When potatoes turn unsafe to eat

Potatoes are a favourite of many; some like them in the salty, crispy fries while many love them in the desi aalu chaat. We recently debunked the myth that potatoes make you gain weight. Potato is, rather, rich in carbohydrates which can be easily burned by our body to produce energy. But there are cases when dissing out potatoes off your diet should be the right thing to do. This is when they show the following symptoms, never otherwise.There are situations when potatoes can go bad. They contain a neurotoxin, called solanine, which if consumed in large quantities can pose danger to your health. Look out for the following signs to rule out any poisoning by this very staple of our diets.If they are shrinkingPotatoes are often bought in large numbers and used for a long period of time. However, one should be cautious as when the potatoes are left for too long, they can turn toxic for your body. When they are not cooked for a long period, they sag and develop a wrinkly and mushy layer. Also, when they are exposed to sunlight in the process, it may accelerate solanine production in them, making them all the more harmful for you.When they develop sproutsPeople often wonder whether a potato should be used or thrown away if it develops sprouts. Sprouts have a high concentration of solanine and chaconine, two types of glycoalkaloids posion, which can be very harmful to the nervous system. Sprouting happens all the more quickly when the variety is organic and is not chemically treated. Now, there can two situations of potato sprouting - when the potatoes are still firm and when they become mushy or wrinkly. If a firm potato develops sprouts, sprouts can be easily chopped off and the potato can be had as most of its nutritional value is intact. However, if the potato has turned wrinkly, it is best to just throw the potato away.When they turn greenishGreen-tinged potatoes are those which have been exposed to light and hence, their solanine levels go high. However, the entire potato may not be wasted as you can safely chop the potato more aggressively by cutting down the green parts and consume the rest of it.