Can we eat it: talking a green streak version

November 22, 2013 4:10 PM

We have just the right number of potatoes per person. Organic Yukon. One of them had a green streak visible through the skin -- I can't see everything that's inside, of course. Can we eat this potato? I cut off the visible green part. There is a lot of Toxic Green Potato lore out there. I just can't believe it's a big deal -- I mean, a busy sous chef would never throw out a potato for a bit of a green streak, right? or even notice it?-- but another cook in our kitchen thinks it's dangerous toxic mold. Yes, the potato was only 25 cents or something, but it would be nice for everyone to have their baked potato if there's no reason to toss it. The potatoes will be done in an hour, so thanks!
posted by third rail to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

My understanding is that if you cut off the green part the rest is safe to eat, but I don't have a reference for that.
posted by pombe at 4:11 PM on November 22, 2013

I'd eat it. I've cut green bits off of many potatoes. But I never even knew it was anything people get concerned about.
posted by catatethebird at 4:14 PM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yes, just cut off any green-ness you see and the rest is fine to eat.
posted by fancyoats at 4:16 PM on November 22, 2013

Best answer: It's not mold. It's solanine (a chemical defense), and solanine is poisonous. But it's a tiny amount, so unless you plan on eating about 67 green potatoes in a single sitting you have nothing to worry about.

I also peel away the green and eat the rest of the potato.
posted by O9scar at 4:32 PM on November 22, 2013 [9 favorites]

Best answer: It's not mould! It's solanine; it means the potato was exposed to light. Chop it out and eat away.
posted by kmennie at 4:33 PM on November 22, 2013

Best answer: It's actually neither mold nor solanine. It is chlorophyll, the presence of which in the skins indicates that the potato in question is also producing solanine. But, as noted, you'd have to eat a ton of green potatoes to cause any physical harm.
posted by ronofthedead at 4:37 PM on November 22, 2013 [12 favorites]

I would actually eat the potato green and all.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 4:38 PM on November 22, 2013

Last time this happened we cut as much of it as we could see out, but it turned out there was still a green bit in the potato. I ate it by accident. It didn't taste great, but there were zero adverse effects. Cut it out and you're fine.
posted by spielzebub at 4:42 PM on November 22, 2013

I have eaten SO MANY potatoes that have streaks of green in them. Seriously. Especially in my poor vegan years where it would have been an outrage to let it go to waste. I'm still alive and reasonably healthy, last I checked.
posted by joan_holloway at 5:14 PM on November 22, 2013

Mold is fuzzy and obvious, so I doubt it's that. I'd eat around it, not because it's poisonous, but because it's bitter.
posted by Space Kitty at 5:19 PM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

I have eaten plenty of potatoes like this (after trimming the green part off), with no ill effects. :)
posted by rainbowbrite at 5:52 PM on November 22, 2013

Best answer: Most of us can eat the potato, or the potato with the green bit cut off just fine. But be more careful if you've got any kids eating them. My daughter did get sick one time from soup made with potatoes with the green bits cut off. (I think when she was five?) So if you're all big and hearty, you're probably fine, just watch out for the little ones.
posted by Margalo Epps at 6:01 PM on November 22, 2013

Response by poster: Thanks everyone. We have now eaten our delicious solanine feast, and i suspect we'll live. I didn't know this was going to be interesting botanically, so thanks for that too!! :)
posted by third rail at 6:17 PM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]