What is a potato?
A potato is a type of nightshade. (1)
A potato is a vegetable, not a fruit. (1)
A potato is a type of stem tuber. (4)
What does a potato contain?
lectins
potatoes can contain anywhere from 25 to 275 micrograms of alkaloids, depending on potato type and where grown (1)
potato skin (1)
potassium (2)
vitamin C (2)
What does the potato skin contain?
the highest concentration of alkaloids is in the potato skin. (1)
One study showed that skinning potatoes before cooking removed up to 70% of the alkaloids. (1)
What happens when a potato turns green?
A green potato has more alkaloids in it (1)
and it tastes more bitter (1)
That is why it is usually recommended to throw out green and/or sprouting potatoes. (1)
If a person eats a green potato, a person may get sick to their stomach with nausea or diarrhea, even a fever or a headache.(1)
How to lower alkaloid content in potatoes?
Baking potatoes in the oven may lower the alkaloid content more than boiling or steaming. (1)
Potatoes stored in a dark, cool place may prevent them from producing more alkaloids before they are eaten. (1)
How to know if a potato is spoiled or spoiling?
the formation of sprouts on the skin is one of the first signs of spoilage. (2)
Potatoes and Temperature
How to extend the life of a potato before spoiling?
When stored between 43 to 50 degree Fahrenheit, raw potatoes will keep for many months without spoiling. (2)
This temperature range is slightly warmer than refrigeration and can be found in cool cellars, basements, garages, or sheds. (2)
What happens if a potato is stored in a refrigerator?
Storing raw potatoes in a refrigerator will cause the starch to turn to sugar, giving them a sweet flavor. (3)
Raw potatoes that have been cut can be stored in a bowl of water and refrigerated. (3) They will be good for the next 24 hours. (3)
How to extend vitamin C content of a potato?
Storing at lower temperatures also helps preserve their vitamin C content. (2)
Research showed that potatoes stored in cool temperatures maintained up to 90% of their vitamin C content for four months, while those stored in warmer room temperatures lost almost 20% of their vitamin C after one month. (2)
Storing at temperatures slightly above refrigeration is a great way to extend shelf life and maintain vitamin C content.
Resources
1. https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-to-know-about-nightshade-vegetables
2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-store-potatoes
3. https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-long-do-potatoes-last/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuber
