Jenna Atkinson

Jenna is a self taught, home cook with a passion for baking. She gets her culinary inspiration by travelling abroad, and learning new culinary techniques.

Best Sifter for Powdered Sugar

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The best sifter for powdered sugar is the 9″ Large Fine Mesh Strainer from Yummy Kitchenware

  • Fine mesh
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Rounded edge – prevents food from being trapped
  • Made with a hook opposite the end of the handle – sifter can be placed on top of a bowl to rest
  • Dishwasher safe

What is a sifter used for

A sifter is used for breaking up lumps of food into smaller pieces. A sifter has a mesh basket that you can place food into. By gently tapping the side of the mesh basket, the broken up lumps of food will fall through the mesh creating smaller pieces. A fine mesh sifter will make the food into a powder. Powdered sugar is frequently used to top desserts to give it a finishing touch using a fine mesh sifter.

Why do you have to sift powdered sugar

Powdered sugar is an ingredient that ends up turning into clumped balls of sugar. This will not be evenly distributed sugar throughout your recipe. Make sure to sift your powdered sugar, then measure out your amount and add it to your recipe. Any excess sifted powdered sugar can be placed back into its container to reuse in the future. Learn how to dust powdered sugar on your favorite desserts.

What does it mean when a recipe calls for sifted flour

When a recipe calls for sifted flour, it’s asking you to first sift enough flour for your recipe into a bowl. Take your measuring cups and gently spoon the sifted flour into your measuring cups. Level off the excess of sifted flour using a flat surface, like the back of a knife. Once you’ve sifted and measured your flour, you can place it into your recipe.

Recipes that ask for sifted ingredients are measured after you have sifted them. You always need to measure your ingredients after you have sifted them because if you don’t, you’ll have measured too much more your recipe. Sifting your ingredients adds air to the food. Sifting makes food light and fluffy, not packed and dense. When you sift a food this increases the surface area of the food, giving it a lighter feel to it. Be careful spooning, measuring, and leveling off your freshly sifted ingredients. Keep all of the air by gently measuring your sifted ingredient.

What is the meaning of pre-sifted flour

Pre-sifted flour has already been sifted before packaging. By pre-sifting flour, this makes the manufacturer be able to put less flour into their package since the flour is not packed densely into the packaging. 

Do you have to sift pre-sifted ingredients

If you’ve purchased pre-sifted ingredients, you still need to sift your ingredient again for your recipe. Once the ingredient has been sitting for awhile, or moved in transit, it’s likely the food has become dense and clumped. Use your sifter to sift your ingredient, and then measure for your recipe is best practice.

Can you use a flour sifter for powdered sugar

Yes. You can use the same flour sifter as you do for your powdered sugar.

How to measure powdered sugar

You can measure powdered sugar by measuring it after sifting. Spoon the powdered sugar and place it into a measuring cup. Level off the excess powdered sugar by using a flat surface (back of a knife) to push off the excess powdered sugar.

You can measure powdered sugar by measuring it by weight. After you have sifted your powdered sugar, you can spoon it into a bowl on a kitchen scale to measure it’s weight for your recipe.

Best Sifter for Powdered Sugar

Stainless Steel vs Glass Mixing Bowls

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Are stainless steel or glass mixing bowls better

Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls Glass Mixing Bowls
Transfers temperature to food - best for whipping stiff peaksTolerates high heat
Hand washing recommendedDishwasher safe
No acidic foodsAcidic foods ok`
LightHeavy
Scratches and dents possibleChipping possible

Temperature

Glass mixing bowls can tolerate high heat, and can be used with acidic foods. Glass mixing bowls can be used in the microwave, unlike stainless steel mixing bowls. This makes baking easier when you need to start your recipe with melted butter. It saves you a step having to get a new bowl out to microwave butter, and then having to place it in your stainless steel mixing bowl.

Glass such as Pyrex are made of borosilicate glass. The makeup of borosilicate glass allows it to resist stresses like thermal shock or thermal expansion. This type of glass is also used by labs and household cookware since it will tolerate high heats without cracking.

