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White Monkey 01-04-2005 11:32 AM

What doth a sprouting potato make?
 
Hi all,

"Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what degree is
"sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato, from each eye of
which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off and
dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the potato under there
looks fine. Is this safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing it
for use in a leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans?
I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we
talking a strictly safe potato here?

Thanks,
Katrina



jmcquown 01-04-2005 11:44 AM

White Monkey wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what
> degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato,
> from each eye of which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts.
> I scraped them off and dug out the first few mm of flesh under them,
> and the potato under there looks fine. Is this safe to cook with,
> specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a leftover-lamb-roast
> pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans? I'm breastfeeding a
> six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we talking a
> strictly safe potato here?
>
> Thanks,
> Katrina


A sprouting potato makes more potatoes. As a child I stuck a potato in a
saucer with water and let it sprout; then I put it in the ground and it made
more potatoes. I was thrilled. I did the same thing with lima beans; then
I dissected one to show how beans make little sprouts for a school science
project.

Only you or your doctor can determine what is healthy for you to eat when
breast-feeding an infant.

Jill



White Monkey 01-04-2005 11:52 AM


"jmcquown" > wrote in message
.. .
> White Monkey wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what
> > degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato,
> > from each eye of which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts.
> > I scraped them off and dug out the first few mm of flesh under them,
> > and the potato under there looks fine. Is this safe to cook with,
> > specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a leftover-lamb-roast
> > pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans? I'm breastfeeding a
> > six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we talking a
> > strictly safe potato here?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Katrina

>
> A sprouting potato makes more potatoes. As a child I stuck a potato in a
> saucer with water and let it sprout; then I put it in the ground and it

made
> more potatoes. I was thrilled. I did the same thing with lima beans;

then
> I dissected one to show how beans make little sprouts for a school science
> project.
>
> Only you or your doctor can determine what is healthy for you to eat when
> breast-feeding an infant.
>
> Jill




Potatoes are OK while breastfeeding. Poison is not. Is this potato
poisonous? If the answer is, "No", then I can eat it. If the answer is "yes"
or "Not enough to hurt someone over Xpounds weight", then I cannot. So the
question is, "Is this potato poisonous?"

By the way, the way I put it in the header (just for fun) is Shakespearean
era English for "What is the definition of a sprouting potato?" not "What is
made by a sprouting potato?"

Thank you,
Katrina



jacqui{JB} 01-04-2005 12:05 PM

"White Monkey" > wrote in message
...

> "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous.
> But what degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large
> blue truffle potato, from each eye of which was growing
> a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off and
> dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the
> potato under there looks fine. Is this safe to cook with,
> specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a leftover-lamb-
> roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans? I'm
> breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any
> difference, or are we talking a strictly safe potato here?


Peel off any green bits, dig out the sprouting eyes and you should be fine.
Personally, I'd give it a pass if it's getting spongy, but that's a personal
preference to do with texture, rather than a question of danger.

-j



[email protected] 01-04-2005 12:08 PM


White Monkey wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> .. .
> > White Monkey wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what
> > > degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle

potato,
> > > from each eye of which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of

sprouts.
> > > I scraped them off and dug out the first few mm of flesh under

them,
> > > and the potato under there looks fine. Is this safe to cook with,
> > > specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a

leftover-lamb-roast
> > > pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans? I'm breastfeeding a
> > > six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we talking a
> > > strictly safe potato here?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Katrina

> >
> > A sprouting potato makes more potatoes. As a child I stuck a

potato in a
> > saucer with water and let it sprout; then I put it in the ground

and it
> made
> > more potatoes. I was thrilled. I did the same thing with lima

beans;
> then
> > I dissected one to show how beans make little sprouts for a school

science
> > project.
> >
> > Only you or your doctor can determine what is healthy for you to

eat when
> > breast-feeding an infant.


>
> Potatoes are OK while breastfeeding. Poison is not. Is this potato
> poisonous? If the answer is, "No", then I can eat it. If the answer

is "yes"
> or "Not enough to hurt someone over Xpounds weight", then I cannot.

