Archive · 29 Jul 2025
Understanding Green Potatoes: What That Colour Means
When potatoes turn green, it's not just a color change; it means they've been exposed to light and may have a harmful chemical called solanine.
Solanine can make you sick with tummy troubles if you eat too much.
You can often still eat a potato with small green spots if you cut them off.
However, if the whole potato is green or tastes bitter, it's best to throw it away.
To keep potatoes safe, store them in a cool, dark, and dry place like a cupboard, not the fridge or a sunny spot.
Green color on potatoes indicates the presence of chlorophyll and potentially solanine, a toxic compound.
Chlorophyll itself is harmless, but its presence can signal solanine, which can cause illness.
Small green patches can be removed by peeling and cutting away the affected areas before cooking.
Potatoes with a full green glow or a bitter taste should be discarded as they may contain high levels of solanine.
Proper storage in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a pantry, is crucial to prevent potatoes from turning green.
- Who
- People who consume potatoes.
- What
- The meaning and safety of green potatoes.
- When
- The article does not specify when the information is relevant.
- Where
- The article does not specify a location.
- Why
- To inform readers about the potential dangers of eating green potatoes and how to handle and store them properly to avoid solanine poisoning.
Safe Consumption
Health Risk
Degree of Greenness
Safe Consumption
Small green patches can be removed through peeling and cutting, making the potato safe to consume.
Health Risk
Potatoes with significant greening or a bitter taste should be discarded to avoid solanine poisoning.
- Green color causes
- Exposure to light during growth or storage
- Harmful compound
- Solanine and chaconine
- Symptoms of solanine poisoning
- Nausea, tummy cramps, diarrhoea, and in extreme cases, neurological symptoms
- Safe preparation for small green patches
- Peel generously and cut away green areas
- Storage recommendation
- Cool, dark, dry place (pantry)