AbstractUnprocessed steam‐peeled potatoes exhibited lower apparent moduli of deformability and elasticity than unpeeled or abrasion‐peeled potatoes. Both moduli decreased upon thermal processing and on storage of the processed product. The degree of elasticity and energy capacity decreased, while mechanical hysteresis increased, due to peeling prior to processing. The processed Sebago variety showed greater mechanical hysteresis than the Red LaSoda variety. The apparent elastic properties of processed potatoes exhibited varied trends due to the peeling method and storage as evidenced by the significant interaction of these two main variables.The results obtained suggest that apparent elastic moduli are not reliable indices of the degree of firmness of the peeled and processed Irish potatoes. Texture measurements on these potatoes should involve destructive forces and deformations to give true indications of differences in firmn