I just found out one of my friends doesn’t like potatoes. We are no longer friends. KIDDING. However, seriously potatoes are so good. They can be made so many different ways and taste delicious! Besides food, though, there is more to potatoes than meets the eye. Aren’t you curious? Check out these 10 things you never knew you could do with potatoes. You can thank me later.
My friend said he doesn’t like potatoes because they are a useless food source. He said they have no nutritional value. However, have you ever had a Chick-Fil-A waffle fry? I mean, really! His statement was borderline blasphemous; kidding again.
I would beg to differ with him. In several sources, I read, including RealSimple.com and MedicalNewsToday.com, that potatoes do have health benefits. Potatoes don’t just taste good in my belly, they are healthy too.
Here are a few ways potatoes contribute to healthy lifestyles:
Bone structure strength. Potatoes contain iron, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, and zinc! They all are needed to strengthen our bones.
Blood pressure. Potatoes contain potassium, calcium, and magnesium, all of which have been known to decrease blood pressure naturally. Potassium specifically, widens blood vessels.
Heart health. There is NO cholesterol in potatoes and they have lots of fiber; both of which are good for heart health. (We all know what else fiber is good for, but I won’t mention that here.)
Inflammation. Potatoes contain choline, which helps muscle movement, learning, memory, and moods. Choline also helps cell membrane structure, the transmission of nerve impulses, and early brain development. One large potato contains 57 mg of choline – females need 425 mg per day, and males need 550 mg per day! This is a no-brainer.
Immunity. We usually think of OJ when we think of Vitamin C, but potatoes also have a fair amount of Vitamin C. We all are familiar with Vitamin C reducing the severity and period of a cold.
Find out more health facts about potatoes here from registered dieticians. You can even find some funky facts about potatoes at PotatoGoodness.com.
There are more notable benefits, but you get my drift. I am all about potatoes for eating! Especially mashed potatoes. YUM!
Easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Made by Kids (VIDEO) | Kitchen Stewardship
It turns out we can do other things with our potatoes. They are probably things they have never thought of before. That is OK, though. I am here to help!
Check out 10 things you never knew you could do with potatoes.
1. Make a battery/power source/make electricity
With just a few household items like some copper, wired, and a zinc-coated nail, we can power a clock, light bulb, and other smaller electronics. Not too shabby, huh?
How to Make a Potato Battery | Science.lovetoknow.com
How to get electricity from potato (Tutorial)
2. Science and learning
Apparently, we can do a lot in our homeschool with potatoes. Our kids can learn to build a clock with potatoes or explore the science behind crispy potatoes. Check it out more science fun below:
How To Make A Potato Clock With Your Kids | Kids Crafts
Potato Science Collection| ScienceBuddies.org
Potato Chip Patina Experiment (Oxidation) | Kiwico.com – Try this experiment to recreate the oxidation process artificially!
Science for Kids: Sprouting Sweet Potatoes | Pre-kpages.com
Fun With Potatoes & Physics! A SciShow Experiment | SciSHow
3. Potatoes in your garden (Not the way you think.)
If you are into gardening or thinking about it, potatoes are pretty useful to have around. You can put rose cuttings into an actual raw potato, then plant the entire thing like it was a seed or bulb.
Potatoes are rich in nutrients that help provide moisture and sustenance to the growing plant. You can do this with other flowers like geraniums as well.
Have house plants? Here is a hack for you. Worms can crawl in and out of the roots of your favorite plants at home. Slice a raw potato around the base of the plant. This attracts the worms away from the root and to the potato where you can see, grab and toss them outside.
4. Home and cleaning help
Potatoes remove rust. If you have tools, knives, or utensils that have grown rusty, just grab a potato. They have oxalic acid, which dissolves rust. Just cut the potato in half, rub it all over the rusty item real good, and let the item sit in the potato scrub for about an hour. Use a wire scrub to wash it off and, “Viola!” You may just have a brand new shiny tool or utensil. You’re welcome!
Ready for this? Have any stains on clothes or carpet? Rub raw grated potatoes in it then rinse with warm water.
For shiny glass, rub a sliced potato all over it and wipe it with a clean rag.
Have any silver at home? To clean your silver, soak it in the water of boiling potatoes for up to an hour and then rinse.
To polish your shoes and make them shine, cut a potato in half and rub them on the shoes. Wipe the shoes with a damp rag and polish. I could appreciate this, having to polish my shows while in the U.S. Navy for 7 years.
5. Arts and Crafts
To make your own Decorative Stamp or Ink Stamp cut a potato in half, carve away and start stamping.
Here are some more potato crafts to enjoy at home.
Potato Stamp Art | i heart arts n crafts
Arts and Crafts with Potatoes | Hub Pages
Potato Craft Ideas for Kids – Creative Things To Do With Potatoes | Gardening Know How
6. Beauty
Whether these are old wives tales or not, it truly can’t hurl unless you are allergic to potatoes. NOTE: If you are allergic to potatoes, skip to #6 on the 10 Things You Never Knew You Could Do with Potatoes list. Do NOT try these, ever.
Rub a cut, raw potato on your acne to help control it. Leave the rub on the area for 5 minutes before rinsing.
To remove blackheads and whiteheads, apply a (NOT scorching hot) mashed potato to your face. Let it remain on the face for 30 minutes before rinsing.
For blemishes or scars, scrub the area with mashed potatoes and lemon juice and allow to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
To reduce puffy eyes or dark circles, place thin slices of potatoes over the eys for 20 minutes.
For warts, rub it with a potato daily.
If you have wrinkles, wash your face with boiled potato water (after it has cooled off, of course).
7. Keep Goggles Clear
Whether you have ski goggles, binoculars, or a diving Mask, you can reduce the goggle glass fogging by rubbing the inside the lens before each use.
8. Saltiness fighting
Ever have a soup, broth, or sauce that you just added too much salt to? Try reducing the saltiness by placing a cut-up potato into it and remove after 10 minutes.
9. Ailments
NOTE: Again, if you are allergic to potatoes, skip to #10 on this 10 Things You Never Knew You Could Do with Potatoes list. Do NOT try these… ever.
Potatoes have been known for curing a few ailments, maybe an old wives’ tale, perhaps not.
For burns, soothe the pain with a mixture of grated potato and water.
Rub your temple with a raw cut potato to relieve a headache.
Drink a juiced potato for heartburn.
To relieve insomnia, eat mashed potatoes made with milk before going to bed. I know a few people who may want to try this one, including myself.
Bite down on a raw potato for a few minutes to relieve a toothache. I am a skeptic on this one. If this works for anyone, please email let us know on our Facebook page!
10. Mail them
Yes, I meant to say mail them. Are you a trickster or want to send a random present? Well, Mail-A-Spud will mail a potato to your friends and family for the low price of $9.99. It can mail the potato anywhere in the U.S.
P.S. To my friends and family, don’t send me a potato.
There are so many ways to cook a potato and most families love them. For every amazing potato recipe, you have an odd, funny, or useful thing you could do with them as well.
You can find some recipes here or go to Taste of Home for 65 Easy Potato Recipes.
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Jeannette is a wife, mother and homeschooling mom. She has been mightily, saved by grace and is grateful for God’s sovereignty throughout her life’s journey. She has a Bachelor in English Education and her MBA. Jeannette is bi-lingual and currently lives in the Tongan Islands of the South Pacific. She posts daily freebies for homeschoolers!
