What causes greening of potatoes?

[Sheree Bobbins]

You know, when you peel a potato and it's green underneath. What causes it. I heard an explanation yesterday that said the potato was too close to the surface and took in too much fertilizer. I thought it was naturally-occurring arsenic.

Do let us in on the secret if you know.

 

[safetymom]

If they are exposed to cold they will turn green.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

You know, when you peel a potato and it's green underneath. What causes it. I heard an explanation yesterday that said the potato was too close to the surface and took in too much fertilizer. I thought it was naturally-occurring arsenic.

Do let us in on the secret if you know.

It is arsenic, but I'd always heard it was caused by daylight; potatoes are supposed to be kept in the dark. My mom used to store them in the garage inside old pantyhose.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Snopes on the subject: http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/potato.asp

 

[Twende]

I was always told that the green color comes from the potato being exposed to light.

That is why potatoes are grown with mounds of dirt hilled up against them.

The green is from a chemical. I can not remember the name but it is poisonous to eat it in anything but very small quantities.

 

[Twende]

LOL! We must have been posting at the same time.

According to the site the chemical is call solanine.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

You see, I peeled 15 pounds of potatoes yesterday for the Church Fall supper and I came across a green one. I always wondered about it, thanks to you guys and SNOPES now I know. I should have thrown it away.