You’ve probably heard of solanine . It’s a substance found in many plant species that serves to protect potatoes from harmful insects and fungi. In practice, it’s a poison , more precisely an alkaloid, but it’s present in potatoes in very small amounts and therefore doesn’t pose a great danger to the human body. But things change when potatoes germinate , as higher amounts of solanine are concentrated directly on the sprout and in the part below.
At this point, the danger can become significant, especially if large quantities are consumed. The same danger exists when potatoes are eaten raw . Solanine is also found in eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes, but in all these cases, the amount is minimal and decreases further once cooked.
How to prevent potatoes from sprouting
Let’s say you bought healthy potatoes with smooth, unwrinkled skin , i.e. a fresh tuber that’s not too old. These are already conditions that can make you feel quite calm. However, if you want to prevent sprouts from appearing later, just take a few small precautions:
- Place an apple between the potatoes and of course increase the number of apples if the quantity of potatoes is too large (the ethylene contained in the apples prevents the potatoes from sprouting).
- Use a suitable container that facilitates perspiration, yes to wicker baskets, no to plastic.
- Store potatoes in the dark , as light encourages sprout growth.
If the tubers in the supermarket have already sprouted, don’t buy them. If they sprout only to a limited extent at home, remove the sprouts and the bottom part, as well as all the green parts . Overall, this shouldn’t be considered such a serious danger. In fact, to get solanine food poisoning, an adult would have to eat at least three kilograms of raw potatoes or sprouts, which is very unlikely.
