If Your Potatoes Start Looking Like This, Experts Are Begging You To Steer Clear

In general, it’s best to steer clear of funny-looking potatoes, especially if they’ve started turning green. But once potatoes have started showing symptoms of greenness, tubers, and sprouts, they’ll also develop a bitter taste. They likely won’t contain as many nutrients, either. 

“While there hasn’t been much research on this topic, we can assume that the nutrient content of sprouted potatoes is less than that of non-sprouted potatoes because they are exposed to more oxidation from higher temperatures,” said Tamar Samuels, registered dietitian and co-founder of Culina Health. 

With that in mind, if you’re dealing with a normal-looking potato — whether it’s a sweet potato or a white potato — you can rest assured that you’re getting tons of essential vitamins and minerals in every bite. “You can feel good knowing both types of potatoes are nutritious,” Michalczyk said. “White potatoes contain vitamin C, and potassium and sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin A thanks to their orange color.” 

In fact, potatoes literally saved lives in early times because their high vitamin C content helped prevent scurvy. So don’t let the fear of solanine deter your potato consumption — just try to keep your potatoes fresh by storing them in a cool, dry place or even in a paper bag to protect them from the sun. And if your potatoes do start to turn green, steer clear of them. 

With all that in mind, get ready to mash up some potatoes and enjoy every bite.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.