How to use sprouted potatoes

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For decades, doctors have argued that eating sprouted potatoes is dangerous. The sprouts that have broken through the eyes contain toxic substances that, when ingested, cause severe intoxication. Is it really so?

Using sprouted potatoes

Using sprouted potatoes

Are sprouted potato tubers harmful?

Tubers, tops and even flowers of potatoes contain a dangerous substance - solanine.

Its highest concentration is observed during the growing season of the plant. During the harvesting period, its level again decreases to a safe one, and its composition becomes full of a large amount of useful trace elements and vitamins.

Subject to the storage characteristics of the product, the beneficial properties of the tubers are preserved for 4-5 months. After that, an increase in the level of solanine is observed, which is characteristic of the development of a new growing season. Those. the solanine level rises again. And this happens most often in the winter months - January and February. The concentration of the poison is unevenly distributed. More than 90% of it falls on the skin of the tuber and its eye.

Carelessness in the use of such a product, failure to comply with the rules of heat treatment threatens a person with severe poisoning. Symptoms vary:

  • headaches;
  • nausea;
  • vomiting;
  • weakness;
  • diarrhea;
  • increased body temperature.

It is better to avoid eating a green tuber. The concentration of the poison in it is the highest.

What to do with tubers

Every year, most people store food for the winter.

Vegetables, including potatoes, are placed in bags or wooden boxes and left in a dark and cool place. But it is not always possible to take into account all the nuances of storing such a product. As a result, in winter, part of the stock rots or sprouts. Rotten vegetables are sent to the trash heap, and uncertainties can arise with sprouted vegetables.

What to do with sprouted tubers:

First and foremost, some of the already greened food supply is left untouched until spring. Then it will come in handy for planting in the country. Eating a green product is more dangerous than one that has sprouted, but has not yet lost its natural color. There are no vitamins in it, and the concentration of solanine becomes palpable. Even after prolonged cooking, the potatoes are very bitter.

The remaining stocks need to be sorted out into hard and softer, sluggish ones. Soft ones are used for feeding livestock, used as raw materials for moonshine, or disposed of. Solid ones can be eaten, given some of the nuances of cooking.

How to cook sprouted potatoes

There are conflicting opinions as to whether sprouted potatoes can be eaten. Some people are sure of its harmlessness, others throw it away.

Having found in your closet a few potatoes of green sprouted potatoes, do not rush to cook it. It will be important to find out what the sanitary rules for its processing are.

There are several bans on the use of a spoiled product. A person cannot:

  • eat sprouted potatoes raw;
  • making potato juices;
  • prepare fast food;
  • boil and fry unpeeled.
Sprouted potatoes can only be eaten boiled

Sprouted potatoes can only be eaten boiled

It is allowed to eat such a product only boiled or stewed. Heat treatment time - at least 30 minutes. Fans of fried potatoes will have to peel, boil the product for 15-20 minutes, and then fry it. The same rules apply to baking.

To protect yourself as much as possible from the harmful effects of glycoalkaloids, doctors recommend combining its use with products that neutralize toxins and promote their elimination from the body. These are: garlic, onion, turmeric, cabbage, etc.

There is one caveat - only adults can eat dishes from sprouted tubers. For children, such a product is contraindicated up to 3 years.

ethnoscience

Do not write off throwing sprouted cleaners in the trash can.

You will still need them, especially for those who suffer from frequent joint pain: take the sprouted potatoes, carefully remove the processes, and add them to the alcoholic tincture

With this tool, you can rub a sore spot or make compresses.

The tincture is prepared as follows:

  1. Take a glass container with a sealed lid.
  2. Pour 0.5 liters of vodka into it.
  3. Throw in a container 2 tablespoons. chopped seedlings.
  4. The container is closed with a lid and sent to a dark cool place to infuse.

The medicine is infused for 14 days. After, it is used for its intended purpose. It is better to treat sore spots with tincture in the evening, before going to bed. It has a mild anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. With the use of such a medicine, the previously restless sleep will become strong and the patient's well-being will improve.

Potatoes in the diet of pets

Such a product is harmful not only to humans, but also to animals.

Cats, as well as dogs, should not be given. Include in the diet of pets only fresh product, in a small amount. If you give boiled potatoes mixed with the main feed no more than once a week, glycoalkaloids will not threaten your health.

It's different with rabbits. For them, a sprouted tuber is more dangerous than for humans. Just 0.6 g of solanine can kill the eared. They give only fresh potatoes, after heat treatment, to those rabbits that are grown for meat, and not kept in an apartment. And it would be better to limit the inclusion of this product in the diet. They give it no more than once a week.

Conclusion

Sprouted potatoes are harmful, they are fraught with danger to human health. The white processes, formed under the influence of heat and sunlight, contain a poison - solanine. And its greatest concentration is in its skin and under the eyes. The use of such a product by a person has its own characteristics. To avoid possible poisoning, long-term heat treatment of the vegetable peeled from seedlings is necessary. It is better not to give it to children under 3 years old, as well as to pets.

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