why are my potatoes sprouting roots

In Too Afraid to Ask, we’re answering food-related questions that may or may not give you goosebumps. Today: Are sprouted potatoes safe to eat?

Are your potatoes displaying mysterious green spots? Growing tentacles that reach out to you every time you open the pantry? Known as sprouted potatoes, the phenomenon is all too common: You ambitiously purchased the XL bag of spuds, cooked through a few of our favorite potato recipes, then forgot about the remainder in the back of your pantry. Weeks later you uncover something extraterrestrial-looking, staring back at you from that dark cupboard. Here’s if—and when—you should start to worry.

“Sprouting potatoes is the potato trying to grow a new potato. This can happen under the right conditions, which include warm temperatures, humidity, light, and sitting for long periods,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Nichole Dandrea-Russert, MS, RDN.

Are your potatoes displaying mysterious green spots? Growing tentacles that reach out to you every time you open the pantry? Known as sprouted potatoes, the phenomenon is all too common: You ambitiously purchased the XL bag of spuds, cooked through a few of our favorite potato recipes, then forgot about the remainder in the back of your pantry. Weeks later you uncover something extraterrestrial-looking, staring back at you from that dark cupboard. Here’s if—and when—you should start to worry.

If your otherwise good-looking potatoes have a few small sprouts, you can carefully remove them with a paring knife or the little loop on the end of your potato peeler (yes, that’s what it’s for). Make sure to really get in there and cut around the sprouted parts, excising any roots, bumps, and eyes. Then use the rest of the potato however you please—in ultra-silky, all-American mash, perfect baked potatoes, or crispy-creamy Potatoes au Gratin.

The best way to keep potatoes from sprouting in the first place is to store them properly. Keep potatoes at room temperature in a dry, dark place—we recommend storing spuds in a breathable paper bag. Do not store raw potatoes in the refrigerator, which may cause parts of the potato to harden and cook unevenly.

Large sprouts, growths, and roots will not only be unpleasant to eat, but, in the worst cases, can also make you really sick. Symptoms of poisoning from solanine (the specific type of natural toxin found in spoiled potatoes) include everything from a fever and headache to a severely upset stomach or abdominal pain. Needless to say, it’s worth going to the grocery store and buying some new potatoes.

But, if those spuds look like they’ve grown arms and legs and are ready to put up a fight—we’re talking super-long roots, potato eyes that look like they’re staring back at you, extensive growths that are reaching for the sun, it’s probably best to toss them.What about potatoes with dark spots or green skins?

In actual springtime, the sprouting of the potatoes affects the structure and taste of the potato, says McNally. “They start losing their moisture and they get rubbery. They’re still good to eat but they’re not as tasty. April and May is a good time to take a break from potatoes, before the new potatoes come in July and August.”

October seemed to jump out from behind September and shout “boo!” at us unsuspecting summer bunnies. Sure, we’ve seen the leaves start to turn but the weather has been so temperate that I for one cannot quite believe autumn has arrived. It’s not just me who’s seasonally confused: the spuds in my pantry have been sprouting long, spindly roots. So, why do you potatoes sprout?

Jenny and Patrick McNally are renowned in the Irish food world for the outstanding produce they grow on their organic farm in Balrickard, Co Dublin. The McNally Family Farm specialises in seasonal vegetables and salads, and its customers include Assassination Custard, Meet Me in the Morning, Forest Avenue and The Fumbally. That’s not to mention the customers of their farm shop open at the farm on Friday evenings, or their stalls at Temple Bar food market and Dún Laoghaire’s People’s Park farmers market on Saturdays and Sundays respectively.

The Truth About Sprouted Potatoes

FAQ

Is it OK to eat potatoes with roots growing out of them?

How do you fix sprouted potatoes?

How do you stop potatoes from growing roots?

Why are roots growing out of my potatoes?

Why do potatoes sprout?

Here’s the story When a potato starts sprouting, it’s just doing what potato plants do—growing and making more potatoes! And like any good parent, the potato wants its family to stay safe. So, sprouts, which are vulnerable once they emerge from the protective cover of soil, come equipped with defensive toxins called glycoalkaloids.

What causes plantar warts to recur in the same place?

Plantar warts are caused by an infection with HPV in the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet. This virus enters through tiny cuts or breaks on the bottom of the feet. If left untreated, warts can last from a few months to 2 years in children, and several years in in adults. If your plantar warts return, it means that HPV is still present in your body and that it is growing.

What happens if you plant a sprouted potato?

However, if you plant a sprouted potato (or a piece of potato with a sprouted eye) about 4 to 6 inches deep, it will grow up towards the surface of the soil. Eventually, the sprouts will break the soil surface and produce tall stems and leaves to produce energy from sunlight by photosynthesis.

How do potatoes sprout?

The sugar is now more readily available as energy for the formation of new sprouts. These sprouts grow from the eyes (or buds) on potato plants. The eyes on a potato will look like small white indents before they begin to sprout. At first, the eyes are tiny, but after sprouting occurs, you can see the sprouts as they grow longer.