Kajaani pupils welcome return of skin-on potatoes
Wednesday 28th October 2026 on 06:01 in
Finland
Pupils in Kajaani have responded positively to skin-on potatoes returning to school lunches, Yle reports. The city’s comprehensive schools began serving them this autumn after students complained about the texture of ready-peeled potatoes.
Sixth-grader Aake Härkönen said he preferred the skin-on potatoes to the previous version, which he felt had little taste. Other pupils said the skins improved the flavour, and some ate the potatoes without peeling them.
The change followed feedback that ready-peeled potatoes developed a rubbery film. Kajaani switched to peeled potatoes about six years ago after students had also complained that the skin-on potatoes were tough and difficult to peel. This time, pupils found them soft and tasty.
Tuija Vuorinen, head of the city’s meal service company Kajaanin Mamselli, said the potatoes now come from a different variety. Potato variety, growing conditions and preparation can all affect their taste and texture, she said. The potatoes are cooked in steam ovens, and improvements to the equipment have also helped produce a better result.
Meal service planner Marika Jaakola said most feedback on the trial has been positive, though some parents have asked whether children have enough time to peel and eat their potatoes. Pupils can choose to eat the autumn potatoes with their skins on, she said, adding that the skins are thin and soft and contain fibre and nutrients.
Both peeled and skin-on potatoes can contribute to food waste when pupils leave them uneaten. Skin-on potatoes are less expensive to buy throughout the year, according to the article.
Ready-peeled potatoes are due to return to Kajaani’s comprehensive school menus at the end of October. Students in upper secondary education will continue to get skin-on potatoes through the end of the year. Mamselli is monitoring feedback and potato quality, and says comprehensive schools will serve skin-on potatoes again next autumn. The company orders washed skin-on potatoes from Finland’s west coast.