Survey takes pulse of potato consumption predilections

A recent Potatoes USA survey found that baked can’t be beaten when it comes to Americans’ favorite way to consume potatoes.

Forty-one percent of survey respondents picked baked as their favorite nutritious way to snack on spuds, while 17% gave mashed the nod.

The survey also revealed some regional preferences. For example, 31% of residents in New England loved mashed potatoes, the most of any region.

In the Deep South, mid-Atlantic and Pacific regions, boiled and steamed potatoes ruled the roost for 14% of folks in all three of those regions.

The survey also broke down regions into Outer South, Great Lakes, Farm Belt and Mountain.

“As a dietitian I know the nutritional power the potato packs,” Bonnie Johnson, Potatoes USA director of nutrition and industry relations, said in a news release.

“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.”

A medium skin-on potato provides nearly one-third of the daily value of vitamin C, 15% DV of potassium and 10% DV of vitamin B6, according to the organization.

“Potatoes are nutritious, delicious and affordable — and that’s something we can all agree on,” Johnson said.