Potatoes will often go green when they're not stored properly and they're exposed to light. This is due to formation of chlorophyll (which is found in all green plants), however the green colour is a useful indicator that levels of certain toxins that are harmful to humans, known as glycoalkaloids, may be increased.
Can you eat potatoes with a green tinge?
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.
How do you stop potatoes turning green?
You can prevent potatoes from turning green by storing them in a cool, dark area with good air circulation and high humidity. The ideal environment for storing potato tubers for long periods is 45 to 50 F with 90 to 95 percent relative humidity and darkness.
How quickly do potatoes turn green?
It will depend upon the intensity of the light and duration of exposure. It also depends upon what you consider green- any slight hue or green green. Regardless, in our studies we saw green develop between 2 and 4 days, but this was under 23 hour light exposure.
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