The Potato: An Owner's Manual Trivia Quiz

Answer: cut the raw potato crosswise and rub the cut end over the rust until it dissolves

The raw potato contains mild oxalic acid, which reacts with the rust to help dissolve it. Also, the fibrous texture of the raw potato acts as a scrubbing pad to physically loosen and remove the rust. A cooked potato won't work in this scenario.

Bonus Hint: Run, don't walk, away from anyone suggesting that you try to clean a heated pot.

Answer: cook the whole potato first; when it cools enough to handle, it's a hot compress; chill, and it's a cold one

The key here is to cook the potato completely first. Cooked potatoes hold on to heat or cold very well, due to their high water content, even better than raw or partly-cooked potatoes. Remember to wrap the potato in a plastic bag or cling wrap before applying it to your sore spot.

Answer: wash and cut the potato into a few large chunks; add to the soup and let cook for ten minutes; remove

This is an example of the chemically-attractive properties of potato starch. In this instance the starch molecules in the potato attract the salt from the soup, forming new chemical bonds which keep the salt in the potato and not in the soup.

N.B.: This is not a "potato recipe" in that you do not serve the cooked potato for anyone to eat (remember, it's really salty!). Here the potato acts more in the manner of a chemical de-salinator and not a food.

Answer: dig around the geranium plants, removing some of the dirt; place the diced raw potato in the hole next to the roots; replace the dirt, securing the plant

The potato and geranium are complementary plants. Planting new plants near each other increases the hardiness of each. In the case of the wilting geraniums, the addition of potato pieces near the geranium roots provides essential mineral nutrients (potassium, phosphorus, manganese) which strengthen the growing geraniums.

This method only works with raw potato: cooking the potato negates any helpful effect it might have with the geraniums.

Answer: run the potato through your juice machine; apply the juice to your wrinkles; rinse

The potato is rich in Vitamin A and the minerals selenium and copper, all of which combine to bolster the collagen in the skin's layers; thus "plumping" the skin and minimizing wrinkles. The mild acids in potato juice serve to exfoliate dead skin cells, causing wrinkles to appear less pronounced. Potato juice also softens and tightens skin, which serves to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Answer: cook the peeled potato in boiling water; remove the potato; soak the silverware in the cooking water for 1 hour; wash and rinse

Over time the surface of the silver will react with the sulfur in the atmosphere to form silver sulfide, which turns the surface of the silver into bluish-black tarnish. Boiling a potato in water causes some of the starches and sugars present in the potato to transfer to the water.

It is these compounds which interact with the silver sulfide tarnish to form new compounds which detach from the silver, removing the tarnish.

Answer: rub your stained hands with cut, raw potato until the stains disappear; rinse well with clear water

The oxalic and ascorbic (Vitamin C) acids in the potato act as mild bleaching agents and counteract the stains from the berries or beets. Also, the fibrous nature of the potato "scrubs" the skin with a very mild exfoliating action, removing loose skin or callous cells which carry the stains.

Answer: cut the potato crosswise into quarter-inch slices; lie back and apply the slices to your closed eyes for ten minutes

The anti-inflammatory properties of raw potato, caused in part by its high starch content, act to reduce eye irritation and constrict the blood vessels under the eyes, squeezing out excess moisture in the process. Also, potatoes contain a chemical called catecholase, which lightens the dark circles that can accompany puffy eyes.

In addition, the high water content in the potato serves to moisturize the delicate undereye skin.

Answer: slice off the end of the raw potato; twist it into the light bulb base; unscrew and remove the broken bulb

When impaled on the lampless light bulb socket, the raw potato provides a "handle" whereby the bulb base can be unscrewed from the socket. It also serves to protect hands from any wires or broken glass shards remaining in the bulb base.

Answer: use raw potato slices or a paste from some minced or ground raw potato; apply to burn for a few minutes

The high water content of the potato helps to lower the temperature of and moisturize the affected skin area. Also, the potato contains several vitamins (B-complex, C, E, and K) which help to speed the healing process. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of potato juice combat redness and fight infection. Once again, these burn-healing properties apply to raw potatoes only.