Is it safe to eat green potatoes?

Lightbulbchick

Is it unsafe to eat green potatoes or is that just an old wives tale?

I have 1/2 of 15kg of potatoes I bought for 60p on a RFQS. Some are starting to go green. I set myself a personal challenge of eating all the potatoes eventually when I bought them so if the green ones are not harmful then I can continue with my challenge.

Lightbulbchick

(P.S. The potatoes are just part of my diet - not my only consumption!)

ZoeGirl_3

Not sure if I would eat them if they are really green :eek: I especially wouldn't eat the green parts themselves, although I have been known to cut little green parts off, leaving a good wedge of normal potato between the piece I am eating and the green part.

There is something poisonous about the green part, google green potatoes and see what you get.

franklally

I think I read somewhere they contain the same poison as rhubarb leaves.

I got very sick from eating green potatoes so now wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

Debt_Free_Dreamer

Are green potatoes safe to eat ?

Exposure of potato tubers to light either in the field, in storage, on the store shelf, or at home, will induce the formation of a green pigmentation on the surface of the potato. This is called "greening" and indicates the formation of chlorophyll. This pigment is completely safe and is found in all plants, lettuce, spinach etc.

But, in potato tubers, it is like the "canary in the mine shaft." The green indicates an increase in the presence of glycoalkaloids, especially, in potato, the substance "solanine". When the potato greens, solanine increases to potentially dangerous levels. Hence it is advised not to eat the green parts of the potato.

Commercial varieties of potatoes are screened for solanine levels, and most have a solanine content of less than 0.2mg/g. However potatoes that have been exposed to light and started to green can show concentrations of 1mg/g or more. In these situations a single unpeeled potato can result in a dangerous dose.

Increased solanine levels are responsible for the bitter taste in potatoes after being cooked.

Solanine biosynthesis occurs parallel but independent of chlorophyll biosynthesis; each can occur without the other. Unlike chlorophyll, light is not needed for solanine formation but is substantially promoted by it. The formation of solanine in potato is localized to the skin, usually no deeper than 3 mm. In processed potatoes such as chips and fries, there is little hazard since peels are removed

http://www.food-info.net/uk/qa/qa-fp96.htm

In a nutshell, I think the answer is no

However, I think you can cut the green bits off, which is what I tend to do as it is usually only the outside that has gone green.


Amanda

charliee_3

Solanine biosynthesis occurs parallel but independent of chlorophyll biosynthesis; each can occur without the other. Unlike chlorophyll, light is not needed for solanine formation but is substantially promoted by it. The formation of solanine in potato is localized to the skin, usually no deeper than 3 mm. In processed potatoes such as chips and fries, there is little hazard since peels are removed

-so unless you peel 3mm of skin so they arent green?

charliee_3

if you compost them and use the compost you are not technically wasting them??

nesssie1702

franklally wrote: »

I think I read somewhere they contain the same poison as rhubarb leaves.

I got very sick from eating green potatoes so now wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

Not the same poison - it's oxalic acid that's in rhubarb leaves

Farway

charliee wrote: »

if you compost them and use the compost you are not technically wasting them??

Alternativley let them "sprout" [chitting] and plant them in tubs or buckets. Bingo lots of lovely new spuds in a few months [have a read on the greenfingered board ]

clutterydrawer

I always cut the green bits off and eat them - not if they're really really green though.

Remember that potatoes are related to nightshade and other very poisonous things - don't take chances.

tomterm8

It is not safe to eat them.

recovering_spendaholic

I keep my potatoes in the fridge and they never go green, hence I sometimes take weeks to eat a 2.5kg bag. If the poisonous stuff grows whether or not there is light present does it mean that you have to eat potatoes pretty much as soon as you have bought them?