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When making Thuringian potato dumplings, an integral part in the process is the so-called “Schwefeln”: Sulfur that comes on threads is burnt inside the closed pot of potatoes.

Native Thuringians, if asked what the sulfur was for, will reply that sulfur dioxide prevents the dumplings from turning gray during cooking. Is there anything to back this up? Are there any possible side effects, especially wrt taste?

EDIT: Add picture showing dumplings (the bright yellow ones on the right) one day after they were prepared. Dumplings

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    Note that the page you link to, says, that besides keeping the potatoes white, the sulphur also "give them the characteristic zesty flavor". That is, the sulphur is important for the taste.
    – soegaard
    Oct 6, 2012 at 13:43
  • @soegaard I noticed that. However, it’s also promotional material for regional tourism so what they claim will be exaggerated.
    – Philipp Gesang
    Oct 8, 2012 at 13:16
  • The dumplings look great!
    – soegaard
    Oct 10, 2012 at 12:52

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Wikipedia says its for keeping the raw dough from turning brown. Alternatively you can use something called "Knödelhilfe" (Dumpling-helper), which is the anti-oxidant Potassium metabisulfite E224. (Kartoffelkloß (German), Potassium metabisulfite).

I have done the recipe many many times without the sulfur, just heard about it for the first time, even though I am German. I never noticed the potatoes turning brown. Typically you grate the potatoes directly into a bowl filled with water and keep them covered.

I'd say either way is ok, the little bit of sulfur dioxide is not going to kill you. Alternatively, try ascorbic acid or lemon juice.

Btw. my favorite type of dumpling is this one, filled with apricots: Apricot Dumplings, Marillenknödel.

They don't have the sulfur issue, because the dough is done with cooked potatoes, and they are covered with breadcrumbs anyway.

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  • Thanks for the info, especially on the “dumpling helper” substance and the suggested substitutes. Btw. the apricot dumplings you are referring to appear to be very similar to the prune variety I know. The recipe matches more or less exactly, up to the detail with the sugar cube inside (we use only half a cube but that’s marginal).
    – Philipp Gesang
    Oct 8, 2012 at 15:53

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