What to do with sprouted potatoes

What to do with sprouted potatoes? 10 days of hot topics and practical solutions

Recently, food safety and ingredient handling have become hot topics on the Internet. Among them, "Can potatoes with sprouts be eaten?" has triggered widespread discussion. This article combines the hot data of the past 10 days to provide you with scientific analysis and practical suggestions.

1. Statistics of hot discussions on the entire network (last 10 days)

2. The scientific truth about sprout potatoes

1.Source of toxicity:Potato sprouts produce solanine (solanine), the content of which is directly proportional to the number of sprouts and storage time. Experimental data shows:

2.Expert advice:The latest research from China Agricultural University points out that when the buds exceed 1cm or the skin turns green, solanine may spread to the entire potato, and it is recommended to discard it directly.

3. Practical treatment plan (according to the degree of germination)

1.Slight germination (bud eyes ≤ 3, bud length < 5 mm):

• Thoroughly dig out the bud eyes and 1cm of pulp around them
• After peeling, soak in vinegar water (1:5 white vinegar solution) for 2 hours
• It is recommended to fry and cook (high temperature can decompose some toxins)

2.Moderate germination (bud eyes > 3 or partially green):

• Only suitable for making indirect food products
• Try using:
- Plant fertilizer (used after fermentation)
- Detergent (boil potato peels in water to remove stains)
- Manual starch extraction

3.Severe germination:Must be discarded whole and not composted (toxins may contaminate soil).

4. Answers to popular disputes in 10 days

Q1: Is it safe to cut off the eyes and cook them at high temperature?
A: Wrong. Solanin is resistant to high temperatures and requires temperatures above 170°C to decompose, making it difficult to meet the standards for home cooking.

Q2: Can sprouted potatoes be fed to livestock?
A: Strictly prohibited. Animals such as pigs/chickens are more sensitive to solanine, and 2mg/kg of body weight can cause death.

Q3: Which varieties are easier to germinate?
A: According to data from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences:

5. 3 tips to prevent potato sprouts

1.Apple storage method:Put 1 apple into every 5kg of potatoes, and the release of ethylene can inhibit germination (87% effective rate)

2.Store away from light:Use black plastic bags + kitchen paper to wrap, and control the humidity at 60-70%

3.Vacuum packaging:Cut into pieces and freeze in a vacuum. It can be stored for 6 months without germination.

According to the National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center, the germination rate of correctly stored potatoes can be reduced to less than 3%. It is recommended that families purchase no more than 2 weeks’ worth at a time to reduce risks from the source.