However, if the potato tastes bitter, a person should not continue to eat it. Generally, if there is extensive green color throughout a potato, it is not possible to cut away enough of the solanine material to make it safe to eat.
Can you eat bitter potatoes?
Cut away any parts that show damage (cuts and bruises), rotting, green colouring and sprouting before cooking. In severe cases, discard the entire potato. Do not eat potatoes that taste bitter or cause a burning sensation in the mouth.
Why do my garden potatoes taste bitter?
Exposure to light means they make chlorophyll, which turns them green. When this happens, an alkaloid called solanine — a bitter toxin — develops. Solanine, when eaten in large quantities, can be toxic. You need to cut or scrap any green parts of the potato flesh or skin and discard those pieces.
Does solanine taste bitter?
In lab tests, eating potatoes with this level of solanine gave a two-part sensation: an immediate bitter taste lasting about one minute; followed by a strong burning taste which lasted about five minutes.
