In Too Afraid to Ask, we’re answering food-related questions which will or could not provide you with goosebumps. At the moment: Are sprouted potatoes suitable for eating?
Are your potatoes displaying mysterious inexperienced spots? Rising tentacles that attain out to you each time you open the pantry? Often called sprouted potatoes, the phenomenon is all too widespread: You ambitiously bought the XL bag of spuds, cooked by a number of of our favourite potato recipes, then forgot concerning the the rest behind your pantry. Weeks later, you uncover one thing extraterrestrial-looking, staring again at you from that darkish cabinet. Right here’s if—and when—you need to begin to fear.
So, are you able to eat sprouted potatoes?
The quick reply: It relies upon. When potatoes start to sprout, the growths (these roots, eyes, and bumps) have a excessive focus of compounds referred to as glycoalkaloids that may trigger a pointy, disagreeable, bitter style. You’re not more likely to see any unwell results from consuming negligible quantities—in reality, a kind of compounds, referred to as solanine, is similar compound that happens naturally in eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers (a category of vegetation referred to as nightshades). In massive portions, nonetheless, it may be poisonous.
Giant sprouts, growths, and roots is not going to solely be disagreeable to eat, however, within the worst instances, can even make you actually sick. Signs of poisoning from solanine (the precise sort of pure toxin present in spoiled potatoes) embrace the whole lot from a fever and headache to a severely upset abdomen or belly ache. Evidently, it’s value going to the grocery retailer and shopping for some new potatoes.
In case your in any other case handsome potatoes have a number of small sprouts, you’ll be able to rigorously take away them with a paring knife or the little loop on the tip of your potato peeler (sure, that’s what it’s for). Ensure to essentially get in there and reduce across the sprouted components, excising any roots, bumps, and eyes. Then use the remainder of the potato nonetheless you please—in ultra-silky, all-American mash, excellent baked potatoes, or crispy-creamy Potatoes au Gratin.
However, if these spuds appear to be they’ve grown legs and arms and are able to put up a combat—we’re speaking super-long roots, potato eyes that appear to be they’re staring again at you, intensive growths which can be reaching for the solar, it’s most likely finest to toss them.
What about potatoes with darkish spots or inexperienced skins?
When you peel potatoes and discover a number of darkish or discolored spots on the flesh, don’t sweat it—that is probably the results of bruising throughout transport, or concentrations of pure sugars. Simply reduce these little spots out (they’re not precisely cute) and proceed.
However let’s say you’ve acquired a sackful of inexperienced potatoes in your palms. Are they…okay? Effectively, that additionally relies upon. Potatoes which have been uncovered to gentle will start to supply chlorophyll (leading to a inexperienced shade) in addition to solanine. If the inexperienced tint in your taters is gentle and largely skin-deep, peel them nicely to take away the inexperienced components and go forth. But when they’re beginning to appear to be post-transformation Fiona, it’s time to pitch ‘em. Similar goes for potatoes which have gone mushy or wrinkly—these are tell-tale indicators of spoilage.
In abstract: It’s most likely not value it to save lots of a number of tubers previous their prime in the event that they’re sprouted and/or inexperienced. Play it secure and throw out or compost any potatoes which can be severely blighted and save your self—and your abdomen—from a tough time.
The right way to retailer potatoes to maximise shelf life:
The easiest way to maintain potatoes from sprouting within the first place is to retailer them correctly. Preserve potatoes at room temperature in a dry, darkish place—we advocate storing spuds in a breathable paper bag. Don’t retailer uncooked potatoes within the fridge, which can trigger components of the potato to harden and prepare dinner erratically.