So the
> question is, "Is this potato poisonous?"
>
> By the way, the way I put it in the header (just for fun) is

Shakespearean
> era English for "What is the definition of a sprouting potato?" not

"What is
> made by a sprouting potato?"
>


I have to say that I think your query is ridiculous. If there is any
question that a food is not safe you shouldn't eat it. And this
newsgroup, as Jill was actually indicating, is not the place to obtain
an authoritative answer about the safety of some food. You have *one*
potato you are wondering about. One. Toss it and use a potato that
hasn't sprouted.

Mac


jmcquown 01-04-2005 12:10 PM

White Monkey wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> .. .
>> White Monkey wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what
>>> degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato,
>>> from each eye of which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts.
>>> I scraped them off and dug out the first few mm of flesh under them,
>>> and the potato under there looks fine. Is this safe to cook with,
>>> specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a leftover-lamb-roast
>>> pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans? I'm breastfeeding a
>>> six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we talking a
>>> strictly safe potato here?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Katrina

>>
>> A sprouting potato makes more potatoes. As a child I stuck a potato
>> in a saucer with water and let it sprout; then I put it in the
>> ground and it made more potatoes. I was thrilled. I did the same
>> thing with lima beans; then I dissected one to show how beans make
>> little sprouts for a school science project.
>>
>> Only you or your doctor can determine what is healthy for you to eat
>> when breast-feeding an infant.
>>
>> Jill

>
>
>
> Potatoes are OK while breastfeeding. Poison is not. Is this potato
> poisonous? If the answer is, "No", then I can eat it. If the answer
> is "yes" or "Not enough to hurt someone over Xpounds weight", then I
> cannot. So the question is, "Is this potato poisonous?"
>
> By the way, the way I put it in the header (just for fun) is
> Shakespearean era English for "What is the definition of a sprouting
> potato?" not "What is made by a sprouting potato?"
>
> Thank you,
> Katrina


You doubt my ability to comprehend Shakespearean English, "But soft, what
light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the Sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon who is already sick and pale with
grief that thou her maid are far more fair than she."

I don't know shit about breast feeding but I know Shakespeare. If the food
is safe for you to eat it should be safe for the babe at your breast. If
you aren't sure about it, toss it out and buy a new potato. They aren't
expensive.

Jill <--speaking as one on a budget



jmcquown 01-04-2005 12:15 PM

wrote:
> White Monkey wrote:
>> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>>> White Monkey wrote:
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what
>>>> degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle
>>>> potato, from each eye of which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster
>>>> of sprouts. I scraped them off and dug out the first few mm of
>>>> flesh under them, and the potato under there looks fine. Is this
>>>> safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a
>>>> leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans?
>>>> I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference,
>>>> or are we talking a strictly safe potato here?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Katrina
>>>
>>> A sprouting potato makes more potatoes. As a child I stuck a
>>> potato in a saucer with water and let it sprout; then I put it in
>>> the ground and it made more potatoes. I was thrilled. I did the
>>> same thing with lima beans; then I dissected one to show how beans
>>> make little sprouts for a school science project.
>>>
>>> Only you or your doctor can determine what is healthy for you to
>>> eat when breast-feeding an infant.

>
>>
>> Potatoes are OK while breastfeeding. Poison is not. Is this potato
>> poisonous? If the answer is, "No", then I can eat it. If the answer
>> is "yes" or "Not enough to hurt someone over Xpounds weight", then
>> I cannot. So the question is, "Is this potato poisonous?"
>>
>> By the way, the way I put it in the header (just for fun) is
>> Shakespearean era English for "What is the definition of a sprouting
>> potato?" not "What is made by a sprouting potato?"
>>

>
> I have to say that I think your query is ridiculous. If there is any
> question that a food is not safe you shouldn't eat it. And this
> newsgroup, as Jill was actually indicating, is not the place to obtain
> an authoritative answer about the safety of some food. You have *one*
> potato you are wondering about. One. Toss it and use a potato that
> hasn't sprouted.
>
> Mac


Indeed, sprouting is not the same thing as having turned *green* which is an
indication of not a good thing. Sorry, I don't normally speak in
Shakespearean terms about potatoes. Maybe I should resort to Monty Python
LOL

Jill



White Monkey 01-04-2005 12:42 PM


"jacqui{JB}" > wrote in message
. dk...
> "White Monkey" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous.
> > But what degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large
> > blue truffle potato, from each eye of which was growing
> > a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off and
> > dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the
> > potato under there looks fine. Is this safe to cook with,
> > specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a leftover-lamb-
> > roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans? I'm
> > breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any
> > difference, or are we talking a strictly safe potato here?

