People are always looking for shortcuts and hacks in the kitchen.
Some people wrap them in aluminum foil thinking they bake faster.
Meet The Experts
What Happens When You Cook Potatoes In Foil?
A potato coveredin foilretains moisture so you end up steaming the potato instead of baking it.
He recommends placing a potato directly in the oven without any coverings.
When Should You Wrap in Foil?
There are some exceptions when wrapping a potato in foil makes sense.
Wondering what a piping hot baked potato and bacteria have to do with each other?
Potatoes wrapped in foil don’t have much oxygen, creating an ideal environment for botulism.
The bacteria doesn’t disappear with heat, instead, it will wait until the right conditions present itself.
How Potatoes Can Have Spores?
Potatoes are aroot vegetableand grow underground.
This bacteria is often present in the form of spores in the soil.
Soil has the ideal conditions for this bacteria to live.
When there’s minimal to no oxygen, the spores can flourish.
Washing a potato before cooking is one way to minimize any risks.
How Long Can Cooked Potatoes Stay In Foil?
Baked potatoes wrapped in foil should be eaten as soon as possible.
Once you pull them out of the oven, you’ll want to dig in.
How To Store Potatoes In The Fridge
Not planning to eat them right away?
ensure to place the cooked potatoes in the fridge sans foil.
Can You Tell If a Potato Is Not Safe To Eat?
The problem with some bacteria is there is no way to detect it or see it.
“There are no signs when Clostridium botulinum is growing on food,” explains Baker.
“It cannot be seen and does not have a taste or odor.”
Botulism is rare but does happen.