Stainless steel mixing bowls are able to transfer their temperature to the food they are carrying better than glass. When mixing foods that are cold such as egg whites or whipping cream, a stainless steel bowl is preferred. The bowl will become the same temperature as the food and will hold the temperature, allowing the food to be whipped to stiff peaks better than a glass bowl. 

Dishwasher Safe

Stainless steel mixing bowls are dishwasher safe, but it is recommended that they are hand washed to prolong the life of the bowl. Glass bowls are easily washed in a dishwasher, with no need to hand wash them.

Damage

Stainless steel does have a tendency to get scratches and dents, whereas glass mixing bowls can get chips in them over time. Be sure to monitor your glass mixing bowl before using it to ensure it’s free of any chips before using it.

Stainless steel mixing bowls are resistant to stains and can be used for everyday use, not just with your stand mixer. 

Heavy vs Light

Stainless steel mixing bowls are light and can be easily placed onto your stand mixer.  Glass mixing bowls are much heavier, and will ensure your stand mixer remains in place. If you are using your stainless mixing bowl and vigorously mixing, it has the potential to be unsteady on your countertop.

Bonus Uses

Stainless steel bowls are preferred when using a double boiler as well. The high heat from the steam created by the boiling water will transfer to the stainless steel bowl. Stainless steel is a low conductor of heat which is ideal for making custard. The slowly heated bowl does not overcook the eggs needed for custard, making it the perfect choice for a double boiler.

Glass mixing bowls can be used for mixing other baked goods, and not just for your stand mixer. Glass mixing bowls come in handy when making dips and sauces.

When not to use metal mixing bowls

Do not use metal mixing bowls for foods that are high in acidic. Do not use metal mixing bowls for citrus, tomatoes, apricots, rhubarb, or vinegar. It’s best to use a glass or ceramic mixing bowl when baking rhubarb crisp, apricot pies, or lemon tarts.


Mixing bowls with measurements inside

You can find glass mixing bowls with measurements you can easily ready from the inside. Since glass is transparent, you can read the measurement markings on the outside as well.

Glass mixing bowls with measurements on the outside are difficult to find. If you’re lucky you can find one with a lid that fits on top.

Glass mixing bowls and Stainless steeling mixing bowls have their place in the kitchen. Depending on what you plan on baking with your mixing bowls, you could select either one. Stainless has more drawbacks when it comes to foods you can use in your mixing bowl. But stainless steel is a necessity when whipping cream or egg whites. Glass mixing bowls can be used with any type of food, but will struggle when using it for whipping egg whites or whipping cream. Glass mixing bowls are versatile and heavy duty for your every day use.

What is a Cheese Calzone

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A cheese calzone is a calzone that has it’s base a mixture of cheeses. Typically a cheese calzone would consist of mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan cheeses. The cheeses are mixed with breadcrumbs and herbs to give it a good base before placing the cheese filling in the calzone dough. A cheese calzone can also be mixed with meats including salami, ham, prosciutto, or pepperoni.

how to seal dough securely

How do you seal a calzone?

The calzone dough is sealed with a bit of egg and then pressed down with a fork to seal the edges.

how to seal pastry edges
how to seal puff pastry with water

Calzone Dough vs Pizza Dough

Calzone dough and pizza dough are actually same type of dough. Usually people make calzones with their leftover pizza dough. To use pizza dough for calzone dough, roll it out into a rectangle. Cut strips of dough that are quite wide ~6 inches wide & 12 inches long. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it depends how large you want your calzones. Place the filling on the bottom half of your cut rectangles. Fold and stretch your calzone dough over your filling and seal the edges with water or a bit of egg. Then using a fork, seal the calzone dough around the edges and you’re ready to bake them.

Calzone fillings that are vegetarian

  • spinach
  • onions
  • peppers
  • mushrooms

Do calzones have ricotta?

