Pink Eye Potato

Photo: flickr user helgasms!

About

Pink Eye potatoes are an early maturing type grown mainly in the south of the State. The tubers are creamy-white, blotched with purple and tend to be round with a depression in the stolen end. The eyes are deep and pink, whilst the flesh is yellow with a tendency to be waxy. They are mainly for baking and for boiling as “new’ potatoes. The cultivar is susceptible to powdery scab. Plants are tall, vigorous, open and erect, with small to medium dark green leaves. Flowers are purple, and the plant often produces many berries. The country of origin and year of release is not known, being recorded only as an Australian selection. It was included in the Tasmanian Certified Seed Potato Scheme (which commenced in 1928) in the 1944 season. However, small areas were grown in southern Tasmania before this.

Information

Translations: Pink Eye Kartupeļu, Pink Eye bulvių, Ochi de cartofi roz, Pink Eye Krumpir, Pink Eye khoai tây, Pink Eye ziemniaka, Pink Eye Aardappel, गुलाबी नेत्र आलू, Pink Eye Batata, Розовый глаз картофеля, Ροζ πατάτας Eye, الوردي العين البطاطا, 핑크 아이 감자, Pink Oční brambor, Pink Eye Kentang, Pink Eye patatas, 马铃薯粉红色眼睛, Rosa Papa ulls, Pink Eye krompirja, Pink Očné zemiakov, Pink Eye di patate, פינק תפו&א עין, Pink Eye Potatis, Пинк очију Кромпир, ピンクアイポテト, Pommes de terre conjonctivite, Rosa Papa ojos, Рожевий очей картоплі, Pink Eye Peruna, Пинк очите картофи

Physical Description

Pink eye potatoes are small, round sized potatoes. They have a distinct pink-ish, red outer skin.

Colors: Pink or red skinned potato

Tasting Notes

Flavors: Nutty, Bland

Mouthfeel: Earthy, Bland, Soft

Food complements: Meat, Vegetables, Rice, Grains

Wine complements: Red wine, Pinot noir, Rose wines

Beverage complements: Sparkling wine such as champagne

Substitutes: Pasta, Rice

Selecting and Buying

Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december

Choosing: Choose a pink eye potato that is firm with its skin intact. Avoid potatoes with roots or sprouts growing out of it.

Buying: Pink eye potatoes are available at local grocery stores in the produce aisle along with all other potato products.

Preparation and Use

Pink eye potatoes can be roasted, baked, grilled or fried. They are extremely versatile as an ingredient with meat or other vegetables. You can mash the potatoes up to make mash potatoes.

Cleaning: Clean the pink eye potato by scrubbing it under cold water to get rid of any dirt or debris.

Conserving and Storing

Pink eye potatoes can be stored in refrigeration for quite a while. Potatoes go bad as soon as they sprout anything on the surface.

Author

Anonymous

Comments

Permalink Leanne Howard
December 13, 2012

My mother always used to say that the more eyes in a pink eye potato, the sweeter they are. My Dad grew up on a potato farm in NSW and I think this maybe where she got this saying from. My partner also grew up on a farm in the Midlands in Tasmana and disagrees with my mother's theory. Can you please tell me who is correct? Thanking You