Effect of Boiling and Frying on the Total Carbohydrate, Vitamin C and Mineral Contents of Irish (Solanun tuberosum) and Sweet (Ipomea batatas) Potato Tubers

In a study aimed at ascertaining whether boiling or frying best conserves nutrients; since the two methods are commonly adapted in Nigeria, the effect of boiling and frying on total carbohydrate, vitamin C and mineral contents of Irish (Solanum tuberosum) and sweet (Ipomea batatas) potato tubers were investigated. The determination of total carbohydrate was carried out using the phenol-sulphuric acid method and the spectrophotometric method was used to determine vitamin C content at 520 nm. The minerals evaluated are iron, zinc, magnesium, sodium, calcium and copper. These were determined by the atomic absorption  spectrophotometric method. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the total carbohydrate content of the boiled and fried sweet and Irish potatoes compared with their raw tubers. There was significant difference (p < 0.05) in the vitamin C content of the boiled and fried potato tubers. Boiling and frying of Irish potato resulted in a loss of 37.34 mg/100 ml (63.90%) and 30.44 mg/100 ml (53.90%) vitamin C respectively. Boiled sweet potato lost 51.16 mg/100 ml (72.37%) and fried lost 43.05 mg/100 ml (60.90%) of vitamin C. The mineral compositions of the boiled and fried Irish and sweet potatoes were significantly different (p < 0.05) from their raw tubers. Boiling retained more iron and copper while frying retained more zinc, magnesium, sodium and calcium in both Irish and sweet potato tubers. Boiling retained more carbohydrate while frying retained more vitamin C and minerals.Keywords: Cooking, frying, total carbohydrate, vitamin C, mineral content, potato