[ChefKid]

Merry Christmas to everyone.

I had to use some old potatos this past Christmas meal. They had those tell tale signs of out grown roots and soft fleshy meat.

I hope this isn't too bad, because I don't make a habit of using expired foods, but once or twice can't be that bad, right?

[Suzanne]

If it were really bad, my husband and I would probably be dead by now.

FRESH fresh food is better, but I see no reason to throw out something that isn't rotten. As long as you cut away any truly disgusting bits (and peeled off enough of the flesh with the skin so as not to get any green part), your secret is safe with us; your guests need never know.

Happy holidays to you, too.

[ChefKid]

Thank you Suzanne, that is some comfort to me. I was thinking of the great Potato famine disease and paranoid thoughts entered my mind.

Happy holidays to you and all!

[scott123]

Green potatoes the problem and the solution

[KeeperOfTheGood]

Hey oh

Partly digested potato is usually OK, and usually fit for mashed only, I find. It's when they develope that black star center that they are next to useless, unless you know what to do with mash

Interesting article on solanine. I have always eaten green potato without trouble. What I was taught years and years ago was that the solanine was water souluable. So, after removing the green to dice and boil potatos, and throw away the boil water, and rinse the boiled potatos when done. And that is what I have always done, and never had a problem with them.

[lamington]

Originally Posted by KeeperOfTheGood

What I was taught years and years ago was that the solanine was water souluable. So, after removing the green to dice and boil potatos, and throw away the boil water, and rinse the boiled potatos when done.

Although there are some food/nutrition references out there claiming that boiling or steaming will remove the solanine, this is not correct. Solanine is not water soluble and is only destroyed by high temperatures (eg, deep frying). It's not advisable to eat green bits or sprout areas of potato, even if most people are unlikely to receive a dose that is dangerous.