep into them. This way, your fried slices will come out tasty and flavorful. 

Are Dehydrated Potatoes Good for You? 

Yes, dehydrated potatoes are good for you the same way regular potatoes are. They are simply potatoes minus the water or moisture content. When potatoes undergo dehydration, they do not lose the distinctive flavor and texture of the fresh or raw potatoes.

The great thing about dehydrating potatoes is that they can then be used to create different products. Some of the popular dehydrated potato products include potato flakes, flour, granules, and shreds. All of these products allow us to enjoy potatoes in different ways.

A serving of dehydrated potatoes has about 113 calories, 2.3 grams of fiber, 223 milligrams of potassium, 25 grams of carbohydrate, and 9.7 grams of vitamin C. A dehydrated potato can also serve as an ingredient for many cooking processes, from salads and soup to main delicacies and desserts.

How Long Will Dehydrated Potatoes Last?

Dehydrating potatoes means you want them to last a long while and serve as a healthy emergency go-to snack. It also saves you money and ensures you do not waste groceries. But when you dry, how long do the dried potatoes really last? 

When you dehydrate potatoes, it removes slowly removes the moisture in them while retaining the nutrients. This is because dried potatoes with the least water content last longer. 

Dried potatoes can last for up to ten years when properly stored and preserved. But for them to last this long, they have to be properly prepped and dried. You also have to cook them before drying to increase the storing time. If you do not prepare them properly before or you do not allow them to dry up well, they may spoil quickly.  ¿Qué Olla Eléctrica Comprar? Comparativa, precios y análisis de las Mejores Ollas Eléctricas

Why Do My Potatoes Turn Black? 

When your potato turns black, three factors affect it: the state of the potato, air, and water. When we say the state of the potato, we mean whether it is fresh, boiled, or mashed. 

A raw potato, when exposed to air, will turn black or brown. This process is known as oxidation, and it happens whenever a starchy vegetable is exposed to the air. Potatoes are starchy, and when air comes in contact with starchy vegetables, they turn black, brown, and sometimes grey. The process does not affect the taste and texture of the potato, and notwithstanding the change in color, oxidized potatoes are still safe to eat. 

The last factor affecting the change in color is water. To prevent your potato from changing colors, after peeling them, soak them in water immediately, wash and cook. 

Final Thoughts

• You can dehydrate potatoes whether they are made from uncooked, fully cooked, partially cooled, or blanched potatoes. 
• Use half-cooked potatoes when dehydrating. They are easy to use and dehydrated easily. 
• Dehydrated potatoes can be fried. However, ensure that you rehydrate the potato slices before drying. Not doing so will make the potato crispy and crunchy, and they may not taste well. 
• It is necessary to cook your potatoes before drying them. This way, it will save the potatoes from getting an unappealing black color.
• Potatoes turn black because when peeled, they are exposed to air and not immediately soaked in water. 
• Dehydrated potatoes are good for you because though the water is removed, the nutrients still stay intact. Also, they do not lose their taste and texture.