I was peeling some potatoes to make oven wedges earlier, peeling because they had gone a little green. Normally we don't peel them but as they were going a little green I peeled them..

.. because sometime in my past I seem to think I'd been told its poisonous... ?? Just made me think, plants are green and you can eat them (cabbage, basil, celery, peas etc etc).. so is it the same green ? and is it poisonous ?.. is this another of those myths propogated by well meaning and over protective parents ?

Steve

Potatoes (solanum tuberosum)are underground stems, when it is exposed to sunlight it turns green, that is why potatoes are stored in dark dry places (paper bags are ideal). During my graduate course we came to know that the potato plant contains nerve toxin called Solanine. Though green coloration means accumulation of the pigment chlorophyll but it also means high concentration of the toxin Solanine as well. The stems and leaves also has this toxin so better avoid consuming it.

Although the good news is that the toxins are in small quantities and for any poisonous affect to take place an individual should consume 2 - 2.5 kgs of green potatoes....now why should a sane person do that!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for that.. I will continue to peel them then! :-)

Steve