There are many reasons why potatoes may go bad. The best way to avoid potato sickness is to properly store your potatoes. It’s also important to note that the skin of the potato can get discolored, wrinkly or smelly, and even bruises or cuts can expose the flesh to bacteria.
Wrinkling
Potatoes are a great source of carbohydrates. However, over time, they can become hazardous to your health. It is best to dispose of potatoes as soon as possible. Wrinkling is a sign that the tuber has started to decay.
If you want to make a potato a regular part of your diet, you should avoid potatoes that are wrinkled, mushy or have sprouts. These characteristics make potatoes less than desirable to eat.
A wrinkly potato has not only a nasty taste but may pose a risk to your health. Wrinkling also causes starches to convert into sugars, which is bad for you. The best way to prevent this is to buy potatoes that are firm to the touch.
Potatoes are a good source of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which can help your skin defend itself from UV rays. This vitamin has antioxidant properties and can help mitigate the effects of free radicals.
As with many foods, potatoes can be ruined over time. They can become moldy, rotten, or have a weird smell. So, the next time you are shopping for a new batch, do your best to avoid these hazards. You can also try to change storage conditions, such as storing the tuber in an air tight container. For example, placing the potato in a zip lock bag can reduce moisture loss.
If you have no luck at home, then you can find the best deals online. Alternatively, you can get your hands on a refurbished potato.
Skin discoloration
If you have an excess amount of beta-carotene in your blood then your skin can turn orange or yellow. This can be a result of eating too many carrots or other foods that are rich in beta-carotene. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to minimize the effect of these foods on your skin.
A good rule of thumb is to eat a well-balanced diet that includes a wide variety of plant-based foods. Potatoes are a great example. They contain vitamins A, B, C, and E, all of which are known to protect the skin from premature aging.
Potatoes also have an enzyme called catecholase. It helps your body shed dead skin cells and helps brighten your skin. These days, potatoes are even used to treat dark spots and pigmentation.
The best way to go about avoiding green potatoes is to store them in a cool, dark place. That way, they can’t become green. Another way is to rub raw potato slices over your dark spots for fifteen minutes or more.
Some people have a fetish for rubbing raw potato on their face. However, this has been shown to have no real effects on hyperpigmentation or inflammatory conditions. For this reason, you should only do it on a patch test first.
To see if it works, apply it twice a day for a couple of weeks. Afterwards, wash it off with normal water.
Sprouts
If you find green sprouts in potatoes, you need to remove them as soon as possible. These toxins are harmful to human health and can cause vomiting, stomach cramps, headaches, and abdominal pain.
The good news is that there are ways to prevent potatoes from sprouting. First, you must store them in a cool, dark place. You can also keep them away from onions. But if you can’t do that, it’s time to discard the potatoes.
Potatoes, like other members of the nightshade family, are naturally prone to produce solanine. Solanine is a toxic chemical that can cause digestive problems, nausea, and vomiting. It can also be very dangerous if you ingest a large amount.
However, there are also ways to prevent green potatoes from sprouting. Among them is to store them in a cool, dry spot, like a basement. Also, don’t use plastic bags to store your potatoes. They are better stored in cotton storage bags, or in a stackable basket.
Sprouts of potatoes are not harmful if you remove them before cooking. When potatoes are shriveled, soft, or wrinkled, you should discard them.
To help remove sprouts, the best option is to peel them. This will remove most of the toxins. Before cooking, rinse the potato under running water.
However, you must be careful not to let the potatoes shrivel too much. Otherwise, they can become unsafe to eat.
Smell
If you are lucky enough to have fresh potatoes, you might be surprised by the rotten potato smell. The bad smell comes from the rot that has set in. These potatoes are not easy to cut into smaller pieces.
Luckily, there are some ways to get rid of the smell. For starters, it’s a good idea to keep them in a cool, dark cupboard. This will help to prevent spoilage.
One of the best ways to find out if you have a rotten potato is to sniff it. It can be difficult to detect the smell if it is hidden beneath the skin. However, it’s not unheard of for a spoiled potato to have a nutty, earthy aroma.
Another good way to tell if you have a rotten is to look for signs of mold. Mold can form on the surface of potatoes, and it can also be found in small patches inside the potatoes. You can also spot a rotten potato in your cabinet by looking for small bumps and bruises.
If you notice a bad smell in your potato cabinet, you will want to find a new place for it. Rotten or mushy potatoes should be discarded as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can use a saucer with some coffee grounds to help get rid of the odor.
There are plenty of other methods for determining if you have a rotten or mushy potato, but the best way is to take note of the most important things to look for.
Storing cooked potatoes to avoid poisoning
Potatoes are part of the nightshade family, containing the noxious toxin solanine. When exposed to light, the toxin increases in abundance. Toxin levels are highest in green-skinned varieties.
Storing cooked potatoes properly can help avoid food poisoning. Storing them in a sealed container, such as a plastic or burlap bag, will prevent moisture from coming into contact with the potato. However, sealing the potato will cause it to spoil sooner.
Store potatoes in a cool, dark place. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends keeping them in a low acid environment.
Soaking the potatoes in water before cooking will help to reduce acrylamide production. It is recommended to not soak the potatoes for more than two hours. If they are soaked for longer, remove them from the water and blot them dry before cooking.
Keeping potatoes in a refrigerator can increase the formation of acrylamide during the cooking process. Moreover, refrigerating them can allow bacteria to grow, which can lead to food poisoning.
Potatoes are finicky when it comes to handling. If they are not stored properly, they can become rotten and moldy, which can make you sick.
Storing cooked potatoes correctly will allow them to last a long time. Potatoes can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge, or up to four days in the freezer. But, if the potatoes are cooled too much, they can develop Clostridium botulinum, a toxin that can make people very sick.
Bruises and cuts can expose the flesh to bacteria
One of the best ways to protect your potatoes is to avoid bruises and cuts. These tiny injuries can leave you with potatoes that are wilted, wrinkled, or prone to sprout burn. In addition, these wounds can be a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria.
There are several causes of bruises and cuts. A few of the more common sources include temperature, humidity, and moisture. Potatoes that were chilled are likely to exhibit the most noticeable symptoms. They may also have been frozen. It is a good idea to store potato samples in a separate bin if possible.
A good rule of thumb is to wait seven days after the vines are dead before taking a gander at the tubers. This will help to encourage skin set. Once the skin is on, the chances of bruising are reduced.
As with all of the above, the quality of a potato depends on several factors. Some are obvious, while others may not be so. If you suspect you have a problem, it’s always a good idea to call a local Extension specialist to help identify the culprit.
When shopping for potatoes, you’ll want to look for the most notable of these. You don’t want to pay for a potato with a limp, wilted skin. Instead, buy a potato with a smooth, shiny surface. The skin should also be free of caked dirt.
