A week or so ago, I harvested some of my Russet potatoes. Despite tightly packing 18" of straw on top, they all grew underground, which is fine with me. ...When I harvested them, they were a beautiful light beige/brown like they are supposed to look, but now, several days later, they have turned green while sitting in a bowl in my kitchen.
Why have they turned green?
Are they still safe/good to eat and use?
Thanks for the help!
Learning as I go,
Glenda
Russet potato question....
In even low light, the potatoes think they are in the sun and are producing chorophyll. It's OK to eat the white part of the potato, as long as you peel away the green - I think they store some mild toxin in the green parts (potatoes are, after all, in the "deadly" Nightshade family). Store potatoes completely away from light.
A lot of people say don't store them in the fridge because they develop off flavors - actually they can start to taste sweet - which is a kind of weird taste for a potato. This will go away after a few days at room temperature. This is all to say that I store some of my potatoes in the fridge will no ill effects that I can tell. Then I know they are in the dark.
Congratulations on your harvest!
Well huh..... Crazy vegetable! Now you have me thinking.....potatoes in the store sit out under the store's lighting all day and all night in some places. Why don't [they] turn green? Are they stored in darkness until they get past that ability? Curious minds want to know! :)
I think a potato would green-up no matter how old. But I have seen plenty of green potatoes at our supermarket. I always thought they were not cured or handled properly by the grower and/or shipper to begin with.
I read that, years ago, potatoes were sold in paper bags or burlap, but now see-through plastic bags allow more light in.
Anyway, I think supermarkets employ special lighting that helps prevent greening (and also heating of produce). (The lighting of displays is a whole science in itself.)
Maybe they have little elves that cover the potatoes in blankets at night. : ))
Good to know!!! Thanks a bunch! .....I don't have any potato elves around here so I'll make sure they're stored in the dark! ......I learn something new here at DG every day! :-D
Have a great day CompostR!
Glenda