While natural, the sprouts that sprout from potatoes may seem unsavory. But can we still cook and eat them when a new culture is hatching? According to Femme Actuelle, it all depends on the condition and firmness of the tubers.
If there are only a few sprouts and the potato is still firm, all you have to do is remove the intruders to wash, peel, prepare and enjoy. On the contrary, if your potatoes are soft, it is better to avoid using them.
“This is usually the case if the tubers have been forgotten for weeks or months. They then become withered and are no longer edible,” the magazine explains.
Indeed, sprouted potatoes contain solanine, a substance likely to cause an irritant action on the digestive tract and nervous toxicity in humans (diarrhea, vomiting, salivation, constipation, etc.). Note that solanine is only toxic if ingested in large quantities.
To avoid waste, use your sprouted potatoes to enrich your compost or plant them in your vegetable garden.
To prevent your tubers from sprouting, it is essential to store them in a dry, cool, dark place, away from drafts. Choose your pantry or cellar if you have one. You can keep them in a wooden or plastic box, or even in a burlap bag.