Calzones can have ricotta in them, along with a mixture of other cheeses like parmesan and mozzarella. Ricotta calzones can also be mixed meats and other vegetables to be a more balanced meal for dinner.

Calzone fillings with ricotta

Do calzones have sauce?

Calzones don’t usually have sauce, but you can serve marinara sauce with your calzones for dipping sauce. Another sauce to serve with your calzones is garlic butter to dip your calzone into.

Do calzones have sauce?

What goes good with a calzone?

There are countless foods that go well with calzones. You’ll want to balance out the flavors of your calzone to the side you are picking for your dinner. Don’t pick two similar foods, try to select complimenting foods for your meal.

  • Butternut squash soup
  • potato leak soup
  • minestrone soup
  • Caesar salad
  • corn on the cob
  • green salad
  • marinara sauce

Pretzel Dough Recipe

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Simple pretzel dough recipe that you can make at home in about 20 minutes plus baking time.

Top your pretzel dough with your favorite toppings before baking.

pretzel dough recipe

What do you put on top of pretzels?

  • salt
  • pizza sauce and cheese
  • parmesan cheese
  • sesame seeds
  • sesame seeds, poppy seeds, coarse salt
  • cinnamon and sugar
What do you put on top of pretzels?
pretzel dough recipe
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Pretzel Dough Recipe

How to make pretzel dough
Prep Time20 minutes
Active Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Snack

Materials

  • 600 ml flour
  • 15 ml yeast
  • 15 ml sugar
  • 2 ml salt
  • 250 ml water warm (105-115 degrees F)
  • to taste coarse sea salt
  • 1 egg optional (for egg wash)

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine warm water, yeast, sugar, salt and water. Let stand for 5 min until yeast blooms (becomes frothy).
  • Pour yeast mixture into 500 ml of flour. Mix together. Turn onto a floured surface. Knead for 5-7 min adding flour as needed (~100 ml flour). Knead your dough until smooth and elastic.
  • Your pretzel dough is ready to be rolled out and shaped. You can do an egg wash to your pretzels if you want more of a shiny look to them. Beat an egg with a fork and then brush egg onto your pretzels. Add coarse salt to your pretzels before baking.
  • Bake 15-20 min. Pretzels should be lightly browned. Serve immediately.

Notes

We topped our pretzels with pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.
Feel free to try out topping your pretzels with your favorite topping before baking! 

Banana Blueberry Muffins with Oats

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Jump to Recipe

Banana blueberry muffins with oats are buttery with a burst of blueberry flavor.

Banana blueberry muffins with oats is a delicious recipe to make for a quick snack or on the go breakfast.

banana blueberry muffins with oats

How to mash bananas for muffins

Peel your bananas. Then use a fork on a plate to mash your bananas up. If you’re mashing a banana that is quite wide in diameter, cut your banana in half lengthwise. Press your fork into the banana and mash it until it’s lumpy with no huge chunks of banana present.

How much is 1 cup of mashed bananas for a recipe

1 cup of mashed bananas for a recipe is 2-3 bananas.

How much is 2 cups of mashed bananas for a recipe

2 cups of mashed bananas for a recipe is 4-5 bananas.

How to mash bananas for muffins

Can you mash green bananas?

It’s very difficult to mash green bananas. They are hard, therefore it’s more challenging to mash green bananas for a recipe. Try using a pastry blender to mash your green bananas if you’re having trouble with a fork. It’s best to use ripe bananas for mashing which you can usually find at the grocery store in the single banana section.

Can you mash green bananas?
banana blueberry muffins with oats
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Banana Blueberry Muffins with Oats

How to make banana blueberry muffins with oats
Prep Time20 minutes
Active Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Keyword: muffins
Yield: 12 muffins

Materials

  • 1 1/3 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar granulated
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cup mashed bananas 3-4 mashed bananas
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 1 cup blueberries frozen

Instructions

  • Combine flour, sugar, rolled oats, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  • Beat your egg and mix together with mashed bananas and melted butter. Mash your bananas with a fork on a plate until they're completed mashed through. You don't want any large chunks of banana.
  • Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients. Add blueberries to the mixture. Begin mixing with a spatula gently until only JUST combined. Do not overmix. The batter should look lumpy.
  • Grease your muffin tin. Fill the muffin cups almost full.
  • Bake your muffins at 375 degrees F for 20-25 min, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. The top of the muffins should be medium-golden brown and crisp up in the oven.

