Is It Protected to Eat Inexperienced Potatoes?

From mashed potatoes to crispy fries, the standard potato is a staple in kitchens worldwide, liked for its versatility and comfort-food enchantment. Nonetheless, a priority arises if you encounter a potato with a inexperienced hue—do you have to eat it? 

Potatoes with inexperienced spots usually tend to comprise elevated ranges of the toxin solanine, which might trigger digestive signs if consumed. Nonetheless, they could possibly be suitable for eating when sure precautions are taken. We spoke with Zachary Cartwright, PhD, lead meals scientist at Aqualab and a member of the Institute of Meals Technologists Meals Security and High quality Administration Division, to seek out out extra. 

Why Do Potatoes Flip Inexperienced?

Potatoes—which, after all, develop underground—flip inexperienced when exposed to any type of light, whether or not it is daylight, fluorescent lighting in a retailer, and even the sunshine in your kitchen. The inexperienced colour is brought on by the manufacturing of chlorophyll, the identical pigment that offers different crops their inexperienced colour. Chlorophyll itself is innocent and doesn’t have an effect on the potato’s taste or security instantly. Nonetheless, the greening course of can generally point out one thing extra regarding is going on beneath the floor—a rise in solanine.

What Is Solanine?

Cartwright says solanine is a pure glycoalkaloid poison present in all members of the nightshade household, which incorporates potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants. “In crops, solanine serves as a protection mechanism in opposition to pests and ailments,” he says. “Whereas potatoes naturally comprise small quantities of solanine, the degrees improve to poisonous ranges when the potato is broken, uncovered to mild, or saved beneath too sizzling or too chilly circumstances.”

Solanine additionally causes a bitter taste. If cooked potatoes taste bitter or cause a burning sensation in your mouth or throat, this may point out excessive solanine ranges, even when the potato doesn’t look inexperienced.

Well being Dangers of Solanine

Consuming excessive ranges of solanine can result in solanine poisoning, which, although uncommon, could cause severe signs, together with:

• Gastrointestinal misery. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the commonest signs related to solanine poisoning. These signs can happen inside hours of consuming a inexperienced potato.
• Neurological signs. In additional extreme instances, solanine can have an effect on the nervous system, resulting in complications, dizziness, confusion, and even hallucinations.

Most instances of solanine poisoning contain delicate signs and are sometimes the results of consuming important quantities of inexperienced potatoes, however the one solution to fully mitigate the danger is to fully avoid any inexperienced potato flesh. 

How A lot Solanine is Harmful?

“A potato with solanine ranges above 20 milligrams per 100 grams of potato flesh can begin to trigger signs,” says Cartwright, although typical store-bought potatoes normally comprise a lot lower than this.

The amount of solanine that may trigger poisoning varies relying on a number of components, together with the person’s weight, the quantity of inexperienced potato consumed, and the solanine focus within the potato. Solanine poisoning signs could start to seem after consuming two to 5 milligrams of solanine per kilogram of the individual’s physique weight. For reference, a potato with seen greening may comprise round 250 to 280 milligrams of solanine per kilogram, that means {that a} small quantity of inexperienced potato can nonetheless pose a threat, especially for children.

What to Do if Your Potato is Inexperienced

Should you discover a potato has turned inexperienced, listed here are some steps you’ll be able to take:

1. Assess the greening. Should you see inexperienced spots on the skin, it does not imply the entire potato is affected. “You may take away the spots and eat the potato,” says Cartwright, “but when it is too nice of an extent, I would not even mess with that.”
2. Test for sprouts. Inexperienced potatoes usually develop sprouts, which additionally comprise excessive ranges of solanine. In case your potato has sprouted, it’s finest to take away the sprouts or discard the potato altogether. Should you select to make use of the potato, lower or dig the sprouts out fully, eradicating any inexperienced flesh across the sprouts as nicely.
3. Peel the potato. For the reason that majority of solanine that’s already current in potatoes is concentrated within the pores and skin and simply beneath it, peeling the potato will help cut back the solanine content material. You should definitely take away any inexperienced flesh as nicely.
4. After cooking potatoes, concentrate on any bitter flavors. Solanine is heat-stable, says Cartwright, that means that baking, boiling, frying, or cooking the potato in another manner won’t cut back its solanine content material. Solanine can impart a bitter style to the potato, so in case your potato tastes bitter after cooking, it is a good indication that it might comprise greater ranges of solanine and it’s best to cease consuming it.

Stopping Potatoes From Turning Inexperienced

Business potato growers take measures to stop greening in potatoes from the second the spuds are harvested to once they arrive on grocery retailer produce stands. “This contains every little thing from correct storage and dealing with to screening measures for greening and sprouting earlier than reaching customers,” says Cartwright. “That is why you don’t actually see inexperienced potatoes on the grocery retailer. However which will change as they sit out on a kitchen counter over time.”

One of the best ways to keep away from the danger of solanine poisoning is to stop your potatoes from turning inexperienced within the first place. This comes down to a few essential components, in accordance with Cartwright: 

1. Correct storage. Maintain potatoes in a cool, darkish, and dry place. Response with mild will trigger greening and solanine formation, so this step is vital. 
2. Keep away from harm. Make sure you’re dealing with the potatoes rigorously to keep away from bruising or nicks, which might additionally trigger solanine formation.
3. Eat contemporary potatoes. Getting older and sprouting may even result in greater solanine concentrations, so eat your spuds earlier than they sprout or flip inexperienced.

The Takeaway: Ought to You Eat Inexperienced Potatoes?

There are potential well being dangers related to consuming solanine, a compound current in inexperienced potatoes, so it’s finest to keep away from consuming these discolored tubers if you come throughout them. Whereas small quantities of inexperienced potato won’t trigger extreme signs, the dangers can outweigh the advantages. Should you do come throughout a inexperienced potato, your most secure wager is to both lower away the affected areas or discard the potato fully.

By storing potatoes accurately and being vigilant about any indicators of greening, you’ll be able to take pleasure in this versatile starchy vegetable with out fear.