The potato crop was dug up and put away for storage. If suddenly there are potatoes with green barrels among the tubers, we throw them away, because we know that they are harmful and dangerous to health. Sprouted potatoes are also considered harmful by many. But how big is the threat? And why can it be harmful at all? That’s what says Caroline Wright, senior lecturer Nottingham Trent University, UK.
Which of us did not have such a thing that you did not buy potatoes, put them in storage and forgot. And after a while, opening the cabinet, found that the tubers had sprouted and now resemble some kind of strange creature. What do you choose in this situation? Should I cut the sprouts and boil the potatoes or throw them in the trash, considering them inedible?
You may have heard terrible stories about people poisoned by potato sprouts — but how much truth is there in these stories? To answer this question, we must first understand what potatoes are from the point of view of botany.
What are potatoes?
Many consider potatoes to be root crops because they grow underground – like carrots, parsnips and others. In fact, it is a kind of “modified stem” known as a tuber. Such a thickened and compacted stem is formed underground and remains there after the mother plant dies (which gave a harvest this year). This allows the plants to survive in the cold winter, because the tubers are located deep below the soil surface, where they are protected from frost.
Most of us know that potato tubers contain a lot of carbohydrates. This is because they need enough food to survive the winter. Food in the form of sugars is formed as a result of photosynthesis – you probably remember from a school biology course that this is a process in which plants use the energy of sunlight to produce sugar (glucose) from carbon dioxide and water.
Some of this energy is consumed by plants, but perennial crops — those that live for more than two seasons – accumulate energy to start growing next spring. They need food so that the sprouts rise to the surface of the soil, get out of the ground and form leaves that will begin photosynthesis. In other words, potato tubers contain a “Packed Lunch” that should help them survive the winter and start growing in the spring.
Are the sprouts toxic?
Carefully looking at the potatoes, you will see “eyes” – small spots visible on the skin of the tuber. In fact, these are the nodes of the stem. And on an ordinary stem – above the ground – they give new branches and leaves. It is here that shoots begin to grow if you forget potatoes in the closet for a long time.
They wake up and begin to grow thanks to the warmth of your home, and if the potatoes are in the light, the process will accelerate. Therefore, it is recommended to store the tubers in a cool, dark place – this prolongs the rest period.
Well, what about gardening? Most of us know that you can’t eat green potatoes — but why?
Under the influence of light, certain physiological reactions are triggered in the tubers. The green color is due to the formation of chlorophyll — and this is not harmful, such tissues, in fact, contain a large amount of useful mineral salts (for example, iron). Thanks to such processes, edible leafy vegetables acquire a rich green color.
But light and heat also stimulate the formation of solanine, a chemical that can cause symptoms of poisoning in humans when ingested in large quantities. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, burning throat, headaches, dizziness. As a rule, this substance is concentrated under the skin of potatoes (together with chlorophyll), as well as in the sprouts formed. So really don’t eat green and sprouted potatoes.
Grow your potatoes!
Of course, you can cut off the green peel and remove the sprouts that have appeared. This will reduce the likelihood of poisoning, but sprouted potatoes often get a bitter taste. In addition, when germination starts the process of processing sugars and vitamins contained in the tuber, which means that potatoes become less nutritious.
I must say, I’ve sliced potatoes for cooking. I just don’t eat dark green or intensively sprouting tubers – but they can be planted to grow a new portion of potatoes.
Yes, these potatoes are not guaranteed to be virus-free, like purchased seed tubers, but despite this, after a while they will thank you with a generous harvest. Well, if you have nowhere to grow potatoes, but you don’t want to throw them away, then remove the green peel and sprouts, boil the tubers, cut them and give them to the birds — they will be grateful to you.
Tell me, what do you do with sprouted or green potatoes?