If tomato season is the spotlight of summer season, potato season is the spotlight of fall and winter. As we refill on flavorful candy potatoes for fall dinners and russet potatoes for Thanksgiving sides, one huge query lingers for potato lovers all over the place: Is it suitable for eating potatoes as soon as they begin wanting type of … bizarre?
If a potato has ever sat in your countertop or in your pantry for some time, you recognize what we’re speaking about — a greenish tint and little buds referred to as eyes that have been positively the inspiration for the Mr. Potato Head toy. They give the impression of being bizarre, certain, nevertheless it’s widespread information in 2023 that “ugly produce” remains to be OK to eat and eliminates meals waste. So as soon as potatoes begin wanting somewhat worse for the damage, is identical factor true? Are ugly potatoes OK to eat?
We requested meals security consultants and registered dietitians for the inside track on what it actually means when potatoes begin sprouting eyes and turning inexperienced. Right here’s what they needed to say (and why potatoes basically are nonetheless an excellent concept to eat).
Right here’s the reality about potatoes with eyes.
First, the excellent news. As soon as potatoes begin to sprout eyes, they’re nonetheless typically suitable for eating so long as the sprouting isn’t uncontrolled.
“These sprouts contain a toxin called solanine, which can cause illness such as headache, vomiting and other digestive symptoms,” defined Ellen Shumaker, director of outreach and extension for Secure Plates at North Carolina State College. “If large amounts of it are consumed it can cause quite serious symptoms. But if sprouts are small and the potato is not soft or shriveled, the sprouts can be cut off and the potato can be eaten.”
What about inexperienced potatoes?
Fried inexperienced tomatoes could also be a delicacy, however fried inexperienced potatoes will not be. “Don’t eat these!” warned Maggie Michalczyk, a registered dietitian and founding father of As soon as Upon a Pumpkin. “Sunlight turns potatoes green as they produce chlorophyll, but the real issue is the build-up of harmful toxins.”
Shumaker echoed this. “Seeing green on potatoes indicates the formation of the toxin solanine, also found in the sprouts,” she stated. “If there are small green spots on a potato, they can be trimmed off but if they are large green spots, it is recommended that you discard the potato.”
Eyes and a greenish tint are the primary indicators {that a} potato has gone unhealthy or is beginning to go unhealthy, Shumaker stated. And if a potato is shriveled and mushy, that’s positively an indication that you must throw it out. Not satisfied? Whereas the consequences of consuming unhealthy potatoes are principally gastrointestinal, in extreme instances, solanine can really trigger paralysis.
Inexperienced potatoes with eyes aren’t precisely a dietary powerhouse, both.
Usually, it’s finest to keep away from funny-looking potatoes, particularly in the event that they’ve began turning inexperienced. However as soon as potatoes have began displaying signs of greenness, tubers and sprouts, they’ll additionally develop a bitter style. They doubtless gained’t comprise as many vitamins, both.
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“While there hasn’t been much research on this topic, we can assume that the nutrient content of sprouted potatoes is less than that of non-sprouted potatoes because they are exposed to more oxidation from higher temperatures,” stated Tamar Samuels, registered dietitian and co-founder of Culina Health.
With that in thoughts, should you’re coping with a normal-looking potato — whether or not it’s a candy potato or a white potato — you may relaxation assured that you simply’re getting tons of important nutritional vitamins and minerals in each chunk. “You can feel good knowing both types of potatoes are nutritious,” Michalczyk stated. “White potatoes contain vitamin C, and potassium and sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin A thanks to their orange color.”
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In actual fact, potatoes actually saved lives in early occasions as a result of their excessive vitamin C content material helped forestall scurvy. So don’t let the concern of solanine deter your potato consumption — simply attempt to preserve your potatoes contemporary by storing them in a cool, dry place and even in a paper bag to guard them from the solar. And in case your potatoes do begin to flip inexperienced, keep away from them.
With all that in thoughts, get able to mash up some potatoes and revel in each chunk.
