Potatoes shoots and green areas When does health risk?

Can potatoes still be eaten if they have germinated??
When the first sprouts grow on potatoes, these should no longer be eaten. If the potatoes have green spots, these should also be disposed of. But is that really true? The consumer advice center of Bavaria answers the question whether potatoes can still be eaten or whether this endangers the health.

Before food potatoes are transported to the supermarket, they are stored in predominantly fully air-conditioned warehouses. At temperatures between seven and ten degrees Celsius, the quality of the potatoes is largely preserved and sprouting is prevented.

Potatoes have been part of our staple foods for a long time. The tubers can be processed and prepared in many different ways. Thus, even a diet rich in potatoes still offers enough variety. However, such a diet seems to have negative consequences for our blood pressure. (Image: dmitriygut / fotolia.com)

In "normal household storage" between 12 to 14 ° C or warmer germinate potatoes. This process already starts in the supermarket.

At the beginning of germination, when the length of the germ is about 1 cm, the solanine content in the tuber changes only slightly. Strongly expelled tubers with long germs (more than 10 cm in length), in addition to increased amounts of solanine also significant losses of ingredients such as vitamins, minerals and protein. For these reasons, these tubers are no longer suitable for consumption. The same applies to very green tubers, which were exposed to too much light. Consumers should better dispose of this then.

Solanine is a slightly bitter-tasting substance that is produced in some nightshades such as potatoes and tomatoes. Solanin occurs in immature or green-colored potatoes as well as in the germs. It can also be found in the shells of the potato tuber, as the plant naturally forms solanine as a defense against feeding damage.

That's why proper storage and preparation are very important:
Store potatoes as cool as possible (below 15 ° C), dry and dark. Below 4 ° C, however, the contained starch is converted into sugar and the potatoes taste sweet.

Potatoes should not be kept in a foil pouch. This can lead to the formation of moisture and thereby mold. If there is no cool storage room, it makes sense to buy smaller quantities of potatoes, which can be used up quickly. (Sb)