What to Eat with Almonds

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Almonds can be eaten on their own or with foods that compliment its flavor. You can eat foods like fruit or cheese with almonds. You can also eat granola with almonds. Try adding almonds to your daily breakfast, even if it’s just eating toast and peanut butter. A few almonds on top of your peanut butter will give you added calories and make you feel full longer.

What goes good with almonds

Almonds go well with several different types of food including:

  • Brie cheese
  • Granola
  • Bananas
  • Apples
  • Chocolate
  • Garnish for Salad

Almond recipes for baking

You can make a variety of baking almond recipes right at home. Some of them require your almonds to be slivered, sliced or chopped. You may need to purchase a different cut of almonds for your recipe. Sliced almonds are perfect for almond croissants because the will lie flat on the croissant giving them a beautiful eye catching look to them. In foods like muffins or cakes usually you’ll want them quite small – so chopped would be your best bet. Be aware of your supply of almonds before taking on a new baking recipe!

Almond recipes for baking

Recipes using almond meal flour

Almond meal flour is a delicious substitute for regular flour. There are countless baking recipes nowadays for anything from sugar cookies to chocolate chip cookies using almond meal flour. Try them out for a unique hint of almond flavor in your baking.

What to do with stale almonds

You can do a lot with stale almonds just sitting in your cupboard. You can even revive your stale almonds by simply toasting them. You can use your stale almonds that have been roasted again for muffins, cookies, and cakes.

How to store almonds and walnuts

Store your almonds and walnuts in an airtight container in your cupboard. Room temperature is the best to store your almonds and walnuts because it prevents your nuts from getting damp. When you put your nuts in the fridge or in the freezer, this can make your nuts wet and potentially go moldy – which would render them unusable. Keep them their best by leaving them at room temperature.  

Recipes with chopped almonds

Recipes with chopped almonds are typically breads and muffins. You can also make salads with chopped almonds to make your salads more filling.

The 4 Components of a Salad

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The 4 components of a salad are the base, body, dressing and garnish.

The base of a salad is the greens or leaves that line the bottom of the salad.

The body is the meat, vegetables, or fruit.

The dressing is what coats the salad.

The garnish includes cheese, nuts, and herbs for the top of the salad.

base salad component examples

Components of a Salad

Base of a Salad

The base of a salad is the greens that line the bottom of the salad.

You could make a salad with a couple different types of base, including red leaf lettuce and arugula.

  • iceberg lettuce
  • romaine lettuce
  • red leaf lettuce
  • cabbage
  • spinach
  • arugula
  • red oak lettuce
salad components

Body of a Salad

The body of the salad sits on top of the base of the salad.

The body of a salad can be a mixture of cooked and uncooked ingredients such as meat, vegetables and fruit.

Typically salads have a few different body components in them such as strawberries, cucumber and avocado.

  • bacon
  • chicken
  • shrimp
  • eggs
  • carrots
  • celery
  • grapes
  • strawberries
  • tomatoes
  • avocado
  • onions
  • apples
Components of a Salad

Dressing a Salad

The dressing of a salad is the liquid that will be dispersed throughout to coat the body and base of the salad.

The dressing brings the salad together to make it taste refreshing.

Salad dressings can be acidic, sweet, salty, or creamy.

dressing salad examples
Components of a Salad

Garnishing a Salad

The garnish of a salad is a food or herb that will go on the top of the salad for added decoration and color, and enhance the flavor of the salad.

A garnish for a salad includes cheese, nuts, dried fruits, spices, or herbs.

