Thread: Confused Noob: Calories in Baked Potato

Hello!

I started dieting 2 weeks ago and so far so good, I've lost over half a stone. I'm calorie counting and keeping track of things online, but I'm now confused about something and I'd be very grateful for your help.

Yesterday I bought some baking potatoes from Sainsburys. I checked the calories while I was in store and the packet revealed 72 calories per 100g. Perfect! So today I cooked one potato (in a combination microwave/grill) and when went to add it to my online food log for the day I noticed that there are actually two sets of nutrition information on the back of the packet. It says 72 calories per 100g when boiled in unsalted water and 136 calories per 100g when baked. The difference in calories is huge, especially for a large 300g potato.

I don't understand why there is a difference in calories. How did my microwave almost double the calorie content (or how does boiling water halve the calorie content)? I'm not adding anything to the potato when I cook it in the microwave. Must I always boil potatoes to keep the calories down? Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Thanks in advance for your help! And apologies if I've dumped this in the wrong thread.

Lunk

Hi Lunk and welcome to Minimins

I would imagine that the difference is because when a potato is boiled it will absorb a fair amount of water.

Hence the weight of the potato will be more, even though it's not all potato IYKWIM.

BTW the average calories for 100g of potato microwaved is just over 100 cals.

Boiled it's about 72.

Thank you KD. That makes sense!

It would make life so much easier if the packet also listed the calories per 100g raw (like they do with pasta). I prefer weighing everything before I cook it, not after. That way I know how much to cook!

Much appreciated.
Lunk

I agree. I prefer raw weights too.

Potato raw is about 80 cals per 100g, so I guess that when microwaved it loses moisture, so more pots per g.

Hi and welcome

Irene xx

Hi lunk and welcome to minimins.