Potato sprouts are often seen when you store potatoes for a long duration. Is it safe to eat sprouted potatoes and how do you prevent potatoes from sprouting?

Potato sprouts are certainly not good. When potatoes sprout, the starch in the potatoes is converted into sugar. It is suggested that if the potato is firm, it has most of the nutrients intact and can be eaten after removing the sprouted part. However, if the potato is shrunken and wrinkled, it should not be eaten.

What about green potatoes? Green potatoes are a result of excessive exposure to light. Due to overexposure to light the skin becomes green due to formation of an alkaloid solamin. The green skin is toxic and hence many people remove the green skin before eating the potato.

How can you control potato sprouts? Normally potato sprout inhibition is done by using chemical inhibitors such as maleic hydrazide, CIPC or chlorpropham. Irradiation is also a good method of controlling the potato sprouts. With the increasing demand of organic potatoes, research is being carried out on organic control of potato sprouts. The University of Idaho has reported that essential oils such as clove oil, spearmint oil and peppermint oil can be used to for organic potato sprout inhibition.

Apart from these techniques, you should ensure that you store potatoes properly. People often use the following precautions to minimize formation of potato sprouts:

• Moisture: Ensure that the potatoes are not stored in a humid atmosphere. Moisture speeds up the sprouting process. On the other hand, the potatoes should also not get dehydrated.
• Temperature: Higher temperatures favor the formation of potato sprouts. Generally the temperature for storing potatoes is maintained between 44F to 50F.
• Air Circulation: Ensure sufficient air circulation when you store potatoes.

Further Reading:
Organic Control of Potato Sprouts
Nutritional Value of Potato
Tips for Cooking Potatoes
Potato Information
Potato Storage Management
Storage and Processing of Potatoes

The photo on this page is credited to Tony Austin

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Mitch   |2009-04-05 03:32:26 we tried the lunch sacK method on YAMS, too, and discoverEd the paper helped prevent mold, wich starts to form within only a few days if you leave them in a sweaty plastic bag. white potatoes don't sprout as much, either. Reply 0   0

Dora  - AnXiOuS About Potatoes Sprouting??   |2009-04-05 01:52:22 we rented a studio with no kitchen, and found that wrapping each potato in a brown paper lunch bag and keeping them in a covered cardboard box near--but not at--floor level, in the coolest part of the room , helped immensely. the paper keeps them dry and away from light, wile allowing them to breathe a little . you can't pile them too closely together, however. regarding whether sprouted spuds are safe to eat, we were told they're fine if sprouts are no longer than 1/2 an inch . Reply 0   0

Stephen  - Hi   |2009-03-16 19:11:30 Umm i wanna ask how big the biggest potato is. Reply 5   2

Daphne  - Green potatoes   |2009-03-16 19:08:21 What are green potatoes? I have never heard of green potatoes. I'm in third grade. I have heard of purple and blue potatoes but not green if you have time put a website about green potatoes. ~Daphne Reply 5   1

ashley  - potato sprouts   |2009-03-08 12:58:02 hello, my name is ashley and i am in the scond grade is it tru that i can eat sprout thank you ashleeeee Reply 2   4

Jacqueline A Whyte Hill  - How to spourt potato   |2008-12-19 08:40:36 My son is doing a project for school on how two types of potato is spourt, do you have any infromation that will help him Reply 5   6

Debbski  - sprouting potato for the vine   |2008-08-12 03:15:15 I would like to sprout a potato in water for the pretty vine. So is the sprout the root or where the vine comes from. I dont know which end to stick in the water. Reply 15   3

Reza   |2008-08-02 05:16:52 Dear Mike As well as potatoes, you shouls also consider growing or purchasing sweet potatoes (especially the orange-flesh variety), as these have a higher nutritional content than regular potatoes. In Bangladesh, sweet potatoes are called "mishti aloo". Reza Reply 1   4

Mike Murray  - Pastor   |2008-07-15 02:30:35 Along with several other ministers, we I am doing short-term mission work in Bangladesh. The government there, is trying to get the nation to eat more potatoes because of the high cost of rice, etc. We have 42 girls in an orphanage which we are helping. It has been very difficult for the staff there to purchase rice for the girls becuause of the high cost, and the fact that Bangladesh is the poorest nation in the world. Could you tell me, if potatoes have a higher nutritional value than rice. If we could get these girls the equipment to plant, harvest, and eat potatoes, it would be of great help as far as their diet and general health. Thank you for any advice you can give. Sincerely Yours, Pastor Mike Murray Litchfield, MI. Reply 2   2

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