Can you eat raw potatoes? This question is not only raised by raw food fans. The culinary problem is also a headache for concerned parents and pet owners. This guide explains the problem of uncooked potatoes in detail and comprehensibly. Read here under what circumstances eating potatoes is unhe althy for humans and animals.
Are raw potatoes unhe althy?
Raw potatoes are indigestible due to their high starch and toxic solanine content and, if consumed in large quantities, can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other he alth problems. Cooking reduces the solanine content and makes the potato more digestible.
- Raw potatoes are indigestible and poisonous in large quantities.
- Small children, pregnant women and sensitive seniors should not eat raw potatoes.
- Eating raw potatoes can have consequences such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever and even impaired consciousness.
Can you eat raw potatoes?
Raw potatoes are anything but a great tuber. A bite into the uncooked pulp hits the palate with a floury taste. A high proportion of starch not only spoils the culinary enjoyment, but also makes raw potatoes difficult to digest. Starch is an organic compound and is essential as a natural reserve substance for the growth of potatoes.
The second spoilsport for the carefree consumption of raw potatoes is a bitter taste. Anyone who ignores the warning signal and eats more raw tubers will have to pay tribute with he alth problems. A significant content of toxic glycoalkaloids, primarily solanine, is responsible for the bitter palate. A high concentration of toxic ingredients can be complained about, especially in unpeeled and uncooked potatoes.
Cooking raw potatoes in bubbling hot water transforms indigestible starch into digestible carbohydrates and reduces the solanine content to a tolerable minimum.
What are the consequences of eating raw potatoes?
Eating raw potatoes can cause stomach pain, nausea and other things
The dose makes the poison in raw potatoes. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) addressed the topic in detail in 2018 after a case of illness that received much national attention occurred in a family with several generations in 2015. Until then, a value of 200 mg solanine per kg of raw potatoes was considered harmless. The experts reduced this value to 100 mg glycoalkaloid content per kg fresh weight. Depending on the storage time, this value for unpeeled, raw potatoes is already reached at less than a kilogram, from which he alth risks can be expected. For a small child or a pregnant woman, these consequences can occur after eating a single raw, unpeeled potato:
- Sore throat as a burning, scratching irritation
- Stomachache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Disorders of consciousness
- Heart and circulatory problems
In their statement dated April 23, 2018, the experts from the BfR expressly point out that these damages to he alth can be prevented with simple, uncomplicated precautions. Potatoes should always be stored in a cool, dry and dark place. Green, dried and germinating tubers are sorted out and discarded. Peeling and cooking is the he althiest form of preparation. If consumers still want to eat potatoes with their skins on, preference should be given to young, undamaged potatoes. Small children should generally not eat unpeeled potatoes, regardless of whether the potatoes are raw or cooked.
Excursus
Half raw potatoes - unhe althy or not?
One time you're not paying attention and the boiled potatoes end up on the table half raw. The numerous pleas against raw consumption raise the question: eat half raw potatoes or throw them away? At this point, based on decades of experience, the all-clear can be given. If potatoes are only half cooked, questionable ingredients have already broken down to a safe level. In this state, the potatoes are not unhe althy or associated with any he alth consequences.
Who can eat raw potatoes and who can't?
Small children should never eat raw potatoes
With floury starch and bitter alkaloids in their luggage, raw potatoes are not a star-quality culinary delight. Nevertheless, raw consumption only has unpleasant he alth consequences above a threshold value. Experts see the unspecific symptoms as problematic, which suggest a high number of unreported cases and point to a significantly lower limit. These fears limit the range of people who can eat raw potatoes. The following table summarizes who can eat raw potatoes and who should generally avoid them for reasons of caution:
| allowed (in small quantities) | taboo (basically) |
|---|---|
| he althy adult | Toddler |
| Schoolchildren aged 12 and over | Pregnant women |
| Dogs | |
| Cats | |
| Rabbit | |
| Dwarf hamster | |
| Guinea pig | |
| Budgies & Co. |
If a curious toddler on an expedition through the kitchen gets his hands on a piece of raw potato and puts it in his mouth, there is no reason to worry. Raw potatoes should not be on the table as a meal for small children and preschoolers. Dogs, cats and rodents are usually warned by their instincts not to eat food contaminated with solanine. This natural warning mechanism is sometimes lost in pets, so it is advisable not to offer uncooked or unpeeled potatoes and to keep them out of reach of your pets.