>
> Peel off any green bits, dig out the sprouting eyes and you should be

fine.
> Personally, I'd give it a pass if it's getting spongy, but that's a

personal
> preference to do with texture, rather than a question of danger.
>
> -j



Thank you very much. It is firm and very much potato-like. Everywhere the
sprouts have been removed, it looks normal.

In answer to some of the others here, "if there is any question about its
safety" -- well, duh. But I don't claim to know the answer to whether or not
there IS any question about that, so I asked here where I thought people
might know. If everyone everywhere was throwing out every potato with the
faintest trace of a sprout or was getting sick, I think things would be
quite different regarding what I see for sale and in restaurants. There must
be a cut-off point beyond which the potato with signs of sprouting is
generally to be considered unsafe.

Use another one--again, duh. But at the moment I don't have one so that
means changing my dinner plans entirely and probably throwing out the lamb,
as I was planning to prepare the pie now so that when we get back from
having done what we need to outdoors, there would be time to cook it.
Instead, there will not, unless I can use this potato. Which it seems I
probably can.

They're not expensive--yeah, true. But this is the last blue one I'll be
able to get until the farmer's market next week, and it would be nice to use
it as they are very, very good. Just buying another one of any sort, as I
have indicated, involves changing all my dinner plan for today, and I don't
think the lamb will be good tomorrow, and I have already thawed the puff
pastry--but should further research reveal I cannot use this potato, then,
oh well, we'll chuck the lamb and the pastry and have spaghetti or something
else quick.
--Katrina



White Monkey 01-04-2005 12:45 PM

Having found soem time to do some looking, I found this, in case anyone else
has a similar query.
http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/002875.htm
As here is no trace of green and all teh sporouts and eyes have been
removed, I will deem this potato safe to eat.
--Katrina



Bruce B 01-04-2005 12:49 PM

White Monkey wrote:
> "jacqui{JB}" > wrote in message
> . dk...
>
>>"White Monkey" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>
>>>"Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous.
>>>But what degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large
>>>blue truffle potato, from each eye of which was growing
>>>a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off and
>>>dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the
>>>potato under there looks fine. Is this safe to cook with,
>>>specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a leftover-lamb-
>>>roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans? I'm
>>>breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any
>>>difference, or are we talking a strictly safe potato here?

>>
>>Peel off any green bits, dig out the sprouting eyes and you should be

>
> fine.
>
>>Personally, I'd give it a pass if it's getting spongy, but that's a

>
> personal
>
>>preference to do with texture, rather than a question of danger.
>>
>>-j

>
>
>
> Thank you very much. It is firm and very much potato-like. Everywhere the
> sprouts have been removed, it looks normal.
>
> In answer to some of the others here, "if there is any question about its
> safety" -- well, duh. But I don't claim to know the answer to whether or not
> there IS any question about that,


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine

White Monkey 01-04-2005 01:09 PM

Oops, sorry Bruce B--I didn't mean to e-mail you instead of posting my thank
you here. Please ignore!
--Katrina



kilikini 01-04-2005 01:24 PM

White Monkey wrote:
> "jacqui{JB}" > wrote in message
> . dk...
>> "White Monkey" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>> "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous.
>>> But what degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large
>>> blue truffle potato, from each eye of which was growing
>>> a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off and
>>> dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the
>>> potato under there looks fine. Is this safe to cook with,
>>> specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a leftover-lamb-
>>> roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans? I'm
>>> breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any
>>> difference, or are we talking a strictly safe potato here?

