SUBSCRIBE
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi

Potatoes: Why it’s bad to store your spuds in the fridge

by Vuyile Madwantsi
14th July 2022
in Trending
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
White potato vs Sweet potatoes

Sweet and regular potatoes are both tuberous root vegetables, but they differ in appearance and taste. They come from separate plant families, offer different nutrients and affect your blood sugar differently. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Uncooked potatoes are best stored in a cool and dry place, but don’t put them in the refrigerator, warns food technologist Nandi Nyamende. Baking, frying, or roasting potatoes that have been refrigerated can cause them to contain more sugar and a chemical called acrylamide.

Food technologist Nandi Nyamende. Photo: Nandi Nyamende

Acrylamide is created when starchy foods such as potatoes are cooked at high temperatures. While its cancer-causing ability has yet to be demonstrated, it has the potential, says Nyamende.

“This compound can be formed when foods are baked, fried, grilled, toasted, or roasted. Acrylamide is not deliberately added to foods, it is a natural byproduct of the cooking process and has always been present in our food,” she explains.

“Here are ways to reduce your consumption of acrylamide when preparing food at home: you need to make sure that you don’t store raw potatoes in the fridge if you intend to cook them at high temperatures, such as roasting or frying.”

How to store your spuds

Nyamende says that keeping raw potatoes in the fridge can lead to the formation of more free sugars in the potatoes. This process is sometimes called ‘cold sweetening’.

If the potatoes are fried, roasted, or baked after cold sweetening, the acrylamide levels will rise. “Raw potatoes should be stored in a dark, cool environment at temperatures above 6°C,” she advises.

And yes, Mzansi the same applies to your sweet potatoes too. According to Master Class, the cold in your fridge can cause your sweet potatoes to lose flavour and soften.

Most raw vegetables should be stored at room temperature for a week or two before they show any signs of bruising.

A passion for food and science

Nyamende studied Food Science and Technology at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She recently completed her masters in food science and technology and she is currently a National Research Foundation (NRF DAAD) recipient for a PhD.

She tells Health For Mzansi, “I think a lot of people have many misconceptions about food science and technology. We are always mistaken for cooks. We do not cook. Food is a necessity, we all need to survive and that’s where we come in.”

She currently works in the research field at the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa. Her research expertise is in the pome fruit industry of SA, physiological and pathological disorders facing the industry, molecular microbiology as well as food security.

Nyamende describes her relationship with food as simply science. “Before food gets to be on the shelves, it has to go through rigorous quality and microbiological tests for it to qualify as suitable for human consumption,” she says.

Read your labels, Mzansi

Nyamende reiterates that as consumers, we need to familiarise ourselves with the label ingredients list because sometimes you get ingredients. that are not allowed in certain food products.

People look at food labels for a variety of reasons. But beware, consumers, some labels might be shouting just a little too loudly. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

“That’s where you get your foodstuffs, cosmetics, and disinfectants act which basically stipulates how much of a certain ingredient is allowed in a specific food product,” she says.

“The food industry has undertaken a lot of work to identify and implement measures to reduce acrylamide levels in food. This includes developing guidance on ways to limit acrylamide formation in a variety of foods and processes. New legislation will require food business operators to put simple, practical steps in place to manage acrylamide within their facilities.”

Research is being conducted to find out how to reduce the levels of acrylamide in food as it cannot be reversed once it has been produced.

ALSO READ: Rising food prices: Turn frugal into fruitful on a budget

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
Tags: acrylamidefood sciencefood technologistpotatoesrefrigerator
Vuyile Madwantsi

Vuyile Madwantsi

Related Articles

The evolution of ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have a right to be happy
Trending

Ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have the right to be happy

by Vateka Halile
6th December 2023
0

Joe Kwebulana, a cultural enthusiast from Tsomo in the Eastern Cape, helps us understand the differences between cultural marriages in Mzansi while stressing the importance of 'isuntu', meaning humanity, a key component...

Read more
How early exposure to violence can cripple kids later on

How early exposure to violence can cripple kids later on

5th December 2023
HIV/Aids/TB: Turbo charge your immune system with nutrition

HIV/Aids/TB: Turbo charge your immune system with nutrition

1st December 2023
Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

28th November 2023

Stories

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC
From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more!
Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy
Peeved protesters demand a new hospital in Gugulethu
Podcast: Take a step into the world of living with a disability
Mealie meal: Mmmm … More than just a much-loved staple
Keep young kids safe as diarrhoea season kicks in
Podcast: Removing the taboo from the topic of male infertility
No Result
View All Result

Categories

  • Advertorial (3)
  • Choices (66)
  • Conversations (238)
  • Grow It (89)
  • Liewe Lulu (34)
  • My Health (190)
  • Nutrition (6)
  • Podcast (101)
  • Recipes (75)
  • Remedies (13)
  • Trending (435)

Recent

The evolution of ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have a right to be happy

Ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have the right to be happy

6th December 2023
How early exposure to violence can cripple kids later on

How early exposure to violence can cripple kids later on

5th December 2023
Looking out for others is second nature to Kelebogile Mojanaga who used this gift to help shape her career. And for those considering clinical pyschology as a career, she advises: always put your own mental health first before taking care of other people.

Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care

4th December 2023
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more!

From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more!

Darrel Adams was fascinated by the sirens of ambulances from a young age. Photo: Dawn Noemdoe

Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy

Ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have the right to be happy

How early exposure to violence can cripple kids later on

Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care

HIV/Aids/TB: Turbo charge your immune system with nutrition

Podcast: Prostate cancer, a silent killer waiting to strike

From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more!

No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

By continuing the use of our Website, you are explicitly and actively consenting to our processing of your personal information as per our Privacy Policy.
Cookie SettingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more! Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy Peeved protesters demand a new hospital in Gugulethu Podcast: Take a step into the world of living with a disability Mealie meal: Mmmm … More than just a much-loved staple Keep young kids safe as diarrhoea season kicks in Podcast: Removing the taboo from the topic of male infertility