One potato mistake could be dangerous (stock photo) (Image: Getty)
You could be making a dire mistake with your potatoes.
Potatoes are a staple part of many meals, and their versatility means that most of us at least at all times. But did you know that one mistake many of us make with our spuds could actually be life-threatening?
If you’ve ever forgotten about the potatoes in your cupboard for a few weeks, chances are you’ve gone to make some delicious roasties and found that your spuds have started to sprout or turn green.
This is the first sign that your potatoes are old, and while we all know that you shouldn’t eat the sprouts, if they’re still small, some of us won’t hesitate to cut them off and continue to use the potatoes as normal.
But according to one , you should absolutely never eat a potato that’s sprouting or going green – as in some circumstances, this could actually “kill you”.
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In a video on , the gardener explained that sprouting or green potatoes contain a compound called solanine, which is a “natural pesticide” that keeps pests like insects away from the plant.
She said: “If ingested by humans in the right quantities, it can cause vomiting, nausea, paralysis, and even death in some cases.”
The woman went on to share a true story from 1979 about a group of 78 schoolboys who all fell severely ill after being served potatoes that had been left at school over the summer holidays.
As shared in the , the students ate boiled potatoes that contained a high concentration of solanine and experienced symptoms including vomiting, abdominal pain, and, in severe cases, depression of the central nervous system.
None of the 78 schoolboys died as a result of the potato incident, but “several patients were comatose”. Within five days, all patients recovered in full, but some continued to hallucinate for several days after the event.
In her video, the gardener said that while you should never consider eating potatoes that have gone green or started sprouting, you can use them to start growing your own potatoes. All you need to do is remove most of the sprouts except the ones on top, place them in a seed tray, and put them in “a place of sunshine,” like on a windowsill or in a greenhouse if you have one.
And if you’re determined to make the most of your potatoes, they can be safe to eat if you can cut away the entire sprout, as long as the spud is not wrinkly and shrivelled, according to nutrition specialist Lauren Harris-Pincus.
She told : “Unfortunately, cooking does not destroy these compounds, so it’s not advisable to prepare or eat potatoes with the sprouts or green parts. However, it is probably OK to eat potatoes that have sprouted if you can cut away the entire sprout and any green-tinged parts of the potato, and if they are not wrinkly and shriveled.
“I use a paring knife to dig out the eyes once I have snapped off the sprout and if there is more than a small area that looks green, I throw away the potato.”
How to store potatoes
To make sure your potatoes last as long as possible without sprouting, follow these tips:
- Choose the right location: Make sure your potatoes are stored somewhere cool, away from sunlight, and that has proper ventilation. Taking them out of the plastic bag and storing them in a mesh bag or basket is ideal.
- Keep them dry: Avoid washing your potatoes before storing them, as moisture can encourage rot.
- Separate from other produce: Some vegetables can produce ethylene gas which speeds up spoilage, so keep potatoes away from onions, garlic, and apples to help them last longer.
- Keep away from the fridge: Never store your potatoes in the fridge. This can convert their starch into sugar, altering their flavour and texture. It can even make them brown quicker during cooking.