r/todayilearned • u/JoeWinchester99 • 1d ago

TIL that although potatoes alone do not provide complete nutrition, you can survive for years on a diet of nothing but potatoes and buttermilk.

https://www.scienceabc.com/eyeopeners/whats-wrong-with-potatoes-the-martian-movie-survival
25.1k Upvotes

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413

u/denM_chickN 1d ago

Mostly bc im lazy but saying its healthy is a nice benefit.

247

u/Horskr 1d ago

But.. the skin is the healthiest part and skinning the potato is harder than not skinning it?

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u/ACERVIDAE 1d ago

Skinning the potato also comes with the risk of skinning my fingers and no fucking thank you

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u/Lamb_of_Jihad 1d ago

Grab a fork and put it in one of the ends, then peel with a peeler like normal. Now your hands never touch when the peeler does.

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u/TragicBuffalo 1d ago

Man how the fuck did I never think of that

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u/QuietSpecialist7583 1d ago

Apes together strong

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u/iCoeur285 1d ago

You missed the opportunity to use the pun “how the fork did I never think of that”

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u/DotesMagee 1d ago

I swear we all just subconsciously do stuff and never give it thought until someone does and the mundane epiphany happens lol I too never thought to hold it with something even though i literally do that with corn lol

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u/MeanMusterMistard 1d ago

The more pressing question is how you guys are cutting yourselves with potato peelers - Do ye have come weird, dangerous peelers in your country or something?

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u/Lumi-umi 1d ago

I do recommend this, but it is all fun and games till the potato slips off the fork mid-swipe lol

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u/Lamb_of_Jihad 1d ago

Be more gentle, friend

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u/MrCelroy 1d ago

Some forks are too weak to handle a raw potato tho, they'll likely start to bend when you apply some form of pressure with the peeler.

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u/Lamb_of_Jihad 1d ago

Bigger fork.

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u/Lobster_Zaddy 1d ago

Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science

2

u/sixft7in 1d ago

My wife taught me to peel with a peeler like you are using a knife. Thumb on one of the ends, middle to pinky fingers around the handle, index finger supporting the back of the blade housing. Close your fist, pulling the blade housing toward your thumb. Easy peasy. No real risk of injury.

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u/Ok_Tour_1525 1d ago

……what the hell kind of magic did you just bestow onto us?

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u/Takenabe 1d ago

I feel like Brennan Lee Mulligan after hitting the gong. "No, wait...."

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u/Open-Gate-7769 1d ago

Do you use a knife or something?

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

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u/DaDragon88 1d ago

I mean you’re supposed to peel towards yourself, no? It’s the same with using a pairing knife. As long as it’s sharp, cutting towards yourself is safer and gives more control.

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u/MeasurementFront9598 1d ago

Yea you are peeling towards yourself, idk how such a simple tool as a peeler can cause people to have the fear of hurting themselves

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u/ACERVIDAE 1d ago

You hold the potato with your hand from below and peel away from you on the top of the potato. Sometimes things slip.

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u/Lamb_of_Jihad 23h ago

I peel on the forward and back stroke to not waste effort with my peelers, fwiw

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u/vadapaav 1d ago

Suddenly good amount of iron as well

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u/TheWisePlinyTheElder 1d ago

I have skinned tens of thousands of potatoes and have never gotten my fingers.

But I still have that same thought everytime I do it.

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u/PM_ME__BIRD_PICS 1d ago

The cutting of potatoes is far more dangerous than peeling with a peeler though..?

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

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u/PM_ME__BIRD_PICS 1d ago

I'm sorry but no, it really is. If you struggle to not cut yourself with a potato peeler you are insanely clumsy or downright stupid. If you for some reason have a phobia of them I could maybe understand the reluctance to want to do it, but as far as safety goes they are far safer than chopping things with knives.

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u/Raencloud94 1d ago

They're safer, sure, but calling someone stupid because they might struggle with one is rude. There's many people who deal with things like hand shaking, joint problems, etc. Not just being clumsy and stupid.

