Is it possible to eat soft potatoes with sprouts or “eyes” or is it better to throw them away?

In early spring, last year’s potatoes are no longer the same – they become soft, begin to wrinkle and sprout. Not everyone is in a hurry to throw it away – they say, you can pick off the sprouts, cut off the thicker peel and eat it. Is it so? Whether you can eat potatoes with sprouts or shriveled potatoes – here’s what the experts say.

The potatoes have sprouted – can I eat them?

When stored in a warm room for a long time, potatoes begin to lose moisture. This causes the skin to become loose and wrinkled, and the tubers themselves may begin to sprout. Is it possible to eat limp potatoes with sprouts? The fact is that such potatoes accumulate a substance – solanine, which is toxic when consumed. There is an opinion that solanine is dangerous only in large quantities, but if the potatoes have sprouted just a little – for example, “eyes” have appeared – then it will be difficult to get poisoned.

Experts at the University of Illinois confirm it’s best to err on the side of caution and throw out shriveled potatoes. According to Healthline, solanine in small amounts does not usually affect humans, but its concentration can increase significantly in rotting or sprouting potatoes – leading to the risk of solanine poisoning. The result is gastrointestinal distress – nausea, vomiting and diarrhea – as well as more serious reactions, including heart and nervous system problems, depending on the amount of food ingested.

If the size of the sprouts is more than 1 cm, then the amount of solanine in such potatoes increases significantly and no useful substances remain except starch. This is why you should not eat sprouted potatoes that are soft and wrinkled. At the same time, it is recommended to carefully sort the tubers that are just beginning to sprout, removing all the sprouts. If the potatoes look fresh and not wilted, and there are only a few sprouts on them, then the amount of solanine in such tubers is minimal, and they can be used for food after heat treatment.

Is it possible to cook sprouted potatoes?

If you cannot throw it away (for example, all the tubers have begun to sprout), the sprouted potatoes can be eaten – following a few rules. As already said, the tubers should not be wrinkled, and the sprouts themselves should not exceed 1 cm – this is the main thing. It is better to boil such potatoes rather than bake or fry them – this minimizes their harm. How to cook sprouted potatoes

• Completely peel the potatoes from “eyes”, sprouts and skins
• cut off the top layer under the peel – there is the highest concentration of harmful substances.
• Before cooking, soak the potatoes so that the solanine is absorbed into the water.

Important: if the potatoes begin to turn green, they should not be consumed. It will be better to plant this, as well as wrinkled and strongly sprouted ones.

Previously, we told you how to germinate potatoes before planting – some tips.