About Whether It Is Okay to Cut Out Potato Sprouts and Eat Them, and How to Remove Them

About Whether It Is Okay to Cut Out Potato Sprouts and Eat Them

How to Remove Them

Potatoes are delicious whether steamed, fried, stir-fried, or prepared in many other ways, but their taste can vary depending on how they are stored.

After buying potatoes or other root crops at the supermarket and storing them at home, it is not uncommon for potato sprouts to appear.

Today, I will explain in detail whether it is okay to cut out potato sprouts and eat them, along with storage methods and how to remove potato sprouts.

Potatoes, a root crop that is surprisingly sensitive, react sensitively to temperature, humidity, ventilation, and other conditions, so they should be stored with all of these factors in mind.

A common method is to place potatoes in a brown paper bag and keep the top of the bag open instead of closing it.

In addition to brown paper bags, wrapping them in cloth that allows good airflow can also help, but plastic bags and plastic containers should be avoided as much as possible.

The reason is that, because they dislike moisture, storing them in an enclosed place causes moisture to build up quickly, which can make them soften or spoil.

If stored at 7 to 10 degrees Celsius, they can stay fresh for a long time, but if stored at a lower temperature than this, their flavor is more likely to deteriorate.

Putting one or two apples where the potatoes are stored is also helpful, because apples release ethylene, which inhibits sprouting and helps keep the potatoes from sprouting.

They are also sensitive to light, so if exposed to light for a long time, potato sprouts may appear or the potatoes may turn green, so caution is needed.

Potatoes that have changed this way see a sharp increase in solanine, one of the toxic substances, and if poisoning occurs, various symptoms may accompany it.

Typical symptoms include food poisoning symptoms such as impaired gastrointestinal function, headache, dizziness, and vomiting, and they do not easily disappear even if cooked with heat.

Therefore, potatoes that have sprouted or turned green should be avoided as much as possible, and the sprouts and green parts should be removed before cooking.

They can only be eaten if cut out completely with a knife and cooked, but even after cutting them out, a small amount of toxin may remain, so it is best to discard them if possible.

Made up of 80% water, potatoes are packed with various vitamins and minerals, which help with skin beauty, fatigue recovery, and boosting immunity.

The toxic substance solanine is also found in potatoes, as well as in peppers and tomatoes, but only in extremely small amounts, so it is fine to consume them without worry.

Also, sweet potato sprouts, which are from the same root crop category, do not contain toxic substances and actually contain a large amount of antioxidants, making them nutritionally beneficial.

If solanine present in potato sprouts and green parts is accidentally consumed and related symptoms appear, please visit a hospital promptly and receive appropriate treatment.