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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Potatoes and the green hue on them. . .

 
Potatoes and the green hue on them. . .
Potatoes are good for you as long as you prepare them in a healthy manner. Boiled and baked potatoes are good for you, French fries and potato chips are not. Potatoes are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fiber, especially if you eat the skin.
What About Potatoes with a Green Tint?
When potatoes have a green tint to their skin, they may actually have a sun-burn. Potato tubers grow underground and if they are exposed to light, they develop a green tint due to chlorophyll production which normally happens in the stems and the leaves, but not in the tubers.
The green indicates the presence of solanine, which is produced when potatoes are exposed to light, either in the field or after harvest.
The chlorophyll is harmless, but the light exposure also causes the potatoes to develop a higher level of an irritating chemical called  Solanine.
The green colour is from chlorophyll, and is itself harmless. However, it is an indication that increased level of solanine  and chaconine may be present. This causes the potatoes to taste bitter and green potatoes often contain high levels of a toxin called Solanine, which may lead to symptoms of Solanine poisoning.
Some of the symptoms like Nausea, Vomiting, Stomach cramps, Diarrhea, Burning sensation in throat region, Headaches or Dizziness.
If you simply cut away those colored areas and any sprouts, your potatoes will be quite safe to eat.
TIP : It is best to store potatoes in cool, dark areas, and to trim away green areas before preparing them to eat.

1 comment:

  1. wow, that's interesting to know. Never knew about this. Something to keep an eye for.

    ReplyDelete