Potatoes

Native to South America, the potato is now a staple across the world. Potatoes are the world’s fourth largest food crop, after rice, wheat and corn. They are cheap, hardy and easy to grow, and are high in starch, protein and vitamins. Almost all nationalities have a traditional dish based on potatoes, such as gratin dauphinois, rösti and Irish stew. Potatoes can be divided into new crop (early) potatoes and old (main crop) potatoes and their texture can be floury or waxy. Potatoes are never eaten raw as they contain 20 per cent indigestible starch — when cooked this converts into sugar.