Can sprouted potatoes be eaten?

Potato

Can sprouted potatoes be eaten?

Can you eat sprouted potatoes? Potatoes are a vegetable that we often eat, and because potatoes can be stored for a long time, many people have some potatoes stored at home, so they can be cooked whenever they want. But there is a problem that we have to face. Potatoes will sprout after being stored for a long time, so many people will want to ask, can you eat sprouted potatoes? Well, now I will give you the answer.

In a nutshell, sprouted potatoes are poisonous and cannot be eaten. However, it is not the entire potato that cannot be eaten, only the sprouted part cannot be eaten. After cutting it off, the rest can still be eaten.

So, how can sprouted potatoes be poisonous? The potatoes people eat are its tubers, which have many depressions on them, called bud eyes. There is a group of axillary buds in the bud eyes, and a terminal bud at the top of the tuber. During the storage of potatoes, if the storage time is long, the temperature is high, and there is direct sunlight on the surface of the potatoes, it may cause the potatoes to sprout. When sprouting, many enzymes are produced at the sprouting site. Enzymes are biological catalysts that can decompose stored substances and transform them into substances for sprout growth. In this material conversion process, a toxin called solanine is produced. It is an alkaloid that has the effect of hemolysis and irritation of mucous membranes. Fresh potatoes contain trace amounts of solanine, which is harmless to the human body, but during the storage process of potatoes, the solanine content gradually increases. When the potatoes turn black-green or sprout, the solanine content in them increases significantly. The solanine content in the young sprouts and bud eyes is as high as 0.3-0.5%. People who eat 0.2-0.4 grams of solanine can cause food poisoning. Therefore, after eating sprouted potatoes, you may be poisoned by consuming solanine.

Solanine has a strong stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, paralyzing the respiratory center, and can cause cerebral edema and congestion. In addition, it has a hemolytic effect on red blood cells. Symptoms include: itching and burning sensation in the throat, burning sensation or pain in the upper abdomen, vomiting and diarrhea, dizziness, headache and even dehydration in mild cases, and heart failure, paralysis of the respiratory center and death in severe cases.

It would be a pity to throw away potatoes after they sprout, so we can selectively eat them. When potatoes have just sprouted and the sprouts are not big yet, you can dig out a piece of the sprouts and the bud eyes, and the rest can still be eaten, because the toxins are still concentrated in the bud eyes and the surrounding parts, and the toxins have not yet spread. Although after the above treatment, some toxins will still remain. When processing, dig out the sprouts and roots, peel them, and soak them in water for half an hour before processing and eating. This kind of potato is not suitable for stir-frying or frying, but can be braised, stewed or boiled. Since solanine is easily decomposed by acid, some vinegar can be added when cooking.

So how do you prevent potatoes from sprouting? To prevent potatoes from sprouting, they should be stored in a cool, ventilated place without direct sunlight. If there are too many sprouts and the surface of the potato skin has turned black-green, do not eat it. In addition, when buying potatoes, pay attention to the appearance and color of the potatoes. Do not buy those with peculiar smell or black.

Dishes made with potatoes are widely loved by everyone. We have introduced "How to Cook Beef Stewed with Potatoes", "How to Cook Beef Braised with Potatoes", "How to Cook Spicy Shredded Potatoes" and "How to Cook Mashed Potatoes", etc. Don't miss them if you love potatoes. Of course, you must be careful with sprouted potatoes, as the sprouted parts cannot be eaten.