Is Potato Gratin Acidic or Alkaline?
Potato gratin (prepared) is alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Potato gratin is alkaline at −4.0, even though cream and cheese bring protein and phosphorus. The potassium of the potato slices wins out as long as the cheese layer stays thin. A thick crust of hard cheese can cut into that balance, though. As a side dish with a roast, it does much better than pasta.
In the Meals & Fast Food category, potato gratin (prepared) ranks #6 of 118, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Potato salad (vinaigrette) (−4.6), Frozen french fries (−6.8), Guacamole (−8.7). More acid-forming are Potato salad (with mayonnaise) (−3.8), Mashed potatoes (−3.7), Vegetable curry ready meal (−3.7).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is potato gratin acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Potato gratin (prepared) has a PRAL of −4.0 per 100 g, so it counts as alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much potato gratin do I need for a noticeable effect?
A meal (300 g) of potato gratin adds −12.2 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of potato gratin roughly offsets one of them.
Why is potato gratin alkaline even though it is not a typical alkaline food?
The PRAL depends on the minerals left over after digestion, not on taste or pH. Potato gratin provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−4.0).
Potato Gratin logged, balance checked.
Basentracker adds up every meal automatically and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. The same values as on this page, all 977 foods, photo scan, recipes.
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Compare all Meals & Fast Food: Meals & Fast Food table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.