“Why Should Potatoes Be Kept in the Dark?”

Potato can be used to process many delicious dishes such as mashed, grilled, fried, baked, soup, wine sauce… Because it is used quite often, many people often buy a large amount of potatoes to store in the house. One of the important principles in potato storage is to avoid light. But why do potatoes have to be kept in the dark is something not everyone understands.

Why do potatoes have to be kept in the dark?

If you want to prolong the storage time of potatoes and keep them from deteriorating for many months, you need to understand the main factors that affect the spoilage of potatoes, of which light is an extremely important factor.

Potatoes always contain a certain amount of solanine – a substance that can cause deadly poisoning with a dose of 0.2 – 0.4 grams per 1kg of body weight. However, in normal potatoes, the level of solanine is safe. This toxic substance increases significantly when potatoes come into contact with light and the skin turns blue. That’s why potatoes have to be kept in the dark.

Why do potatoes have to be kept in the dark?-1
Light causes potatoes to turn blue and produce toxins. That’s why potatoes have to be kept in the dark. (Photo: Doctor Kiltz.jpeg)

The symptoms of solanine poisoning are nausea, diarrhea, headache, central nervous system paralysis, unconsciousness, and in some rare cases, death.

The best way to avoid solanine poisoning is not to eat potatoes that have turned green or sprouted.

Note when storing potatoes

In addition to light, temperature and air are also important factors affecting the spoilage of potatoes. Low storage temperatures will convert starch into sugar.

Potatoes can maintain their best condition in an environment of about 7.2-10 degrees C. If stored below 5-6 degrees C, the starch in potatoes will be converted to sugar, affecting the quality and taste of the potatoes.

Jamey Higham, Chairman of the Idaho Potato Commission (USA), said that if stored at temperatures above 55 degrees F (about 12.8 degrees C), potatoes will spoil, lose water quickly, and even sprout. Therefore, potatoes are not suitable for refrigeration, just keep them in a cool place.

Ann Ziata, a chef and culinary instructor at the Culinary Education Institute in the US, advises that instead of “sealing” potatoes, open the bag, basket, or sack to allow ventilation and prevent moisture buildup, inhibiting bacterial growth.

Why do potatoes have to be kept in the dark?-2
Humid air can cause potatoes to sprout (Photo: Mississippi Market.png)

If you want to put potatoes in the refrigerator, you can peel them first and soak them in boiling water, they can be stored for 3-4 days.

Some other notes:

– Do not wash potatoes before storing: Do not think that removing the layer of soil on the outside of the potato is hygienic, in fact, it will increase the growth of fungi and bacteria.

– Do not store potatoes together with onions: Potatoes will be stimulated to sprout due to the ethylene released by onions.

According to VTC News

The post https://meo.tips/tips/why-should-potatoes-be-kept-in-the-dark/ appeared first on Meo.tips.

View more from Meo.tips:

Unlock 8 Benefits with a Daily 5-Minute Jog
Understanding Hail: A Look at the Causes and Effects
3 Steps to Deodorizing Shoes Effectively
12 Effective & Safe Strategies to Secure Your Family from Theft
How to Change Wallpaper Easily on Android and iOS Devices
Experience Comfort and Coolness With 5 ASMR Tapping Videos
Verify Product Quality and Enjoy Stress-Free Shopping on Zalo
“Discover Music Easily on Tik Tok: Here Are 4 Strategies to Find Any Song You See”
Surprising Qualities of Flower Tofu – A Classic Chinese Dish
Is Refrigerated Leftovers Linked to an Increased Risk of Cancer?
Fixing Common Error Codes in Electrolux Washing Machines
Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean and Beautiful During Tet Holidays
Tips for Baking Food with a Microwave Oven’s Grill Setting
7 Tips for Utilizing a Foot Bath
5 Easy Ways to Maintain Clean Clothing
Revitalize Your Skin by Blending Coffee with Common Oils to Reduce Stretch Marks
Making an Impact on the Taste: Comparison of Stir-Frying Ramen Noodles with or without Seasoning Packet Added First
Discover the Quickest Way to Clean Your Fridge for Tet in Under 20 Minutes
DIY Eucalyptus Oil: A Natural Way to Add Scent and Keep Away Mosquitoes
Essential Skin Care and Sun Protection Products for Summer

Nhận xét

Đăng nhận xét

Bài đăng phổ biến từ blog này

Fridge Accessories and Magic Spells to Keep Your Food Storage Neat and Tidy, Starting from 39,000 VND

Hình ảnh
If you find yourself facing many inconveniences when using a refrigerator, such as difficulties in finding food or constantly organizing but still feeling cluttered… Affordable Iron Grid: Stylish Home Decoration Accessories Starting at Only 19,000 VND All those difficulties will be quickly overcome thanks to  smart accessories  at extremely affordable prices. Women can refer to and choose suitable products to help the refrigerator tidy and beautiful. The food is arranged neatly, orderly, increasing the quality of freshness during the preservation process. 10. Maximize Your Fridge Efficiency with a Handy Plastic Tray Plastic trays are designed to be simple and come in various colors. They can cleverly utilize the empty space in the refrigerator, increasing the usage area and adding a delightful touch to the cabinet. Reference price: 27,000 Dong per piece. 2. Refrigerator Deodorizer Doll Accessories A cute little doll can be placed inside the ref...
Đọc thêm

8 Ways to Keep Your Family Kitchen Organized and Tidy

Hình ảnh
Although often small in size, with a diverse range of quantities, spice jars always take up a considerable amount of space inside a family kitchen. Along with that, the inability to organize and arrange spices in a scientific way during use is the main factor that creates a cluttered feeling for the kitchen. What you need to know at this time is how to store all those spices neatly and conveniently when using them. Fortunately, you can refer to the information below to learn more about ways to organize spices in your family kitchen. 1. Storing spices in drawers Arranging all your spice jars inside a drawer will make the kitchen surface look neat and tidy. Especially, this method also helps them avoid dust sticking compared to placing them on the usual countertop. When choosing to store this way, you may need some accessories to divide the drawer into multiple storage areas. Besides, you can also label each spice jar if you’re concerned about limited visibility when storing in ...
Đọc thêm

Tips for Creating Heart Shapes in Coffee Cups Easily

Hình ảnh
Step 1: To be able to create a heart shape for a coffee cup , you need to prepare two separate cups of coffee and hot milk (note that you only pour a quarter to a third of the coffee cup!). Tilt the coffee cup at an angle of about 30 degrees, and gradually pour the hot milk into the coffee cup with the other hand. Step 2: Pour the milk towards the far end of the cup and move it slightly towards the center. Step 3: Slowly push the stream of milk towards the center, continuously shaping the heart’s indentations. Pull the milk towards the center of the heart and finish pouring the milk by quickly pouring it in the direction indicated by the arrow towards the other end of the cup to complete the heart shape! Some drops of milk may spill out, use a clean cloth to wipe it off! And here is your finished result; are you s...
Đọc thêm