The potato harvesting is in full swing and now that it is getting colder outside, the stew season has started again. And this typical Dutch one-pot meal, which builds on a tradition of more than five centuries, seems to be gaining popularity. Figures from research agency Nielsen, requested by the Dutch Potato Organization (NAO), show that over 3% more (slightly) floury potatoes – stew potatoes – were eaten in the winter of 2020/2021 than the year before. In total, this concerns 2.5 million kilos. Nielsen expects this trend to continue this winter.
A large pieper study, recently conducted by Future of Food Institute on behalf of the NAO, shows that kale is still the favorite stew among the Dutch (34%), followed by endive (20%). Sauerkraut and stew share the third place (17%). In addition, the stew with sauerkraut is remarkably more popular among the elderly than among the other age groups, especially endive among those under 40.
Dishes with potatoes are also most popular during cold days, according to the research. People prefer to eat the potato on a bleak autumn (23%) or cold winter day (35%) than on a sunny spring day (8%) or warm summer day (4%). During the winter, women are bigger fans (40% feel like it) than men (28%) of potatoes.
Young or old, the Dutch remain true potato eaters. The potato is particularly popular among families with children. At 41% of the families with children aged 0-4 years, the potato is on the table 2 to 3 times a week. Among families with children aged 5-12, no less than 67% indicate that they eat potatoes 6 times a week. Boiling is by far the most popular form of potato preparation (52%) followed by baking (17%) and mashing (10%). The most popular vegetables to eat with potatoes are green beans (56%), followed by cauliflower (50%) and broccoli (45%). The least popular is zucchini (8%). The beeper study also showed that people eat potatoes much more often in villages than in cities. 48% of the villagers indicate that they are on the menu 6 a week, in the city it is only 10%.
