Peeling and Cleaning New Potatoes Made Easy: Wash and Peel Without Touching, Kitchen Stays Spotless

New Delhi: The fresh new potatoes of winter are a favorite in many Indian households, but cleaning them—removing layers of soil and delicate skins—can be a tedious task. However, a clever hack from Punjab shows how a washing machine can turn this chore into a quick and effortless process.

Choosing the Right Potatoes

This trick works best with new potatoes, as their thin skin peels off easily. Older potatoes have tougher skins and won’t peel well using this method. According to Sidak, who shared the hack, 5 to 10 kg of potatoes can be washed at once. Make sure to remove any stones or hard debris before placing them in the machine to avoid damaging the drum.

Preparing the Washing Machine

Fill the washing machine drum with water—no soap or detergent is needed. Sidak used only plain water. Set the machine to a normal wash cycle. As the drum spins, the potatoes will rub against each other, creating friction that loosens dirt and peels the delicate skins.

Cleaning and Peeling Process

The thick layer of soil on the new potatoes dissolves in water as they collide with each other. The machine’s rotation lifts and drops the potatoes, ensuring that even dirt trapped in corners is removed. Within 5–10 minutes, the potatoes are visibly clean, with most of their skin peeled off naturally. This simple trick turns a task that normally takes hours into a matter of minutes.

Final Cleaning and Safety Tips

Once the cycle ends, drain the dirty water and rinse the potatoes once more with fresh water. After using this method, it’s important to clean the washing machine drum and filter thoroughly to remove soil residue that might clog pipes. Also, avoid overloading the machine to prevent strain.