The garnish should be eye-catching and appeal to the person eating the salad.

garnish salad examples

Salad Garnish Ideas

  • Fresh berries – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Blue Cheese
  • Feta
  • Parmesan crisps
  • Olives
  • Grapes
  • Pomegranate seeds
  • Onion crisps
  • Wonton crisps
  • Nuts
  • Arugula
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Sesame seeds
  • Dried cranberries
  • Dried raisins
  • Strips of tortillas 
  • Crostini
  • Sliced radish
  • Grated carrots
  • Grated bell peppers
  • Sliced avocado
  • Mint leaves

5 Types of salad

There are 5 types of salads including tosses, bound, vegetable fruit, and combination

Tossed

A tossed salad is a green salad or garden salad that is mixed together with vegetables and/or fruit, and dressing.

Tossed salads are typically made with iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, or red leaf lettuce.

Tossed salad examples

Bound

A bound salad is one that has a cooked ingredient in it, such as meat, eggs, pasta, or potatoes.

Bound salads can have cheese or vegetables included in them as well.

bound salad examples

Vegetable

A vegetable salad consists of raw or cooked vegetables.

Vegetable salads have some sort of cheese added to them such as feta, brie, or goat cheese.

Vegetable salads can have coleslaw or cabbage in them as a base.

Components of a Salad

Fruit

A fruit salad consists of a mixture of fruit with sweet or citrusy dressing.

Fruit salad Ingredient examples:

  • apples
  • strawberries
  • bananas
  • pineapple
  • mango
  • grapes
  • peaches
  • nectarines
  • watermelon
  • cantaloupe
  • blueberries
  • blackberries
  • raspberries

Fruit salad dressing examples:

Fruit salads typically have mint as a garnish on top.

fruit salad examples

Combination

A combination salad is a mixture of the other 4 types of salads.

Combination salads are typically made of meat or cheese that have been added to vegetables in a tossed salad.

How many types of salad are there

How to Make Chocolate Spirals

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To make your own chocolate spirals at home, you’ll need a potato peeler, and your choice of chocolate. Select a piece of chocolate that has a long edge to it – at least 2-3”. This because, the only the chocolate edge, the bigger your chocolate spiral will be.

See video here.

How to Make Chocolate Spirals

Remove your chocolate from it’s packaging, hold the chocolate in your hand so the longer edge is on top. Holding the chocolate steady, go in a quick motion by using the potato peeler to peel away from the chocolate to create a chocolate spiral. You should get the hang of it after a couple of chocolate spirals.

Experiment with different speeds to see how fast you ideally need to go.

For a shorter chocolate spiral, use the shorter end of the chocolate.

Make sure your fingers are no where near the potato peeler is going to go when you’re peeling the chocolate layers away. Even though potato peelers are not that sharp, it does still have the potential to cut you if you’re not careful.

Cilantro Lime Coleslaw Recipe No Mayo

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Jump to Recipe

Cilantro lime coleslaw is a citrusy and tart slaw. The dressing makes the coleslaw tangy, with a bit of a bite with the vinegar.

Cilantro lime coleslaw recipe made without using mayonnaise is perfect for making tacos with.

You can use this cilantro lime coleslaw with no mayo on beef tacos, vegetarian tacos, or shrimp tacos.

Cilantro Lime Coleslaw Recipe No Mayo

The cabbage used in the coleslaw recipe can be found in one of the premade coleslaws that you’ll find in a bag in the grocery store.

The coleslaw should already have sliced carrots in the coleslaw so you won’t need to add any. I find that purchasing this coleslaw is much cheaper and easier than cutting up multiple cabbage and having most of it go to waste.

The coleslaw in a bag should last 3-4 days in the fridge, so that will give you enough time to use most of it up.

The best use of this Mexican slaw is for adding it to shrimp tacos.

The coleslaw with cilantro lime vinaigrette goes nicely with the shrimp giving it a hint of lime flavor.

It’s not too overpowering and leaves you with a fresh taste in your mouth. You can also try this citrus slaw for on top of fish tacos!

