yes, you should still wash potatoes—even if you’re going to peel them.
Here’s why it matters:
🥔 1. Dirt and bacteria transfer
Potatoes grow in soil, so the skin can carry dirt, pesticides, and bacteria. When you peel or cut them, your knife and hands can drag that contamination onto the clean flesh inside.
🔪 2. Cross-contamination is easy
Even if you remove the skin, anything on the outside can:
- Get onto your cutting board
- Transfer to your hands
- End up on the peeled potato
🧼 3. Washing is quick and effective
You don’t need anything fancy:
- Rinse under running water
- Rub with your hands or a vegetable brush
- Then peel
That’s it—takes 10–15 seconds.
⚠️ 4. Food safety recommendation
Food safety guidelines generally say to wash produce before peeling or cutting, not after. Peeling doesn’t remove risk if contamination spreads during prep.
👍 Bottom line
Your mother-in-law is right on this one—but it’s not about being overly strict. It’s just a simple habit that reduces risk with almost no extra effort.
If you want, I can explain when it’s less critical (like for certain cooking methods) or what actually happens during cooking 👍