Tip
Green potatoes are not on the table in the family household. The green plant substance itself is not dangerous, but acts as an alarm signal for a high concentration of toxic solanine. Green potato peels in particular contain up to 1070 mg of solanine per kg, which is particularly worrying for children and seniors.
Preparing potatoes in an exemplary manner – tips & tricks
Potatoes should be thoroughly cleaned or peeled before cooking
Potatoes are a real treat as long as you don't eat the tubers raw. The following tips & tricks would like to encourage you to prepare exemplary he althy potato dishes for young and old:
- Ideally peel and wash the potatoes
- Sort out tubers with green spots, multiple germs and a shriveled appearance
- Prepare jacket potatoes or baked potatoes from fresh, intact, young potatoes
When cooking, the potatoes or potato pieces should be approximately the same size. This fact ensures that all tubers are cooked through at the same time. You can easily pierce perfectly cooked potatoes with a fork. Pour off the potato water and let the steam escape with the lid open. Please do not use the cooking water to prepare other dishes because residues of solanine have accumulated in it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you eat raw potatoes?
A he althy adult is allowed to eat raw potatoes in small quantities. Anyone who can rely on a vital constitution and robust resistance can tolerate a small dose of toxic solanine without serious consequences. Raw potatoes have no place on the plate for small children, pregnant women and sensitive seniors. This recommendation is based on current knowledge and for reasons of caution.
How many raw potatoes can you eat?
For a long time, a value of 200 mg glycoalkaloid per kg fresh weight was considered safe for consuming raw potatoes. This value corresponds to an amount of 3 to 5 kg of potatoes, depending on quality, variety and storage period. Then a family became ill in 2015 after raw, unpeeled potatoes were prepared and eaten in various variations. Investigations revealed that those affected consumed potatoes with a toxic content of 236 mg solanine per kg. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment then revised the value to 100 mg per kg of fresh weight. This corresponds to about 1.5 to 2.5 kg of raw potatoes, which a he althy adult can eat until the first symptoms of poisoning appear.
Can dogs eat raw potatoes?
No, under no circumstances should you feed your dog raw potatoes. If left uncooked, potatoes are not only indigestible for your four-legged friend, they are poisonous. Even consuming small amounts has fatal consequences, such as nausea, vomiting and severe cramps. This doesn't mean that you can add some variety to your menu every now and then with a boiled potato.
Is toxic solanine destroyed when cooking potatoes?
Solanine does not break down when potatoes are cooked normally. The toxin is only water-soluble at very high temperatures. However, a large part of the glycoalkaloid is washed out into the boiling water. For this reason, it is recommended that you always throw away potato water and not use it for making soups or sauces.
Is the solanine content in all potatoes the same?
There are serious differences in the concentration in potatoes. Potatoes and other nightshades produce more solanine under stressful conditions. These include bad weather, attacks by pests, diseases and mechanical damage to the shell during harvest. Under the influence of light in the storage area, in green areas and in germs, significantly higher solanine concentrations occur than in the center of the tuber. The variety you choose also has an influence on the solanine content. A raw, unpeeled historic potato can contain up to 100 mg per kg of fresh weight. Modern varieties usually contain an economical 7 to 10 mg per kg.
Occasionally I like to eat raw potatoes and would like to keep the solanine content low. Should it be a single, large potato or several small tubers?
We asked the German Nutrition Society in Bonn whether the size of the tuber has an influence on the concentration of solanine it contains. In fact, choosing a large potato allows you to reduce the amount of alkaloids you consume when eaten raw. The ratio of shell surface to volume is more favorable for large potatoes than for small ones because most of the solanine is in and under the shell,
Tip
It's not just raw, unpeeled potatoes that are contaminated with toxic solanine. Other nightshade plants use glycoalkaloids to protect themselves from predators, pests and diseases. These include eggplants, which are also not suitable for raw food. Furthermore, you should not eat green tomatoes, but let them ripen before eating them.
