Keep Away from Light: Always store potatoes in a dark, dry, and airy place. If sunlight hits them, they turn green and taste bitter. Never Store with Onions: Keep potatoes and onions in separate baskets. Onions release a gas that makes potatoes sprout and spoil very quickly. Don't Keep in Fridge: Cold temperature inside the fridge converts the potato starch into sugar. This changes its taste and makes it turn dark brown when cooked.

Soak in Cold Water for Crispy Fries: After chopping potatoes for fries or snacks, soak them in cold water for 20–30 minutes. This removes extra surface starch and makes them extra crispy when fried. Boil with Salt and Skin On: Boil potatoes with their skin on and add a pinch of salt to the water. The skin stops them from becoming watery, and the salt adds flavor inside. Cool Before Making Samosa Stuffing: Always let boiled potatoes cool down completely before mashing them for paratha or samosa filling. Hot potatoes release moisture and make your dough sticky and soft.

Potatoes were first grown by native South American tribes in the Andes mountains (near Peru and Bolivia) around 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers took potatoes to Europe. Portuguese traders brought them to India in the early 17th century, where they were first grown along the western coast near Goa.

India: Aloo is the ultimate budget-friendly veggie in Indian homes. It is a star in street food (Samosa, Aloo Tikki, Vada Pav) and daily home dishes (Aloo Gobhi, Aloo Dum). Ireland: Potato was once the main food source for the entire nation, so much so that when a plant disease destroyed the crop in the 1840s, it caused a massive historical famine. Global: Loved worldwide as the ultimate side dish in the form of French fries, mashed potatoes, and potato chips.

When potatoes first arrived in India, people were slow to accept them because they grew underground and were not mentioned in traditional texts. The big change happened when the British started large-scale potato farming in Bengal and the northern hill regions during the 18th century.

In 1995, the potato became the very first vegetable ever grown in space! NASA scientists took potato plants on the Space Shuttle Columbia to test if fresh food could be grown for future space travels.

If you see any green spots or tiny sprouts on a potato, chop those parts out completely before cooking. The green parts contain a natural compound called solanine, which can cause stomach upset.