Potatoes can be kept for quite a long time in the right conditions; however, sometimes, you head into the panty and see your potatoes have grown sprouts and turn a tinge of green.
It can be worrying, and you consider tossing out all your potatoes without wondering if you can save them, and the old wives’ tale is wrong, and they are safe to eat, so long as you cut off the bad parts.
To cut down on any confusion, you can go through our guide and learn all you need about: Can you eat potatoes with roots or eat potatoes that have turned green? Also, can you still eat potatoes that have sprouted with no ill effects? (Learn How to Grow Potatoes)
By the end, you’ll see it isn’t a yes or no answer as sometimes, you can ask are sprouting potatoes safe to eat, and based on certain factors, it could be your sprouted spuds are fine, and in other cases, you may need to get rid of your damaged potatoes.
Is It Safe to Eat Potatoes with Sprouts?
Potatoes are a natural source of solanine and chaconine, which are two glycoalkaloid compounds naturally found in foods, including eggplants and tomatoes. If you adopt healthy habits, you can find many ways of eating potatoes rather than French Fries. Baked Potatoes are among the healthiest ways of eating potatoes. (Read Dog Digging Under Fence)
Glycoalkaloids may have health benefits in small amounts, such as antibacterial capabilities and blood sugar and cholesterol-reducing effects.
You may then ask, are sprouted potatoes good to eat? They can, however, become hazardous if consumed in large quantities. The glycoalkaloid content of potato increases as it sprouts. As a result, eating sprouted potatoes may cause you to consume an excessive amount of these substances. After eating the sprouted potatoes, symptoms typically develop within a few hours to up to one day.
With these levels, is it safe to eat sprouted potatoes? Excess glycoalkaloid ingestion can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain at lower doses. They can cause low blood pressure, a quick pulse, fever, headaches, confusion, and in some circumstances, death if ingested in high amounts. (Learn How to Plant Seed Potatoes)
Small numbers of research show eating sprouted potatoes while pregnant can lead to birth abnormalities. So, if you are expecting, then avoid eating sprouted potatoes.
Yes, is the answer to, are sprouting potatoes ok to eat? They are perfectly safe to eat and won’t lead to any foodborne illness if you cut out the sprout and flesh that looks discolored after a quick assessment.
Unless the “sprout” is like the full plant, there shouldn’t be any flavor or texture loss.
If the skin is wrinkled or soft and squishy, it is best to toss them out.
Potatoes don’t need lots of care. Store potatoes in a cool, dry area out of strong light. If you have a cool, dark place, it can extend their life. You can also keep them unpeeled in the refrigerator inside a plastic bag or airtight container.
Are Sprouted Potatoes Poisonous?
If you wonder, are sprouts on potatoes bad? It could be best to throw any potatoes that have gone green or sprouted away. Solanine and chaconine, two natural toxins found in potatoes with a green tint or sprouted potatoes, put you at risk of toxicity if you eat them in large amounts.
Glycoalkaloids accumulate in leaves, flowers, eyes, and sprouts of potatoes. According to Poison Control, physical damage, greening, and a bitter taste are three signals a potato’s glycoalkaloid concentration has risen considerably besides signs of sprouting.
You may wonder if you can you still eat potatoes if they are sprouting? Although discarding the sprouts, eyes, green skin, and bruised sections of potato and then frying such as making them into French fries can help further.
Other cooked methods such as boiled, baking, or cooking in the microwave appear to not affect these levels. As a result, discarding the sprouts, eyes, green skin, and bruised sections can help reduce glycoalkaloid toxicity.
What To Do with Potatoes That Have Sprouted?
So far, you have seen, can you eat potato sprouts and decide you don’t wish to risk using them in any of your recipes because of the potential toxicity risks, there is no reason to throw them away. What to do with sprouted potatoes is to plant them.
Potatoes with excessive amounts of sprouts have broken dormancy and are turning starches into sugars for growth. The dormancy periods of early potatoes are shorter than late-maturing types.
Once you know how to remove sprouts from potatoes, you can eat slightly sprouted potatoes if firm and the sprouts are removed.
Potato sprouts contain solanine, a bitter substance, which the green part of the peel can have toxic effects and makes you feel sick.
Tiny amounts of potato meristem are the growing tip of potato sprouts and are quick to root. You can easily compost the larger discarded pieces. Sprouting potatoes root in double-thick paper bags filled with potting soil. (Learn the Best Way to Store Onions and Potatoes)
Potato plant grow bags that can be made from porous landscape fabric are among the more recent types of growing materials offered by garden providers. The reusable pots can be seen as patio potato bags, and while expensive, you can quickly make your own.
Can you use potatoes that have sprouted eyes?
Green potatoes or sprouted potatoes may have an unappealing appearance, and you think are sprouted potatoes safe to eat, or would you get food poisoning?
It depends on the factors of storage and the degree of the green tinge or the sprouts with all the above. One potato variety can be stored longer than another before they turn green color.
If you purchase firm ones from the grocery store and they don’t show signs of aging or going green, storing them in such placement that is cool, dark, and dry means the green spots won’t show for a while.
You can keep your potatoes for long periods, and they can be used for your fitness needs and help you lose weight. Once you see a sprouted potato, check the rest of it, and cut off the sprouts.
If they are too small to cook as they are, it makes them ideal for a recipe that needs mashed potatoes. Add in some Brussel sprouts, and from what you thought was dangerous could be helping you fight off any risk of heart disease by many forms of healthy cooking.
