Why Your Potatoes are Turning Green and What to Do With Them
Potatoes can turn green for a variety of reasons, usually related to improper storage and exposure to light. If you’ve ever noticed your potatoes changing color after sitting on the kitchen counter for a few weeks, you’re not alone.
The green hue is a sign that your potatoes are forming chlorophyll, which, while not harmful on its own, signals the potential presence of toxins.
Why Do Potatoes Turn Green?
Potatoes turn green as they begin to produce chlorophyll in response to light exposure. Whether they’re sitting in your kitchen or had too much sun while still in the ground, the light triggers this reaction.
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Although chlorophyll itself is harmless and tasteless, the formation of chlorophyll indicates that solanine, a toxic compound, is also present.
Light Exposure
The main reason potatoes turn green is exposure to light. Even before you bring them home, they might have been improperly stored or exposed to sunlight in the field. An exceptionally hot and sunny growing season or forgetting to cover growing potatoes can result in greening.
Crowded Planting
If potatoes are planted too close together, they might push each other out of the soil, exposing them to sunlight and increasing the risk of turning green.
Can You Eat Green Potatoes?
Now that you know why potatoes turn green, the next question is: Are they safe to eat? The answer is a clear warning—green potatoes are potentially poisonous.
When a potato's skin turns green, it’s not just chlorophyll that’s appearing but also solanine, a natural toxin found in potatoes and related plants.
The Danger of Solanine
Solanine helps protect the plant from pests, but it’s toxic to humans. Symptoms of solanine poisoning can include headaches, nausea, diarrhea, and in severe cases, neurological issues.
Even cooking the potato at high heat won’t get rid of solanine, so it’s best not to take the risk.
What to Do With Green Potatoes
If you have a batch of green potatoes, don’t throw them out just yet. There are several ways to make use of them safely.
1. Cook and Eat (With Caution)
In some cases, you can still cook and eat potatoes if you carefully remove the green parts. This might mean peeling away significant portions or discarding large areas of the potato.
If the green discoloration has penetrated deeply under the skin, it’s safer to throw the potato away. Never rely on boiling to eliminate the toxin, as solanine remains intact even after cooking.
2. Compost
One great way to make use of green potatoes is to compost them. The solanine won’t harm your compost pile, and breaking down the potatoes into smaller pieces can speed up decomposition. This way, the nutrients from your potatoes are recycled back into the soil.
3. Potato Seed
If you’re willing to wait until planting season, you can use the sprouts from the eyes of green potatoes as seed potatoes. Be sure to monitor them closely to ensure they don’t rot before planting. This can be a practical and sustainable way to repurpose your potatoes.
4. Don’t Feed to Livestock
While animals on the property, like pigs and chickens, can help dispose of kitchen scraps, green potatoes are not safe for them. The solanine in the potatoes can make your livestock just as sick as it would make humans, so avoid feeding green potatoes to your animals.
Green potatoes may seem like a frustrating problem, but with the right precautions, you can avoid wasting them and even find creative ways to repurpose them.
Understanding why they turn green and the dangers associated with solanine will help you make informed decisions about how to handle them safely.
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Last update on 2024-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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