It often happens that potatoes begin to sprout.
Sprouting potatoes are by no means harmless and can even be poisonous.
Consumers should pay attention to this.
For many
consumers
, the
potato
is high on the list of ingredients.
There
are a few things to consider
when
the potato sprouts.
The
consumption
of
sprouting potatoes
is by no means harmless.
Offenbach - Especially when the weather outside shows its less beautiful side, it is especially great fun to cook something hearty again.
At the top of the list for many
consumers is
the
potato
.
Whether processed into dumplings or mashed potatoes or as a delicious baked potato or homemade French fries, there is hardly a more diverse
vegetable
.
But as with so many beautiful things, the potato also has a downside - because it can be
poisonous
under certain circumstances
.
There are a few things to consider,
especially with
sprouting potatoes
.
+
Attention consumers: caution is advised with sprouted potatoes (symbol picture).
© Julian Stratenschulte / dpa
Sprouting potatoes can be toxic: larger sprouts and green spots
If
potatoes have
been stored incorrectly
in the
household
or in the
supermarket
, they can start to sprout.
At the beginning only small, yellowish-white bumps are visible.
The further the
sprouting potato
develops, the larger and more branched the
sprout
becomes
- and the risk increases with it.
As the Lower Saxony Consumer Center emphasizes, strongly
germinating potatoes
contain a
particularly large amount of
solanine
.
This is a harmful plant substance that the potato uses to protect itself from predators.
Solanine also inhibits the growth of mold and bacteria.
Normally the solanine content in a
potato is
completely harmless, only with many and larger sprouts or when many green spots appear on the potato it becomes dangerous.
(T) olle tuber: Beware of green and germinating #potatoes: German new potatoes have been around since the beginning of June.
Incorrect storage and preparation favors the development of harmful #solanin.
https://t.co/c5QQSBqP3n Photo credit: © Patryssia - https://t.co/IpVmBISTv6 pic.twitter.com/SZVtTnOSOy
- Consumer advice center (@VZNiedersachsen) June 7, 2018
This is how you can avoid sprouting potatoes
When buying a
potato
, you can minimize the risk that too much of the poisonous solanine will be formed in the potato.
It is important that the
potatoes are
not
stored
too lightly in the
supermarket
and that they also do not have many
germs
or green spots.
When
it comes to
household
storage
, it is important that potatoes are kept in a cool, dry and, above all, dark place, as this will minimize germination.
This is how you minimize the risk | |
---|---|
Buying the potatoes | Buy potatoes without sprouts and sprouts, as well as green spots |
storage | Dark, cool and dry and without plastic packaging |
preparation | Few germs: Cut off generously - Lots of germs: Don't eat! Discard potatoes |
Source: Lower Saxony consumer center |
If there are
shoots
or
green spots
on the
potato
, you have to be particularly careful during preparation so as not to accidentally
poison
yourself with
solanine
.
If the potato contains only a few, small
germs
, then you should cut them away generously.
Then you can process them further, emphasizes the Lower Saxony consumer center.
If the
germinating potato
is to be covered with germs over a large area, the shoots are more than one centimeter long or the potato has green areas in many places, then throw them in the trash, because then the
vegetables are
no longer suitable for consumption.
In general, you should always peel potatoes, because the solanine occurs most strongly in the peel.
Sprouted potato: how to notice poisoning by solanine
If a heavily
sprouted
or
green potato
contains a
lot of
solanine
, the mucous membranes are irritated when eaten.
A bitter taste in the mouth and a scratchy or burning sensation can also develop.
The German Nutrition Society states that
poisoning
from a potato with a high concentration of solanine is usually noticed after four to 19 hours.
Because then usually the first
symptoms
appear.
Mild course:
unspecific symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and headache as well as a scratchy throat
Other symptoms:
anxiety, cramps, weakness, apathy and visual disturbances
Severe course:
heart failure, shortness of breath and respiratory paralysis can even lead to death.
Particular caution is also
required
with young
children
.
Because due to their lower body weight is higher for them
danger
,
poison
yourself with
solanine
.
(Sophia Lother)
List of rubric lists: © Bernd Wüstneck / dpa