how a tiny potato almost killed me (solanine warning) 🥔 ⚠️
Recently I fell very ill recently from a tiny gold potato 😭 🤒
After eating potatoes every single day for the last 20 years, I thought I knew everything about potatoes... nope!
Here's what happened and what you need to know...
Stay away from greenish potatoes.
What happened to me: Some of my organic yukon gold potatoes looked a little greenish. I wasn't 100% sure if they had a green hue or if it was my lighting, TBH.
Since the potatoes didn't have "eyes", smelled fine, weren't mushy, etc. AND I'd purchased them recently, I thought:
"I'll just boil them... that will kill anything weird, right?"
I was so very wrong. 😖
Any green color on a potato is a warning sign ⚠️ 🥔
Greenish potatoes contain a toxin called solanine.
Solanine is triggered by light (including artificial light) and physical damage, but solanine can also build up over time.
Although I stored my potatoes in dark cupboard, I have no idea how long they were exposed to light in transit or at the store. 😥
Symptoms of Solanine Poisoning: GI issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are the most common. In more severe cases there may also be neurological symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and confusion.
If only I had listened to my tongue...
Solanine has a bitter taste which should act as a natural deterrent to stop eating it.
THIS IS HARD TO ADMIT...
My first thought after taking a bite was that this potato didn't taste very good. After another bite I thought it was a little bitter. I then tried another potato. It too tasted "not right" and borderline unpleasant.
Did I stop eating them? No. I grabbed a bottle of hot sauce and kept on eating.
In full transparency, it never crossed my mind that I could get "food poisoning" from a BOILED potato. (Some studies suggest boiling can slightly reduce solanine levels, but does not destroy the toxin completely.)
If only I had stopped and listened to my mouth...
SUMMARY:
Do not eat potatoes that are greenish.
Cooking does not remove the toxin solanine.
Keep potatoes in a dark place away from all types of light.
If your mouth is warning you something isn't right, don't cover it up with hot sauce, ketchup, etc.
I hope you have a good weekend,
Lindsay 🥔