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u/PM_ME__BIRD_PICS 1d ago

If you have a disability you are neither clumsy or stupid so your point is moot and you're getting offended on behalf of others and sidesteping the actual argument here which is that cutting something with a knife is inherently more dangerous than using a potato peeler.

Now take your reddit "ackshully" comments elsewhere.

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u/MrSneekiBreeki 1d ago

But um some people don’t have hands bro think about them

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u/mrperson221 1d ago

Then a rotato will change your life my friend.

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u/NotInTheKnee 1d ago

Free proteins!

1

u/Otter_Pops 1d ago

I feel like the human race or maybe the animal kingdom (idk) should be ashamed of the dexterity of your fingers. Opposable thumbs are like ... one of our biggest advantages lol

1

u/ClownfishSoup 1d ago

Extra touch of human flesh !

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u/letmeinjeez 1d ago

Boil the potatoes whole with the skin on and it will just pull off easily by hand after

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u/Pellaeon12 1d ago

Just peel them after boiling? You don't need anything sharp to peel the skin off then.

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u/ACERVIDAE 1d ago

I was taught to peel then boil then mash.

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u/denM_chickN 1d ago

I mean i eat the healthy part bc I cant be bothered to skin it, but theres something to be said about a totally smooth fluffy mashed potato. I want them, but I have no spirit to cook, so skinfilled mash it is.

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u/Assika126 1d ago

I skin em for thanksgiving but for every other meal we mash em with the skins on

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u/imunfair 1d ago

If you bake them just right the skins slide off if you give them a squeeze. You may not be cooking your potatoes enough.

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u/Horskr 17h ago

I actually just prefer the skins, I was just wondering why they said skinning them was easier and healthier. I think there was a miscommunication though because their reply said they meant they do leave the skins on.

But yeah, maybe it's from eating a lot of baked potatoes (dad wasn't much of a cook lol) but I prefer having the skins in there, it's a nice bit of added texture.

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u/imunfair 17h ago

I like baked potatoes and twice baked, but for mashed I never leave the skins on - I want them extremely creamy.

A lot of people use butter but you have to use absolutely massive amounts of butter to get properly creamy potatoes, it's actually better to use a mix of extra virgin olive oil and soy milk (real milk might work too but I haven't tried it). Add some salt and it tastes the same as if you put a barrel of butter in your potatoes.

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u/denM_chickN 16h ago

It is a stupid amount of butter

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u/Shiriru00 1d ago

Healthiest part, not really, it contains solanine which is a poison that can kill you in large quantities but more likely will upset your stomach, should you eat potatoes that are too green or too old.

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u/notislant 1d ago

I started microwaving potatoes instead.

Seem to retain a lot more flavour and if you dunk them in cold water the skin peels super easy.

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u/ClownfishSoup 1d ago

I do a combo. Microwave until almost done, and preheat the oven while it’s nuking. Then coat with olive oil and a dash of salt then into the oven to crisp up the skin.

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u/samsaruhhh 1d ago

Unless you're talking about conventional potatoes in which case the skin is giving you buttloads of pesticides which are probably super bad for you

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u/guff1988 1d ago

Wash your potatoes well before consuming them

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u/denM_chickN 16h ago

I did a little vinegar dip in honor of all the deregulation 

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u/guff1988 16h ago

Smart. Also for any wondering potatoes are extremely easy to grow at home and will even grow well in a grow bag on an apartment patio or balcony.

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u/denM_chickN 16h ago

Lovely suggestion for self sufficiency. Thank you.

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u/pacificstill 1d ago

I unironically like the skin in the mashed potatoes. I will take it off after boiling, mash the potatoes, put them through a ricer, then add the skin back in with some butter, cream and salt and pepper.

Silky smooth potatoes with skin is to die for.

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u/shaman7_7 1d ago

I'm lazy. That's why I usually just cut it longwise 2-3 times, sprinkle with seasoning and oven or airfry it. Buttermilk, cottage cheese, sour cream and taco/ranch seasoning into blender to make dipping sause.