Sprouted Potatoes: Safe to Eat or Not?

The other day, I was digging through the pantry. I was mostly looking for pasta but also avoiding real work. Instead, I found a bag of potatoes that had… sprouted. Not tiny nubs—full-on, reaching-for-the-light, alien-tentacle-style sprouts. My first thought? “Ugh.” My second? “Can I still eat these, or will this kill me?”

Naturally, I went down a rabbit hole I didn’t plan for at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday. Let’s talk about sprouted potatoes.

Sprouts Aren’t Just Ugly

I used to think sprouts were purely cosmetic. Not great-looking, sure, but harmless. Turns out, it’s more complicated.

When a potato sprouts, it produces glycoalkaloids, specifically solanine and chaconine. These are natural toxins. They don’t kill instantly, but eating too many can cause nausea, cramps, and headaches. Basically, they make you feel awful.

The Longer They Sit, the Worse It Gets

Even if your potatoes start sprouting a week after purchase, toxin levels begin to rise. The longer the sprouts grow, the higher the glycoalkaloid concentration. Think of it as nature’s reverse progress bar: “Your food is slowly turning into not-food.”

Can You Still Eat Sprouted Potatoes?

Maybe. It depends on how brave you are.

Small sprouts: Cut them off along with any green areas. Green parts have the highest toxin levels.
Soft or smelly potatoes: Toss them immediately. Don’t risk it.
Firm potatoes with minor sprouts: You can likely cook and eat them safely.

I’ve personally eaten sprouted potatoes after cutting off the sprouts and lived to tell the tale—but that’s anecdotal, not a guarantee.

How to Store Potatoes Properly

I realized I’d been storing potatoes all wrong. My setup basically created a sprouting spa. Here’s what works:

Keep them cool and dark, but not fridge-cold.
Avoid sunlight and humidity; moisture accelerates sprouting.
Ensure airflow; don’t seal them in plastic with towels.
Separate from onions, which release gases that encourage sprouting.

Treat your potatoes well, and they’ll stay fresh longer.

Planting Sprouts: A Wholesome Alternative

If your potatoes have good-sized sprouts and aren’t too soft, you can plant them. Cut into chunks, each with a sprout, and stick them in the soil. Months later, you can harvest new potatoes—a beautiful cycle of food from what would otherwise be waste.

Bottom Line

Minor sprouts: Remove them and cook the potato.
Soft, green, or smelly potatoes: Toss or plant them.
Store potatoes properly to prevent unwanted sprouts: cool, dark, ventilated, and away from onions.

That’s it—my accidental potato TED Talk. You’re welcome.