>>

>
> Thank you very much. It is firm and very much potato-like. Everywhere
> the sprouts have been removed, it looks normal.
>
> In answer to some of the others here, "if there is any question about
> its safety" -- well, duh. But I don't claim to know the answer to
> whether or not there IS any question about that, so I asked here
> where I thought people might know. If everyone everywhere was
> throwing out every potato with the faintest trace of a sprout or was
> getting sick, I think things would be quite different regarding what
> I see for sale and in restaurants. There must be a cut-off point
> beyond which the potato with signs of sprouting is generally to be
> considered unsafe.
>


I always eat potatos that have sprouted. I just peel off the eyes and if
they go into the potato, I dig them out. I've been doing this for at least
20 years and although others from my past wish it weren't so, I'm still
here.

kili



Melba's Jammin' 01-04-2005 02:31 PM

In article >, "White Monkey"
> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what
> degree is "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato,
> from each eye of which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts.
> I scraped them off and dug out the first few mm of flesh under them,
> and the potato under there looks fine. Is this safe to cook with,
> specifically boiling and cubing it for use in a leftover-lamb-roast
> pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans? I'm breastfeeding a
> six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we talking a
> strictly safe potato here?


> Thanks,
> Katrina


It's what I always do with them, Katrina. And always ha. .<gasp, choke,
wheeze>
--
-Barb, <http://www.jamlady.eboard.com> Arizona vacation pics added 3-24-05.
"I read recipes the way I read science fiction: I get to the end and
say,'Well, that's not going to happen.'" - Comedian Rita Rudner,
performance at New York, New York, January 10, 2005.

Phred 01-04-2005 02:43 PM

In article >, "White Monkey" > wrote:
>"Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what degree is
>"sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato, from each eye of
>which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off and
>dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the potato under there
>looks fine. Is this safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing it
>for use in a leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans?
>I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we
>talking a strictly safe potato here?


G'day Katrina,

Sprouting spuds typically contain as much, and probably more, solanine
than even green spuds. I saw some data recently which indicated the
effect of sprouting can be a factor of several times that of greening.
If I can find the reference again, I'll post it. [1]

That said, it's pretty much a dose/unit weight effect, and probably a
fair amount of individual tolerance too (just as with all drugs).

Solanine is pretty heat stable and boiling does not have much effect.
Nor does peeling, as it's readily distributed through the tuber.

I gather the effect of sub-clinical exposure for most folk is little
more than a touch of the squirts ("loose bowel syndrome" :) and you
probably don't even know you've been "poisoned" -- most folk probably
blame that extra glass of plonk with dinner. :-)

Don't know about effects in utero on bubs, or on breast milk.
(But cows' milk typically reflects diet. :-)

[1] Not the one I had in mind, but here's a quote from "Warning: 1" at
http://www.innvista.com/health/foods...les/potato.htm

<quoting FWIW>
The best way to avoid this is to throw out any green potatoes or those
sprouting "eyes" as these also have high levels of solanine.
</quoting>

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID


Dave Smith 01-04-2005 03:14 PM

White Monkey wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what degree is
> "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato, from each eye of
> which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off and
> dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the potato under there
> looks fine. Is this safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing it
> for use in a leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans?
> I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we
> talking a strictly safe potato here?
>


There is a small amount of toxin in all potatoes, but there tends to be much
more of it in the eyes and in the screen skin. Just avoid the eyes.



zxcvbob 01-04-2005 04:01 PM

White Monkey wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what degree is
> "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato, from each eye of
> which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off and
> dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the potato under there
> looks fine. Is this safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing it
> for use in a leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans?
> I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we
> talking a strictly safe potato here?
>
> Thanks,
> Katrina
>
>



Sunscalded potatoes that have turned green are poisonous (the poison is
called solanine.) The green color is actually chlorophyl, which is
harmless, but it forms at the same time as solanine. Cooking destroys
about a third of the solanine. I would not eat potato sprouts, but you
said the sprouts are only .5 cm and you cut them off. I don't see a
problem unless the potato was green. I eat slightly sprouted potatoes
all the time with no ill effects at all, but I always peel them if they
are sprouted.

That being said, solanine is fat-soluble, so I supposed it could be
transmitted in breast milk, but probably not in dangerous levels. It's
just a potato; if you are concerned at all (and you are, otherwise you
wouldn't have written here) throw it out, or let someone else eat it, or
pick around the potatoes when you eat the pie. Your gonna have to make
your own risk assessment and decision.

