Leaching method: Peel and dice potatoes. Place in a large pot of warm tap water and soak for 2 to 4 hours. Drain and set aside.
Certain high-potassium foods, such as potatoes, can be soaked in water to reduce their potassium content for people on the kidney diet. For years, renal dietitians have instructed patients on low-potassium diets to cut up and leach or soak potatoes to reduce the potassium load.
However, when a soaking procedure was applied after normal cooking, it was found to be possible to leach up to 70% of the potassium, to final values of under 130 mg/100 g edible portion in both cut types studied.
Results: Mean potassium content was highest in the purple Viking potato (448.1 6 60.5 mg [11.5 6 1.6 mEq]/100 g [values are mean 6 SD unless otherwise noted]), and lowest in the Idaho potato (295 6 15.7 mg [7.6 6 0.4 mEq]/100 g). All raw potatoes had a mean potassium content of about 300 mg (7.7 mEq)/100 g or greater.
MYTH #2. MOST COOKING METHODS DESTROY THE NUTRIENTS IN POTATOES. While boiling potatoes does cause a small loss of water-soluble nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin B6, the white potato retains most, if not all, of its potassium and dietary fiber regardless of cooking method, such as baking, boiling, or frying.
Will I be able to eat potatoes? Potatoes are very high in potassium. Avoid baked potatoes or potatoes cooked in a microwave because all of the potassium stays inside the potatoes. Avoid scalloped and instant mashed potatoes as well as French fries.
Potassium and vitamin C are found predominantly in the flesh of the potato. A medium (5.3 oz) potato with the skin contains 620 mg of potassium and 27 mg of vitamin C. 1 Removing the skin eliminates approximately 150 mg of potassium and 4.5 mg of vitamin C.
The Potato is a Food Rich in Potassium
One medium potato (5.3 ounces) with the skin contains 620 mg of potassium. That's 15% of your daily requirement and more than a banana.
However, the vegetable's thin skin is a more concentrated source of nutrients, including potassium. The skin of an average-sized baked potato provides about 115 calories and just over 330 milligrams of potassium, or 9 percent of the daily value.
All raw potatoes had a mean potassium content of about 300 mg (7.7 mEq)/100 g or greater. The DC method resulted in a greater reduction in potassium from raw potatoes than the NC method. All potatoes retained a mean potassium content greater than 200 mg (5.1 mEq)/100 g, using the NC versus the DC method.
The potassium content was highest in the purple Viking potato (448.1 ± 60.5 mg [11.5 ± 1.6 mEq]/100 g), and lowest in the Idaho potato (295 ± 15.7 mg [7.6 ± 0.4 mEq]/100 g). All raw potatoes had a mean potassium content of about 300 mg (7.7 mEq)/100 g or greater.
Potatoes are an excellent source of potassium. Baked potatoes with the skin still on are the best option, as much of a potato's potassium is in the skin. One medium baked potato with skin contains 941 mg of potassium.
An average peeled and boiled potato (175g) contains 490mg / 12.5mmol potassium and double boiled this will reduce to 245mg / 6.3mmol potassium.
One medium potato delivers 610 mg of potassium, or roughly 17% of the daily value (DV). That's about 40% more potassium than you'll find in a banana, which only contains 422 mg, or 9% DV. In addition to potassium, 1 medium potato provides 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, vitamin C and magnesium.
Low-potassium vegetables:
Broccoli (raw or cooked from frozen) Cabbage. Carrots (cooked) Cauliflower.
Although rice has three times more iron than a baked potato, a potato provides five times the amount of calcium in a cup of white rice, twice the phosphorous and 14 times the potassium, rivaling potassium-rich foods such as bananas, spinach and broccoli.
Over the years, experiments on how to make our potato lower in potassium have led to recommendation for double boiling the potatoes to leach some potassium. This method will remove about 50% of the potassium from your potato.
There are limited or no options for at-home kits to test potassium levels. If you are prescribed a 24-hour urine test, you will need to collect your urine wherever you are during the day, including at home. However, this testing is still prescribed by your doctor rather than sold as a separate at-home test kit.
Potassium and exercise
When you exercise, your muscles lose potassium. This creates a substantial rise in blood potassium levels. For most people, the kidneys filter out the extra potassium fairly quickly, and potassium levels return to normal within a few minutes of rest.