Peeling potatoes before you cook them can help to decrease the number of toxins you’re exposed to. You can also use a small knife or a potato peeler with an eye remover to dig out any spouts. Removing eyes and sprouts can reduce the risk of ingesting toxins, but may not help you avoid it entirely. Cooking may not entirely get rid of the toxins if the sprouts aren’t removed—and we certainly don’t recommend eating raw potatoes!
How to Keep Potatoes from Sprouting
It’s important to know how to store potatoes. Keep your potatoes in a cool, dry place like the pantry or a cabinet. Potato storage containers like these stackable baskets are ideal for tight spaces. Keep potatoes away from onions, as the gases from those veggies could speed up the sprouting process.
And while those giant bags of spuds are tempting for their cost savings, it’s safer to buy your potatoes as needed instead. If you do buy potatoes in bulk, consider storing them in a breathable, cotton storage bag in a cool, dark place.
Other Signs a Potato Is Bad
Sprouting is just one sign that you should rethink eating that potato. Ideally, a potato should be firm to touch and have tight, unblemished skin. If your potato has become mushy or soft, or has blemishes, bruises or black spots, you should probably throw it out.
You might also notice your old potatoes turning green. That’s because light can also increase the potato’s chlorophyll, the compound that gives plants their green color. If you have green potatoes, it’s important to know that chlorophyll isn’t dangerous, but it’s a sign that other toxins have increased, too.
Smell is another great way to tell if a potato isn’t safe to eat. While potatoes generally smell earthy, a musty or moldy odor is a surefire sign that your potatoes need to go in the bin.
