Produce
Potatoes
Potatoes have a high detection rate but few residues per sample — the pattern is dominated by post-harvest sprout inhibitors applied in storage rather than a long field spray schedule. The skin is where both the fiber and most of the residue sit.
Organic upgrade priority
Consider organic
Score 31/100 · about $1.88 a week extra for a household of two
- →Conventional samples index 64/100 against 20/100 for organic — a 44-point difference.
- →At about 4.8 servings a week, the difference applies to a smaller share of what you eat.
- →Sample confidence is limited, so the score is weighted down by 28%.
Key numbers
- Residue evidence
- 64/100
- Higher residue evidence
- Nutrient density
- 62/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $5.49
- per 5 lb bag · organic +46%
- Servings a week
- 4.8
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
- Samples
- 1,383
- Conventional, 2022–2024 · 32 organic
- Data confidence
- Limited
- Set from sample size and year coverage
Organic vs conventional potatoes
| Measure | Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 1,383 | 32 |
| Program years | 2022–2024 | 2022–2024 |
| Samples with any residue | 95% | 50% |
| Mean residues per sample | 1.9 | 0.5 |
| Samples above the EPA tolerance | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Relative residue evidence index | 64/100 | 20/100 |
| Typical price | $5.49 / 5 lb bag | $7.99 / 5 lb bag |
Nutrition
Per 1 medium baked, with skin (173 g).
161
calories
4.3 g
protein
3.8 g
fiber
17 mg
sodium
- Potassium 26% DV
- Vitamin C 28% DV
- Vitamin B6 27% DV
How to wash potatoes
Scrub with a brush under running water. If you are peeling them anyway, the residue question largely goes away — but so does about a third of the fiber.
Washing reduces surface residue and soil. It does not remove systemic compounds taken up into the plant, and no soap, vinegar, or commercial produce wash has been shown to beat 30 seconds of plain running water by a margin worth paying for. Full washing guide.
Buying and storing
- ◆A cooled cooked potato forms resistant starch, which behaves more like fiber than sugar. Potato salad is genuinely gentler on blood sugar than a hot baked potato.
- ◆Green patches are solanine, produced by light exposure. Cut them out generously — cooking does not destroy it.
Common questions
›Should I buy organic potatoes?
It is a reasonable upgrade when the budget allows, but not the first one to make. Potatoes scores 31/100 on organic upgrade priority, with conventional samples at 64/100 against 20/100 organic. At about $1.88 extra a week, it competes with several higher-priority items.
›Are potatoes high in pesticides?
Potatoes shows higher residue evidence — an index of 64/100 relative to other commodities. Across 1,383 conventional samples from 2022–2024, 95% contained at least one detected residue, averaging 1.9 distinct compounds per sample, and 0.00% exceeded the applicable EPA tolerance. A detection is not the same as an unsafe level.
›How much more does organic potatoes cost?
About 46% more at typical U.S. retail — $5.49 per 5 lb bag conventional against $7.99 organic. For a household of 2 at normal purchase volume that is roughly $1.88 a week.
›How should I wash potatoes?
Scrub with a brush under running water. If you are peeling them anyway, the residue question largely goes away — but so does about a third of the fiber.
›What can I buy instead of potatoes?
If the organic version is out of budget or the fresh price has spiked, Sweet potatoes, Brown rice, Onions cover similar ground on this list. Each one is either lower on residue evidence, cheaper per serving, or both.
Related foods
Sweet potatoes
$1.49 / lb · organic $2.19
Brown rice
$3.99 / 2 lb bag · organic $5.49
Nutrition 76/100 · 5 g protein · 3.5 g fiber
Not applicableOnions
$3.79 / 3 lb bag · organic $5.29
Spinach
$3.29 / 5 oz container · organic $4.49