Potatoes, Peels, and a Mild Kitchen Stand-Off

You ever have one of those “it’s not a big deal, but also kind of is” moments in the kitchen?

That was me the other night, standing at the counter with a bag of potatoes in one hand and a peeler in the other, just trying to get dinner going. Nothing fancy — just roasted potatoes, maybe some herbs if I remembered to grab them. I was in my zone, you know?

And then from across the kitchen:
“You’re gonna wash those first, right?”

It was my mother-in-law.
Not in a harsh way. Not even judgy. Just… a tone. One of those quiet, pointed comments that comes wrapped in generations of kitchen wisdom and also a slight suggestion that you’re doing it wrong.

I paused. Blinked. Looked down at the potatoes.
“I mean… I’m peeling them.”

She smiled, but didn’t say anything.
Just stood there, letting the silence do its work.

And suddenly I was second-guessing every potato I’ve ever cooked. Because… wait. Should you wash them first? Even if you’re just gonna peel them?

I had always kind of… not? And now I felt like a food criminal.

So, of course, I washed them. Because she was right there. But I also couldn’t stop thinking about it. And yeah, I googled it later — like a normal person with a potato-related identity crisis.

Here’s what I found.

Okay, But Why Wash a Potato If You’re Peeling It?

Here’s the logic I used to believe:
If I’m taking the skin off, why would I waste time washing it? The dirt’s on the outside. The part we eat is underneath. Right?

But here’s the thing I didn’t consider — your hands, your peeler, your cutting board… they touch everything.

So if there’s dirt, bacteria, pesticides, or just warehouse funk on that potato skin, and you start peeling without rinsing it off first? All that mess gets transferred to the clean part. The part you’re about to cook. The part someone’s going to eat.

Basically, you’re dragging everything from the outside straight into your dinner. Whoops.

But My Family’s Never Washed Potatoes and We’re Fine

Same. And look — I get it.

If your grandma peeled potatoes right out of the bag and lived to be 94, it’s easy to think all this “wash everything” stuff is just modern overthinking. I used to think that too.

But just because something didn’t make us sick then doesn’t mean it’s the best idea now. Food safety standards have changed. Farming practices have changed. Grocery store storage has changed.

Plus, let’s be honest — some of us just got lucky.

I’m not saying you’ll drop dead from an unwashed potato. But if a 30-second rinse keeps grit and germs off my plate? I’m in.

What’s Actually On a Potato, Though?

Short answer: stuff you probably don’t want in your mouth.

• Dirt and sand (they literally grow underground, after all)

• Pesticide residue, especially on conventionally farmed potatoes

• Bacteria from storage bins, delivery crates, and grocery shelves

• Occasionally mold spores or odd warehouse dust (love that for us)

Even if you’re tossing the peel, that grime can get on your hands, the peeler, or the knife blade and make its way onto the inside of the potato… or worse, something else you’re prepping nearby.

And if you’re cooking for kids, someone who’s pregnant, or anyone with a sensitive stomach? Just wash them. It’s not worth the risk.

But Really, Is This That Big of a Deal?

Honestly… kinda. But also? Not in a freak out and sterilize the world kind of way.

It’s more of a mindset shift. One of those tiny food-prep habits that feels small but adds up. Like washing your hands after cracking an egg. Or not using the same cutting board for raw chicken and salad greens.

They’re small acts of care. And once you build them in, they don’t feel like a hassle anymore.

Quick Potato-Washing How-To (In Case You’re Like Me and Never Really Did It Right)

You don’t need a special brush. You don’t need a lecture. Just do this:

1. Rinse the potato under cool running water.

2. Rub it gently with your hands or a clean sponge.

3. If there’s visible dirt, give it a little scrub with a veggie brush or even a rough kitchen towel.

4. Pat dry or let it drip — then peel.

Done. That’s it. You don’t have to soak them. No full spa treatment needed.

Kitchen Traditions, Family Habits, and When to Just Smile and Rinse

Back to my mother-in-law for a second.

That moment — her asking if I was going to wash the potatoes — wasn’t about making me feel bad. It wasn’t even about food safety, really. It was about her way. The way she grew up cooking. The rituals she’s held onto.

And I get that.

I have my own. You probably do too.

Some people rinse rice five times. Some salt their pasta water like they’re salting a sidewalk. Some won’t eat fruit until it’s room temp. We all have our things.

The key is knowing when a habit is about comfort — and when it’s actually, you know, kind of smart.

Washing potatoes? Turns out, it’s both.

So… Do You Have to Wash Them?

Technically? No.
Is the world going to end if you skip it? Also no.
But should you? Probably.

Especially if:

• You’re peeling them.

• You’re feeding other people.

• You don’t want to risk cross-contamination.

• You’re prepping on a shared surface.

• You ever plan to say, “I made this from scratch with love.”

Because love looks a lot like scrubbing dirt off a vegetable when no one’s watching.

Final Thought Before I Go Rinse Another Russet

I don’t think this is about potatoes, really.

It’s about those tiny decisions we make in the kitchen — when no one’s filming us, no one’s judging, no one’s giving us gold stars. Just us and the cutting board and a question like, “Is this step really worth it?”

Sometimes it is. Sometimes it’s not.

But when it comes to washing potatoes before you peel them?

Yeah. I’m gonna go ahead and say it is.

And next time, I’ll wash them before she even asks.

If you’ve ever had a similar “Wait, am I doing this wrong?” moment in the kitchen, tell me. I promise I won’t judge. We’re all just trying to feed people without giving anyone food poisoning.