How to Cut Potatoes: Wedges, Sticks, Slices and Dices

Those razor sharp knives that you’ve bought recently are no good if you don’t know when and how to use them. Let’s upgrade your kitchen skills and cut back on prep times.

This time, we are going to teach you how to cut potatoes. No more buying frozen bags of potato chips when you can get your own freshly cut potatoes at home. Whether you want to cut your potatoes in wedges, sticks, cubes, or slices, our detailed guide has got you covered.

How to cut potatoes:

• Wedges: Slice a potato in half, slice it again lengthwise. Cut in quarters.
• Slices: Slice potatoes to your desired level of thickness from root to tip.
• Sticks: Cut potatoes into slices. Stack them up and cut lengthwise.
• Cubes: Cut potatoes into sticks. Next, cut perpendicularly to make dices.

These are some of the many ways that a potato can be cut and used in various recipes. We will be explaining each cut step by step later on in the article. First things first, let us learn how to choose and store potatoes.

How to choose and store potatoes

There is a large variety of potatoes out there in the world, and from these varieties, endless dishes have been concocted over the years. As a beginner, you will want to choose the ripest variety of potatoes that you can find.

Here are three things you can do to check:

• Squeeze them: A healthy potato is one that doesn’t give in when you squeeze it. They are firm to hold, while softer ones mean that they are probably about to go bad.
• Check for blemishes and cuts: Checking for cuts and blemishes is important as cuts give room to decay, since bacteria and mold can easily enter in such areas. Of course, minor ones are negligible and such potatoes can be used by cutting out the affected areas.
• Smell them: You can tell a lot about the ripeness of a fruit or vegetable simply by smelling them. Likewise, potatoes should have a faint soiled smell since they are grown under the ground.

Also, make sure your potatoes aren’t green, wrinkled, or have dark spots and bruises on them. Once you have bought your potatoes, you must learn how to store them.

Storing potatoes

• Potatoes are best stored in cool, dry and dark places, preferably with good ventilation. The ideal temperature for storage is 45℉ to 50℉.
• A paper bag that’s open from the top or perforated works best to store potatoes. This is because air keeps circulating through the holes and moisture doesn’t build up. Moisture is bad for potatoes as it spoils them.
• Do not store potatoes in a refrigerator. This is because the starch in potatoes converts into sugar in cooler temperatures. As a result, you get sweet potatoes that are discoloured.
• Store in a dark place and avoid exposure to the sun. This is because potatoes that are exposed to the sun produce solanine, a glycoalkaloid poison.

Tools you need

Let’s get down to cutting up the potatoes. Here are the tools you need:

• A sharp knife. Chef’s knives particularly work best for slicing up potatoes.
• A vegetable peeler for easy peeling of the potato skin.
• A cutting board.
• A bag of potatoes. After all, that’s what we’ll be cutting up and slicing down.

How to clean potatoes

Potatoes are grown under the soil. This means that you have to clean them up first before you begin to use them:

1. Rinse the potatoes under cold tap water.
2. Gently scrub away the dirt with any brush, paper towel, or cloth.
3. Pat dry.

How to cut potatoes

Potatoes are used in all kinds of dishes from simple fries and mashed potato side dishes to main courses such as chicken potato casseroles and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Simply put, potatoes know how to make their way into any dish. This in turn means that there are different ways to cut potatoes according to their purpose of use.

Cut into slices

Here are the step by step instructions on how to slice a potato:

1. Peel the potato (optional)
2. Use your knife to begin cutting from the root to end at your desired thickness level.
3. Continue till all the potatoes are sliced.

Cut into sticks

1. Peel the potato (optional).
2. With your sharp knife, cut the potato into a thin slice to allow it to sit flat on the cutting board.
3. Next, cut the potato lengthwise according to your desired thickness level.
4. Stack up the slices horizontally.
5. Cut lengthwise into sticks.

Cut into cubes

1. Peel the potato (optional).
2. Cut the potato into sticks, thicker or thinner depending on how you want your cubes.
3. Next, cut perpendicularly to create cubes.

Cut into wedges

1. Peel the potato (optional).
2. Slice it in half.
3. With the cut side facing down on the cutting board, slice it in half once more.
4. Slice each potato quarter in half again for wedges.
5. If your potato is big, you might want to slice these wedges in further halves.

How to store cut potatoes

You are done with cutting your potatoes in your desired cuts when you remember that you have to run an important errand. You also remember the last time you left your potatoes unattended for a while they had turned brown. No worries, here is what you have to do:

1. Fill a bowl with water.
2. Place the cut potatoes in the bowl of water.
3. Cover and store them in the fridge for maximum freshness.

Simple potato recipes

Potatoes are a veggie wonder! From young to old, almost everybody likes potatoes. The great thing about them is that there are a ton of simple and quick recipes that you can make with them. For your ease, we’ve gathered a list:

The famous mashed potato recipe

You might have had mashed potatoes tons of times, but this creamy, buttery and steamy recipe tops all others. Combining the flavours of rich butter, shredded cheese, cooked bits of bacon, and heavy seasonings, these mashed potatoes are a sure taste of heaven!

Do try this amazing recipe here and let us know what you think.

Garlic butter potatoes

Nothing beats the combination of garlic and butter, especially when it’s done right on a roasted potato. This potato dish is a tasty wonder, with toppings of parmesan and parsley that makes us drool just by the very sight of them.

Here is a link for you to try out this simple yet delish recipe.

Loaded potato skins

Are you planning on hosting a party and don’t know what to cook? This simple yet delicious recipe tops our list. Prepping potato skins and loading them with bacon, scallions, sour cream, and cheddar, these tasty treats will finish as soon as you serve them in your party!

Try this delicious recipe here.

Spanish omelette

This potato dish gives your regular omelette a major upgrade. Made from crispy fried potatoes and eggs, this popular Spanish dish is a must try to give your taste buds a change.

Check out this recipe here.

FAQs on potatoes

How long can cut potatoes remain fresh in water?

Potatoes that have been cut can remain in water for about an hour. After that, they need to be refrigerated for about 24 hours. Keeping them in there longer than that will result in degradation.

Is it safe to eat potato skin?

It is absolutely safe to eat potato skins. In fact, that is where most of the fiber is packed.

Do potatoes make you fat?

Good question. No, potatoes don’t make you fat, it’s the toppings and add-ons that are the real culprits. French-fries are fattening as well since they are cooked in oil, which add up the extra calories.

Can cut potatoes be frozen?

In order to freeze cut potatoes, you need to blanch them first.

Is there a way to soften potatoes that are too hard to cut?

Yes, simply microwave them for a few minutes.

We hope you liked our article on how to cut potatoes. But wait, before you set out to cut your potatoes, you might want to check out our collection of razor-sharp, hand-forged knives crafted just for you.