Can green potatoes be eaten?

In our lives, many people like to eat potatoes very much, but the storage of potatoes does require certain conditions. Just like the potatoes we just dug out of the soil, some of them have green skin. If the green skin of these potatoes is not cut off, the taste of these potatoes will feel very astringent and bitter. Improper storage can easily lead to this phenomenon. So, can green potatoes be eaten?

Potatoes are vegetables that sprout very easily. If they are left for a long time or the temperature is high, green sprouts will grow. At this time, the skin of the potato will turn green at the sprouted part and produce a toxic substance called solanine. Eating it will cause dizziness, nausea, and poisoning. But generally speaking, if the sprouting is not very severe, it won’t be a big problem if you add some vinegar when cooking. But a more scientific way is to remove the green color, then cut the potatoes into pieces, soak them in clean water, and they will be fine after a few hours. If you can’t soak them for that long, you have to add more vinegar when cooking. In fact, fried potatoes need more vinegar to make them delicious. But don’t worry, ordinary potatoes are just a little green, and it won’t be a big deal. But it’s best to remove them, it shouldn’t be a big problem.

Potatoes contain a toxic substance called biota. If the human body ingests a large amount of biota, it will cause poisoning, nausea, diarrhea and other reactions. The alkaloids in potatoes belong to steroid glycoside alkaloids, mainly solanine and chalcone. Its structure is similar to human steroid hormones, such as androgens, estrogens, progestins and other sex hormones. According to foreign reports, the bioalkali content of freshly harvested potatoes is 20 to 80 mg per kilogram, which rises to 75 to 114 mg after being stored for a period of time.

The bioalkali content of sprouted or moldy potatoes will increase further. This toxic compound is found in higher levels in potato peels, so be sure to peel them before eating, especially the skin that has turned green. In addition, sprouted potatoes are more toxic. When eating them, be sure to dig out the sprouts and roots, soak them in clean water, and use high heat when stewing.

Potatoes produce solanine toxin when they sprout. Good quality potatoes contain only 10 mg of solanine toxin per 100 grams. In green, sprouting, and rotten potatoes, the solanine toxin content increases 50 times.

In addition, if pregnant women frequently eat potatoes with high bioalkali content, the accumulation of bioalkali in the body may cause fetal malformations. Of course, there are considerable individual differences among people, and not everyone will experience abnormalities after eating potatoes, but it is better for pregnant women not to eat or eat less potatoes, especially potatoes that have been stored for a long time or sprouted. This is especially important for women in early pregnancy.

Potatoes are the most effective way to treat acne on the face. If you have pimples on your face, as soon as you notice that they are starting to pop up and feel some swelling and pain, quickly stick raw potato slices on them, and change them after half an hour. After changing them several times, the pimples will never pop up again. If there are already pus heads on the pimples, you can still stick raw potato slices on them. Make sure they are cut very thin so that they will not fall off easily. Change them frequently, and the pimples that have already popped up can also be eliminated. You just need to stick them on for a longer period of time and change them more often, and there will be no pigmentation or depression on your face.