Why Do They Turn Dark?

[lynbrown]

When I cook boiled potatoes, I always cut them in half to cool them down before eating them. Sometimes one or two then quickly turn very dark, before I eat them. Once they turn dark, I just chuck them out. What causes this?

[boxtops]

It's reaction with the air, isn't it? I don't understand why you cool them first, I've never heard of that.

[murraymints]

The starch in carbohydrate reacting....

[dzug2]

Why not cut them in half before you cook them? They will both cook and cool down quicker.

maybe you are buying poor quality potatoes some of the time

[lynbrown]

We always get our pots from M&S. I let them cool as my teeth are very sensitive and I hate anything too hot or too cold.

[Meg]

I always buy M&S potatoes, but I'm getting a bit brassed with them, usually Maris Peer, they don't go dark but some explode when baked and go to mush when boiled.

[Smowball]

Ive never heard of that.

[heathfield]

Despite intensive research, no one has ever found anything harmful about potatoes, whatever state they're in. Are you adding salt to the water? This will help reduce blackening. Personally, I don't like Maris Peer, and prefer Maris Piper.

[EcclesCake]

Using an aluminium saucepan can exacerbate the problem and has already been said there is an oxidation issue with some spuds.

Not sure of any harm to health but accept they are unsightly.

[heathfield]

Should have added an exception. Green skin on potatoes is indeed harmful, and should be peeled off. It contains alkaloids that are not destroyed by cooking. Other than that, potatoes are totally safe.

[emmie]

i get this, and still haven't found the reason why, i like to do my own potato salad so cook the spuds as normal, rinse them under cold water to get off some of the starch, then leave to cool, only some go a bit black, if too bad i have to throw them out which i don't like to do.

[emmie]

i generally use and have been doing so for years either King Edwards spuds or general white, and never had a problem, but the last couple of years have found the same problem, and haven't changed the cookware, it's still teflon non stick...