Glycoalkaloids are a group of toxins that are naturally present in potatoes, with concentrations highest in the sprouts and peel of potatoes. The levels can also increase when potatoes are damaged or when potatoes are exposed to light for prolonged periods. If a potato has gone green it’s likely to contain higher levels .
When potatoes are exposed to light, they begin to produce chlorophyll, the green pigment that gives many plants and algae their color (1). This causes light-skinned potatoes to change from yellow or light brown to green. This process also occurs in darker-skinned potatoes, though the dark pigments may disguise it.
Another thing we asked ourselves was, why do potatoes turn green after purchase?
Here is what my research found. The green color of the potato is caused by exposure to light . According to Penn. State Extension, light causes the potato to produce chlorophyll and also solanine. Solanine has a bitter taste and is an irritant to the digestive system that can cause paralysis in large quantities.
Here is what our research found. “Light durations as short as 12 hours can cause greening of a few potato varieties such as Kennebec.” This means that potatoes still attached to the plant and exposed to strong sunlight can turn green in only one day . Exposure to sunlight, even for a brief time, can cause potatoes to turn green.
A potato will turn green faster at warm temperatures around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). Keep in mind that potato tubers can turn green whenever they are exposed to light – either outdoors or indoors. This means that potatoes stored on a countertop where they are exposed to natural or artificial light will turn green.
Why do potatoes have green skin on them?
When you see green skin on a potato, it’s a sign of increasing toxicity . With the highest concentration in the skin and sprouts, it’s possible to remove the skin and reduce the number of toxins.
This of course begs the query “Should you peel potatoes with green spots on them?”
If a potato has just a few small green spots, you can cut them out or peel the potato. Because solanine is also produced in higher concentrations around the eyes, or sprouts, of a potato, they should be removed as well. However, if the potato is very green or tastes bitter (a sign of solanine), it’s best to throw it away ( 10 ).
One way to think about this is The green color that potatoes sometimes turn is not poison , here an explanation of what is going on: The greenish color sometimes seen on potato skins occurs when the potatoes have been exposed to natural, artificial, or fluorescent lights.
What happens if you eat a green potato?
Green potatoes should be taken seriously. Although the green color itself is not harmful, it may indicate the presence of a toxin called solanine. Peeling green potatoes can help reduce solanine levels, but once a potato has turned green, it’s best to throw it away .
This of course begs the query “What happens if you eat a potato with green skin?”
The potatoes with a green tint to the skin will taste bitter . Typically if the potato has been exposed to light (sun light, fluorescent light, spots, etc.) it will convert the skin to Solanine, which if ingested in large quantities can be toxic.
Why do potato chips have a green edge?
Glycoalkaloids are protective chemicals that the potato plant produce, making it lethal to insects, animals, and fungi which attack it. When exposed to light, glycoalkaloids in the tuber will have a dramatical increase. In some cases, this green coloration can reach a half-inch. Potato chips that made up of this potatoes will have a green edge.