Carbs in Potato & Other Nutritional Info

One medium (173g) baked russet potato provides almost 40g of carbohydrates, of which 34g are net carbs and 4g are fiber 1. A large potato will provide double that amount. While there are many different potato cultivars, most are equally high in carbohydrates.

Most of the carbs in potato are in the form of complex starch. Fresh potatoes contain 20% dry matter, of which 60-80% is starch 2. Furthermore, most of the starch in potatoes is amylopectin, an easy-to-digest starch. Besides digestible starch, potatoes also contain small amounts of indigestible starches, aka fiber.

Complex carbs are generally considered better than simple carbs when you consider the difference in how they impact blood sugar. However, the human body is quite efficient at digesting starches from potatoes, and these starches will still impact blood glucose significantly. That’s because starches are 100% composed of glucose, a simple carb. Research shows that blood glucose concentration and insulin response with other types of sugars, such as lactose and sucrose (table sugar), is 50-60% that of glucose. 3.

Potatoes are not a high-calorie food on their own. A medium baked potato, for example, provides only 164 calories. However, most people eat more than one medium potato in a single sitting. Besides that, since potatoes are neutral tasting and dry, they’re typically prepared with fat (butter, oil, lard) and other ingredients (bacon, sour cream, cheese, vegetables, etc).

So, realistically speaking, potato meals tend to provide more calories than a plain baked potato. Just consider the calorie count of the following potato meals:

Most of the calories from potatoes come from carbohydrates. More specifically, 91% of calories in potatoes are from carbs, 1.2% from fat, and 7.4% from protein. This makes potatoes a high-carb food.

As already stated, potatoes also provide fiber, which is an indigestible fiber. However, the fiber content of potatoes is negligible at only 4g in a serving. Besides that, most of the fiber content of potatoes is in the skin, which makes up 1-2% of potato weight. So, potatoes are above all else a starchy food, not a fibrous food.

Potatoes are also considered a good source of vitamin C, B complex vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. Like many root vegetables, potatoes are low in fat, providing only 22mg of omega-3 fatty acids and 74 mg of omega-6 fatty acids. For reference, the minimal omega-3 fatty acid intake is estimated at around 500 mg – 1000 mg per day 8.

Potato Nutrition Facts

In a nutshell, you should not eat potatoes on a keto diet.

Keto is a low-carb diet in which carb intake is typically limited to 20-50g per day, so one medium potato will get you dangerously close to this daily carb allotment.

The problem with eating potatoes on keto is that one medium potato will not provide enough fiber, vitamins, and minerals, while putting you over your carb limit. That’s why it is recommended to eat low-carb vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, and cauliflower instead – these won’t put you over your carb limit even at larger serving sizes while providing plenty of micronutrients.

There are a few exceptions, however:

The cyclical keto diet (CKD)

This keto diet variation involves following a standard keto approach for 5-6 days of the week and doing carb refeeds for the remaining 1-2 days. During carb refeed days, dieters can eat up to 300g of carbohydrates, so potatoes can definitely be included on the menu.

The targeted keto diet (TKD)

On a targeted keto diet, you target your carb intake around workouts. Typically, dieters will eat quick-digesting carbs an hour before or after their workouts. Potatoes are quickly digested, so they can be included on days when you plan to follow this dietary approach.

Suggested reading: How Many Carbs for Ketosis?

Potatoes are a staple food across the globe, so many recipes were developed to include potatoes as a side and main dish. If you’re missing potatoes since starting a keto diet, there are low-carb substitutes you can add to your keto meal plan:

Cauliflower is a low-carb keto vegetable providing only 3.2g of net carbs in a cup of raw produce 9. It’s neutral taste and versatility of cooking make it an ideal substitute for many ingredients, potatoes included. You can roast cauliflower florets where a recipe calls for oven-roasted potatoes as a side dish. You can also make cauliflower mash instead of mashed potatoes.

At only 2.6g net carbs in a 100g serving, you can definitely use kohlrabi in place of potatoes on keto 10. Also called German turnip, kohlrabi is actually a variety of wild cabbage. The kohlrabi stem can be eaten raw, roasted, pan-fried, or boiled. The taste is similar to that of broccoli stems.

The texture of boiled daikon radish is similar to that of potatoes; however, the taste will be a bit peppery. If you want to make something similar to potato soup, daikon radish is a great potato replacement. This popular Asian staple will mimic the texture of potatoes in the soup while offering a taste that’s far from bland.

• One medium-sized baked potato contains 34g of net carbs, which provides the majority of its calories.
• Because potatoes are a high-carb food, they’re not allowed on a keto diet.
• You can, however, eat potatoes when following a Cyclical Keto Diet (CKD) or a Targeted Keto Diet (TKD).
• Keto dieters can use a variety of potato substitutes to replace potatoes in their favorite meals.