I would peel it and eat it and try to find something else to worry about ;-)

Bob

Priscilla H. Ballou 01-04-2005 06:14 PM

White Monkey wrote:

> In answer to some of the others here, "if there is any question about its
> safety" -- well, duh. But I don't claim to know the answer to whether or not
> there IS any question about that, so I asked here where I thought people
> might know.


There was a question because YOU ASKED IT.

Much ado about nothing, IMO.

Priscilla

Katra 01-04-2005 07:30 PM

In article >,
"White Monkey" > wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what degree is
> "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato, from each eye of
> which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off and
> dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the potato under there
> looks fine. Is this safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing it
> for use in a leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type humans?
> I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are we
> talking a strictly safe potato here?
>
> Thanks,
> Katrina
>
>


As long as you get rid of ALL of the green coloring, I understand you
should be ok???
--
K.

Bob (this one) 01-04-2005 10:27 PM

Priscilla H. Ballou wrote:

> White Monkey wrote:
>
>>In answer to some of the others here, "if there is any question about its
>>safety" -- well, duh. But I don't claim to know the answer to whether or not
>>there IS any question about that, so I asked here where I thought people
>>might know.

>
> There was a question because YOU ASKED IT.
>
> Much ado about nothing, IMO.


Let me not to the marriage of true potatoes admit ingredients...

Pastorio

Bob 02-04-2005 12:52 AM

Bob Pastorio wrote:

>> Much ado about nothing, IMO.

>
> Let me not to the marriage of true potatoes admit ingredients...


Bravo! <clap-clap>

Bob



White Monkey 02-04-2005 08:09 AM

> > In answer to some of the others here, "if there is any question about
> > its safety" -- well, duh. But I don't claim to know the answer to
> > whether or not there IS any question about that, so I asked here
> > where I thought people might know. If everyone everywhere was
> > throwing out every potato with the faintest trace of a sprout or was
> > getting sick, I think things would be quite different regarding what
> > I see for sale and in restaurants. There must be a cut-off point
> > beyond which the potato with signs of sprouting is generally to be
> > considered unsafe.
> >

>
> I always eat potatos that have sprouted. I just peel off the eyes and if
> they go into the potato, I dig them out. I've been doing this for at

least
> 20 years and although others from my past wish it weren't so, I'm still
> here.
>
> kili



Thank you!
--Katrina



White Monkey 02-04-2005 08:10 AM


"Priscilla H. Ballou" > wrote in message
...
> White Monkey wrote:
>
> > In answer to some of the others here, "if there is any question about

its
> > safety" -- well, duh. But I don't claim to know the answer to whether or

not
> > there IS any question about that, so I asked here where I thought people
> > might know.

>
> There was a question because YOU ASKED IT.


Oooh, semantics! we could go on and on about the inherent subtle differences
between the constructions "any question about" and "MY question about",
but... nah!
--Katrina


> Much ado about nothing, IMO.
>
> Priscilla




White Monkey 02-04-2005 08:10 AM

> It's what I always do with them, Katrina. And always ha. .<gasp, choke,
> wheeze>
> --
> -Barb, <http://www.jamlady.eboard.com> Arizona vacation pics added

3-24-05.
> "I read recipes the way I read science fiction: I get to the end and
> say,'Well, that's not going to happen.'" - Comedian Rita Rudner,
> performance at New York, New York, January 10, 2005.


Thank you!
--Katrina



White Monkey 02-04-2005 08:11 AM


"Phred" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, "White Monkey"

> wrote:
> >"Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what degree

is
> >"sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato, from each eye

of
> >which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off

and
> >dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the potato under there
> >looks fine. Is this safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing it
> >for use in a leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type

humans?
> >I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are

we
> >talking a strictly safe potato here?