Why does citrus go well with fish

Fish is a salty food, and once cooked, it’s skin forms a caramelizing flavor creating a sweet taste. When you add in citrus – sour flavor, you’re getting a combination of salt, sweet and sour all at once. Citrus goes well with fish because it compliments the other flavorings and balances them out.

You can make this quick lime and cilantro slaw in only 5 minutes. Prepare it just before you’re ready to serve your tacos so your coleslaw doesn’t get soggy. I recommend serving it with some sort of salsa – try our watermelon and pineapple salsa if you’re up for a challenge!

watermelon salsa with pineapple and mango
Cilantro Lime Coleslaw Recipe No Mayo
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Cilantro Lime Coleslaw Recipe No Mayo

How to make cilantro lime coleslaw without using mayonnaise
Prep Time5 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Keyword: coleslaw
Yield: 2 servings

Materials

  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp olive oil extra virgin
  • pinch salt
  • 1/8 cup cilantro chopped
  • 3/4 cup mixture of shredded carrots, green and purple cabbage (coleslaw base) this blend of coleslaw can be found in a bag in the grocery store

Instructions

  • Mix the dressing together in a small bowl by combining 1 tbsp lime juice, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1/2 tsp olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Use a fork to whisk the dressing together vigorously.
  • Place coleslaw into a separate bowl and add fresh cilantro leaves.
    Pour the dressing over the coleslaw and mix together. Your lime cilantro coleslaw is ready to be served.
    If you have any leftover dressing, store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
    Coleslaw that has been dressed already does not store well. The cabbage won't be as crunchy the following day. It's best to make fresh right before you're going to serve the coleslaw.

Ideas for Too Many Potatoes What to Do with Them

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If you have too many potatoes on hand, you need to figure out what you’re going to do with all of them. You need to decide if you want to store them, cook them, or freeze them.

Ideas for Too Many Potatoes What to Do with Them

How to Store Potatoes

To store your potatoes at room temperature, place them in a dark, dry area. They will stay good for a couple of weeks.

If you’re wanting your potatoes stored for longer, there are a couple of other options.

What to do with potatoes before they go bad

  • hash browns
  • roasted potatoes with parmesan
  • scalloped potatoes
  • smashed potatoes
  • parmesan garlic potato wedges
  • potato casserole
  • baked potato rounds
  • mashed potatoes
  • broccoli and cheddar potatoes
  • twice baked potatoes
  • potato latkes
  • Greek lemon potatoes
  • Breakfast hash brown and bacon casserole
  • potato pancakes
  • potato bread
  • French fries
too many potatoes what to do

What can you make with potatoes for dinner

Ideas for what to do with Too Many Potatoes

Freeze chopped potatoes

You can freeze chopped potatoes that have not been cooked in an airtight container, or a sealed plastic bag.

The potatoes will turn brown in the freezer, but they will retain most of their flavor.

Thaw your frozen chopped potatoes in the fridge overnight and cook them up for hash browns.

Freeze cooked potatoes

You can freeze cooked potatoes by baking them in the oven and then letting them cool.

Next, you can grate, slice, or chop your potatoes. Grating your cooking potatoes is the easiest way.

You don’t have to worry about the size as your grating. It’s much simpler than making sure your slices or chopped potatoes are all of similar sizes.

Frozen grated cooked potatoes are a great additive for making soup, curry, stew, breakfast casseroles, and hash browns.

Freeze shredded potatoes

Once you have your potatoes shredded, place them in an airtight container and freeze them.

To thaw your frozen shredded potatoes, place them in the fridge overnight and use them the following day for your recipe.

How to keep potatoes fresh after peeling

To keep potatoes fresh after you’ve finished peeling them, place them in a bowl of cold water.

They will not go brown, since they are not exposed to air.

Therefore, oxidation will not take place. The potatoes will keep fresh after peeling them and putting them in water for a couple of hours.

how to use up Too Many Potatoes