U.S. Consumers Prefer Baked Potatoes
A recent Potatoes USA poll looked into the favored, healthful potato preparations in various regions.
The most popular healthy potato preparation among Americans was baked (41%), followed by mashed potatoes (17%). However, if you examine the data in more detail, several geographical trends will become apparent.
“As a dietitian, I know the nutritional power the potato packs. I also know there are as many favorite potato dishes as there are Americans, and we loved seeing how people put the versatile potato to work in nutritious ways,” Bonnie Johnson, M.S., R.D., director of nutrition and industry relations, Potatoes USA, declared.
Mashed potatoes are a favorite food of 31% of New Englanders, the highest percentage of any area.
Boiling and steaming potatoes are preferred by 14% of individuals in the Deep South, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Pacific.
For 32% of the responders in the Outer South, toppings were everything.
Residents of the Great Lakes enjoy air-frying their potatoes (7%), and the American Midwest enjoys roasting them (7%).
Last but not least, outdoor activities are possible if you fuel up with a combination of potatoes, protein, and vegetables (13% of locals adore this combination, like our Sheet Pan Roasted Turkey with Herbed Potatoes).
Potatoes are a high-nutrient vegetable. A medium skin-on potato has roughly one-third of the daily intake of vitamin C, 15% of the daily value of potassium, and 10% of the daily value of vitamin B6. Potatoes are gluten-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free, and sodium-free by nature.
According to a study published in The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, potatoes had the best nutritional value per dollar for eight key nutrients, including potassium, fiber, protein, vitamins C and E, calcium, iron, and magnesium. In addition, potatoes have a longer shelf life than many fresh vegetables.
“Potatoes are nutritious, delicious, and affordable – and that’s something we can all agree on,” Johnson concluded.