When not to eat potatoes

InToo Afraid to Ask, we’re answering food-related questions that may or may not give you goosebumps.

How to remove potato sprouts

Can you plant sprouted potatoes

What to do with sprouted potatoes

Are sprouted potatoes poisonous

Can potato sprouts kill you

Today: Are sprouted potatoes safe to eat?

Are your potatoes displaying mysterious green spots? Growing tentacles that reach out to you every time you open the pantry? Known as sprouted potatoes, the phenomenon is all too common: You ambitiously purchased the XL bag of spuds, cooked through a few of our favorite potato recipes, then forgot about the remainder in the back of your pantry.

Weeks later you uncover something extraterrestrial-looking, staring back at you from that dark cupboard.

Are sprouted potatoes safe to eat during pregnancy

Here’s if—and when—you should start to worry.

So, can you eat sprouted potatoes?

The short answer: It depends. When potatoes begin to sprout, the growths (those roots, eyes, and bumps) have a high concentration of compounds called glycoalkaloids that can cause a sharp, unpleasant, bitter taste.

You’re not likely to see any ill effects from eating negligible amounts—in fact, one of those compounds, called solanine, is the same compound that occurs naturally in eggplants, tomatoes, and pepper

are potatoes not good when they sprout

are potatoes bad when they sprout