>
> G'day Katrina,
>
> Sprouting spuds typically contain as much, and probably more, solanine
> than even green spuds. I saw some data recently which indicated the
> effect of sprouting can be a factor of several times that of greening.
> If I can find the reference again, I'll post it. [1]
>
> That said, it's pretty much a dose/unit weight effect, and probably a
> fair amount of individual tolerance too (just as with all drugs).
>
> Solanine is pretty heat stable and boiling does not have much effect.
> Nor does peeling, as it's readily distributed through the tuber.
>
> I gather the effect of sub-clinical exposure for most folk is little
> more than a touch of the squirts ("loose bowel syndrome" :) and you
> probably don't even know you've been "poisoned" -- most folk probably
> blame that extra glass of plonk with dinner. :-)
>
> Don't know about effects in utero on bubs, or on breast milk.
> (But cows' milk typically reflects diet. :-)
>
> [1] Not the one I had in mind, but here's a quote from "Warning: 1" at
> http://www.innvista.com/health/foods...les/potato.htm
>
> <quoting FWIW>
> The best way to avoid this is to throw out any green potatoes or those
> sprouting "eyes" as these also have high levels of solanine.
> </quoting>
>
> Cheers, Phred.



Thank you!
--Katrina



White Monkey 02-04-2005 08:11 AM


"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> White Monkey wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what degree

is
> > "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato, from each eye

of
> > which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off

and
> > dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the potato under there
> > looks fine. Is this safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing

it
> > for use in a leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type

humans?
> > I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are

we
> > talking a strictly safe potato here?
> >

>
> There is a small amount of toxin in all potatoes, but there tends to be

much
> more of it in the eyes and in the screen skin. Just avoid the eyes.
>
>


Thank you!
--Katrina



White Monkey 02-04-2005 08:11 AM


"zxcvbob" > wrote in message
...
> White Monkey wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what degree

is
> > "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato, from each eye

of
> > which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off

and
> > dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the potato under there
> > looks fine. Is this safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing

it
> > for use in a leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type

humans?
> > I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are

we
> > talking a strictly safe potato here?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Katrina
> >
> >

>
>
> Sunscalded potatoes that have turned green are poisonous (the poison is
> called solanine.) The green color is actually chlorophyl, which is
> harmless, but it forms at the same time as solanine. Cooking destroys
> about a third of the solanine. I would not eat potato sprouts, but you
> said the sprouts are only .5 cm and you cut them off. I don't see a
> problem unless the potato was green. I eat slightly sprouted potatoes
> all the time with no ill effects at all, but I always peel them if they
> are sprouted.
>
> That being said, solanine is fat-soluble, so I supposed it could be
> transmitted in breast milk, but probably not in dangerous levels. It's
> just a potato; if you are concerned at all (and you are, otherwise you
> wouldn't have written here) throw it out, or let someone else eat it, or
> pick around the potatoes when you eat the pie. Your gonna have to make
> your own risk assessment and decision.
>
> I would peel it and eat it and try to find something else to worry about

;-)
>
> Bob


Thank you!
--Katrina



White Monkey 02-04-2005 08:11 AM


"Katra" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "White Monkey" > wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > "Everybody knows" that sprouting potatoes are poisonous. But what degree

is
> > "sprouting"? I have one here, a large blue truffle potato, from each eye

of
> > which was growing a 1/2 cm long cluster of sprouts. I scraped them off

and
> > dug out the first few mm of flesh under them, and the potato under there
> > looks fine. Is this safe to cook with, specifically boiling and cubing

it
> > for use in a leftover-lamb-roast pie? Is it only safe for adult-type

humans?
> > I'm breastfeeding a six-month-old; does that make any difference, or are

we
> > talking a strictly safe potato here?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Katrina
> >
> >

>
> As long as you get rid of ALL of the green coloring, I understand you
> should be ok???
> --
> K.


Thank you!
--Katrina



White Monkey 02-04-2005 08:12 AM

For the curious, it had no green about it, so I peeled it, cut out any trace
of eyes, boiled and cubed it, and distributed it evenly through the pie. Pie
was good, nobody having any problems here.
--Katrina



Ophelia 02-04-2005 01:15 PM


"Bob" > wrote in message
...
> Bob Pastorio wrote:
>
>>> Much ado about nothing, IMO.

>>
>> Let me not to the marriage of true potatoes admit ingredients...

>
> Bravo! <clap-clap>


LOL *more applause*




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