Potatoes and onions are an important part of every Indian kitchen. Both these vegetables are used in almost every dish, but sometimes they come out sprouts while storing them for a long time. Often people clean them and use them to make vegetables, but do you know how safe eating sprouted potatoes and onions are for health? Come, let’s know about this in detail and understand what they should take care of before eating.
First of all, let’s talk about sprouted potatoes. When sprouts come out in potatoes, a poisonous chemical called Solanin starts forming in it. It is a natural toxin, which is formed to protect potatoes from insects and diseases. But it can be harmful for humans. Excessive amounts of solanin can cause problems such as stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and shortness of breathing in serious cases. If the potatoes have small sprouts and it is tough, then you can cut and remove the part of the sprout and its surroundings. But if the potato is soft, its color has turned green, or the seedlings have become very long, then avoid eating it. It is better to throw such potatoes, because it can contain high amount of solanin. While storing the potatoes, keep it in a cold, dry and dark place, so that the germination process slows down.
Also, do not store the potatoes with onion, because the gas released from the onion can speed up germination in the potato. Now let’s talk about sprouted onion. Sprouting in onion is a natural process, and it is not very dangerous like potatoes. Sprouted onions do not form a poisonous element, but its taste and nutrition can be affected. When sprouts come out in the onion, its nutrition takes it to nourish the seedlings, which can taste the taste of onion and soften the texture. If the onion sprout is small, you can cut it down and eat the rest. But if the onion is starting to rot, it is smelling, or it has become very soft, then it should be thrown away. You can use sprouted onions in the garden, because new onion can be grown when it is applied in the soil.
While storing the onion, keep it in a ventilated place and protect it from excess moisture, so that germination and rot can be prevented. Overall, sprouted potatoes and onions should be used carefully. They can be eaten by removing small seedlings, but if they have deteriorated, do not eat them at all. There is nothing greater than health, so always check them before eating. The right storage and carefully you can avoid these problems and keep your kitchen safe.
