Cut or leave?  Most people don’t know what to do with black spots in potatoes

Cut or leave? Most people don’t know what to do with black spots in potatoes

Potatoes dominate Polish cuisine. We eat them on their own or in the form of dumplings or pancakes. However, it sometimes happens that after peeling we notice black “eyes” on the tuber. What are they and is such a potato suitable for consumption?

What should we do if, after removing the skin, we see strange black spots on the potatoes? Tubers with “eyes” should not be eaten because they may be harmful. Fortunately, there is a way to save them.

Can you eat potatoes with black spots? Find out why they may be harmful

Young potatoes do not require peeling, but older ones are not suitable for eating in their skins. After peeling them, we often see that black “eyes” have formed on the surface. Can these potatoes be eaten? Yes, but before throwing them into the pot, remove the stain with a knife. It is best to cut it out, leaving a margin of about 1 cm around it. This is where the highest concentration of solanine is, which causes health problems such as gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes, however, it can lead to more serious problems, e.g. fainting, nephritis or breathing disorders.

Can you eat potatoes that have sprouted? Before you throw them into the pot, you better think twice

Not only do black spots appear on them, but if they lie for a long time, they begin to sprout shoots over time. Can such tubers be eaten? If they have started to sprout, it means that they contain more glycoalkaloids – the previously mentioned solanine and chaconine. Such potatoes should definitely not be eaten by breastfeeding or pregnant women, but others can eat them as long as they remove the shoots first. However, before cooking them, it is worth checking what color the tuber is. If it begins to turn green, the potato is unsuitable for consumption and should be thrown away because it has produced a large amount of harmful compounds that will affect our health.

Source: Gazeta

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