potatoes - when unsafe?

[joko]

i have heard that you should not eat taters that are a bit green or have started to sprout.

how green is bad? just a tinge or very green? can you just cut the green bit off? can you cut the sprouted bits out?

thanks

[Ethel]

You would have to eat many many pounds of green potatoes to suffer any ill effects.

Cut the sprouted bits out, cut the green bits off, and you'll be fine.

From the British Potato Council:

Q: Should I eat potatoes that are green?
A: When potatoes are exposed to either artificial or natural light, they can develop a green colour due to chemical changes. These may make those green bits of the potato unsuitable for consumption but they can be avoided by simply cutting them out.


Q: Should I eat potatoes that have sprouted?
A: It's safe to cook potatoes that have sprouted but they may not keep well and are more likely to blacken when cooked. Whatever your choice, always remove the sprouts before using them.

[Zeddy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine

I wouldn't. Buy some new ones.

[joko]

thanks guys

for the price of them i won't risk it

[marvinparvin]

There's absolutely no problem whatsoever with eating sprouting spuds - just pull off the sprouty bits and use as normal - our home-grown ones always develop sprouts in store and we've always eaten them with no ill effects. Green ones - just cut out the green bits.

[joko]

marvin, according to that link it is not the green colour itself that is the problem, it is the substance being produced in the potato that causes the skin to go green that is the problem - so cutting the green bit off will not stop the rest of the potato being full of this stuff.

[lia*]

I've eaten green potatoes many, many times and nothing has happened to me. Also sprouting potatoes, nothing is wrong with them, they are quite edible.