From mashed potatoes to crispy fries, the common-or-garden potato is a staple in kitchens worldwide, cherished for its versatility and comfort-food attraction. Nonetheless, a priority arises if you encounter a potato with a inexperienced hue—must you eat it? 

Potatoes with inexperienced spots usually tend to include elevated ranges of the toxin solanine, which might trigger digestive signs if consumed. Nonetheless, they could possibly be fit for human consumption 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 uncovered to any kind of sunshine, whether or not it is daylight, fluorescent lighting in a retailer, and even the sunshine in your kitchen. The inexperienced shade is brought on by the manufacturing of chlorophyll, the identical pigment that provides different vegetation their inexperienced shade. Chlorophyll itself is innocent and doesn’t have an effect on the potato’s taste or security straight. Nonetheless, the greening course of can generally point out one thing extra regarding is occurring 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 vegetation, solanine serves as a protection mechanism in opposition to pests and illnesses,” he says. “Whereas potatoes naturally include small quantities of solanine, the degrees enhance to poisonous ranges when the potato is broken, uncovered to mild, or saved beneath too scorching or too chilly situations.”

Solanine additionally causes a bitter taste. If cooked potatoes style bitter or trigger 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, may cause severe signs, together with:

• Gastrointestinal misery. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most typical 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 vital quantities of inexperienced potatoes, however the one approach 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 often include a lot lower than this.

The quantity 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 might start to look after consuming two to 5 milligrams of solanine per kilogram of the individual’s physique weight. For reference, a potato with seen greening would possibly include round 250 to 280 milligrams of solanine per kilogram, which means {that a} small quantity of inexperienced potato can nonetheless pose a threat, particularly for kids.

What to Do if Your Potato is Inexperienced

In the event you discover a potato has turned inexperienced, listed here are some steps you may take:

1. Assess the greening. In the event you see inexperienced spots on the surface, 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 typically develop sprouts, which additionally include excessive ranges of solanine. In case your potato has sprouted, it’s finest to take away the sprouts or discard the potato altogether. In the event you select to make use of the potato, lower or dig the sprouts out fully, eradicating any inexperienced flesh across the sprouts as effectively.
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 can assist scale back the solanine content material. You should definitely take away any inexperienced flesh as effectively.
4. After cooking potatoes, pay attention to any bitter flavors. Solanine is heat-stable, says Cartwright, which means that baking, boiling, frying, or cooking the potato in another means won’t scale 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 could include greater ranges of solanine and you must cease consuming it.

Stopping Potatoes From Turning Inexperienced

Industrial potato growers take measures to forestall greening in potatoes from the second the spuds are harvested to once they arrive on grocery retailer produce stands. “This contains all the pieces from correct storage and dealing with to screening measures for greening and sprouting earlier than reaching customers,” says Cartwright. “This is the reason 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 simplest ways to keep away from the danger of solanine poisoning is to forestall your potatoes from turning inexperienced within the first place. This comes down to 3 predominant components, in accordance with Cartwright: 

1. Correct storage. Preserve potatoes in a cool, darkish, and dry place. Response with mild will trigger greening and solanine formation, so this step is essential. 
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 old and sprouting can 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 may not trigger extreme signs, the dangers can outweigh the advantages. In the event you do come throughout a inexperienced potato, your most secure wager is to both lower away the affected areas or discard the potato totally.

By storing potatoes accurately and being vigilant about any indicators of greening, you may get pleasure from this versatile starchy vegetable with out fear.

August 2024