How do I stop potatoes going green?

KG

Hi there

I live on my own and occassionally buy a small bag of potatoes but don't get through them very quickly. The potatoes often go green and I end up chucking them out. (I think this is because I was told green potatoes were unripe and poisonous when I was a child and have been fearful ever since but then surely they can't become unripe...)

Other than not being very pretty are green potatoes Ok to eat? Or is there a way to stop them going green?

Ta

KG

bunny999

You can buy a potato bag from Lakeland that will help keep them fresh or you could wrap them in newspaper. The trick is to keep them in the dark.

Pink.

Hi KG,

You can't stop them going green and I too have read that we shouldn't eat green potatoes, but these threads may help with using and storing them before they get a chance to go green:

Help! How do I store potatoes?

Freezing potatoes

How many things can you do with potatoes.

Sprouting spuds ............

Pink

ianian99

keep them in cool dark place in paper bag / sack

Chunters_a_lot

I use the potato bag from Lakeland too, I do find they keep longer.

maman

I think it's light that makes them go green. I just keep mine in a dark kitchen cupboard in an open basket (not in the bag they come in) and they generally last a good couple of weeks.

GhostWarrior

Yeah, as far as I know as well, it's the light that makes them go green. I'm sure it's the same when you're growing them yourself and you have to keep building up more soil around them - they become green/poisonous when they get too much light. That's what I've been led to believe anyway lol, I generally chuck them into the cupboard, in a carrier bag or box, I keep the box of dog food in and they last for a few weeks.

alun4

Keepthem in a cardboard box after purchase - without light and you will be fine.

kitschkitty

I found some really thick brown paper bags and they keep my spuds great! I tried some of those normal brown paper bags that you get fruit and veg in @ the market but they were no good at all!

The quality of my paper bags is similar to heavy duty sugar paper used for art and craft.

rygon

iv found its the light. Keeping them in a cupboard away from light and heat seems to prolong their life. Although with my living on my own and buying 1-2kg bags ive always got a few that go green...put them in the microwave for 5-6mins, then in oven to make them go brown and have never had a problem (not saying it gets rid of the poison ..just looks nicer to eat when oven cooked lol)

Obukit

Green potatoes aren't good to eat because it indicates than solanine, an poison, has formed. However, rather than throwing them away, if you boil them in water with a splash of (OS) vinegar in the pan, it will take away the unpleasant taste and poison and save wasting food.

As people have said, though, if you store them in a cool dark place in a cloth or paper bag they will keep well - even when I have to buy Value potatoes they keep a couple of months quite happily.