Can you eat raw potatoes or are they bad for you? Let’s find out!
The number of dishes, we can make out of potatoes are uncountable, and no doubt that each dish is loved equally by everyone.
Some potato lovers even do experiments and make something new out or with an infusion of potatoes. Since some thoughtful questions even click in their minds and ask for the reasoning.
So, in today’s article, we are here to answer one of your pinged comments about “raw potatoes”. You will get all the logical points on “Why not eat raw potatoes and what are the risks involved?”
Let’s move forward to look deep into the topic.
Can you eat raw potatoes?
As potatoes do not inherit any harmful toxins in themselves, it is not that dangerous to eat. But a disadvantage that lies is that tubers are not meant to take in directly into our bodies.
They are rich in raw starch which is hard to break down into carbohydrates by our cells. They can cause pain and hard digestion after eating.
It is good to at least boil or steam before consuming them. Cooking will convert the raw starch into the one ingested easily by our body. It will also make it soft enough to chew and easily swallow by the food pipe.
Do raw potatoes have dangerous bacteria?
We cannot say a bacteria but yes there is a compound called Solanine. It is scientifically proven that the outer skin of potatoes has more solanine present than the inner white part.
Moreover, the resistant starch found is also difficult for our enzymes to crack up into energy.
Can eating raw potatoes make you sick?
The green-colored potatoes have high solanine as compared to other ones. If we think logically then, we realize potato is a tuber that we eat.
They can even grow roots from their eaten seeds as well. When they come in contact with sunlight and make their food through photosynthesis; the presence of chlorophyll will make them green and ultimately result in high solanine content.
Therefore, more exposure to sunlight will increase the solanine and green color on the potatoes making them dangerous to consume.
The problem starts with basic fever and in some cases, it can even cause death to happen.
5 Risks of Eating Raw Potatoes
1) Anti-nutrients
Anti-nutrients in raw potatoes are higher than the cooked ones. They prevent your system from absorbing nutrients. The cooking will automatically deduce the anti-nutrient content in the potatoes and minimize them to no level of risks while consumption.
If you take a balanced diet, then avoid this raw potato experiment with your body and better focus on your health.
2) Glycoalkaloid
A natural compound found in raw potatoes is harmful especially when consumed in higher quantities. The green hue on the potatoes indicates solanine’s excessive presence as far as the color darkens.
It will lead to drowsiness, cramps, gas, itchiness in your intestine. And disturbs your mind with headache, fever, and confusion too.
3) Resistant starch
There is an irony in this raw starch present in raw potatoes. Where on the one hand studies claim the consumption of resistant starch is beneficial for our body improving digestion and blood sugar levels.
On the other hand, our body is not meant to absorb its raw form. They have to be first converted into butyrate and then be taken in by our body. Therefore, the consumption in the resistant form will only increase the cramps and pain in your stomach and nothing else.
4) Digestion issues
Challenging your inner system and ingesting something our body can’t take will cause food illnesses like bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, gastric distress, and infection as well.
Being hospitalized and on medications after this is of no clever deal to put on.
5) Lectins
Raw Potatoes are also rich in lectins which is one kind of anti-nutrient as well. As such compounds are inherited in plants themselves.
You can’t eradicate them wholly. A small amount of lectin is none above the other advantages nutrients taken along in the body.
But the higher consumptions lead to serious poisoning and malnutrition problems.
Are raw potatoes bad for you?
Trying them for a single time is not bad, but including them in your daily diet-Yes, they are bad. It will weaken your immune system and ability to take energy and good nutrients from the food you eat.
Sometimes, it will also reduce your desire or hunger for other nutritious and healthy food items.
Can I eat raw potatoes safely? 3 Best ways!
No, you cannot eat raw potatoes safely, there are a lot of precautions to be taken before consuming and we cannot give you a ‘100% safe to eat’ sign for this.
Rather cook and consume them after to avoid any harm to your body. The three easy cooking ways with the best recipes are:
1) Boiling:
Rinsing well and washing off the skin will get rid of the bacteria and soil to wash away from the surface. The boiling will maintain a proportionate amount of nutrients that are easy to consume and digest.
The process is simple:
- Clean the dust and dirt from the potatoes with water. Place in a hot boiling vessel filled with water for 10-12 minutes.
- Remember to add a tablespoon of salt and cover with a lid on a medium flame.
- You can eat them after peeling the skin with some salt and pepper seasoning.
And for the bonus recipes just follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Mashed Potatoes: Mashed potatoes is a 5-minute side dish to prepare when you have all the things ready in front.
Ingredients: Boiled potatoes, Butter, oil, milk, cream, coriander leaves over the top.
- Mash the boil-peeled potatoes in a blender or with a hand masher tool in a bowl.
- Add 1 tablespoon of melted butter, oil, milk, and cream for luscious flavor.
- Garnish with some coriander leaves and serve as a side sour cream for your beef or meat steaks.
2) Frying:
Frying is a bit of a diet cooking method but who will not love it when set on the table with our favorite mayonnaise and Dijon mustard and ketchup.
- And we have forever favorite French fries to fry with a little crisper:
Ingredients: Potatoes, mayonnaise/ketchup, oil for frying, cornflour, seasonings.
- After peeling the outer layer, vertically cut the slice of potatoes for fries.
- Pre-heat the vessel on high flame for 5 minutes. Coat the fries in about 2 tablespoons of cornflour and release them into the oil for frying.
- Medium the gas flame after 2 minutes and let them fry for another 5 minutes until crumbly.
- Season with oregano and Mingle with your best-loved sauce. We have used mayonnaise and mustard and some tandoori sauce here.
- Set out on the diner in a glass jar for your children to enjoy!
3) Baking:
Baking can spit-roast as well as oven-bake the food with a sizzling taste. You can play well with the eatables and make some new fusions while baking.
It may involve a lot of cheese or a crumbly texture to your dish. For baking, we present some homemade potato chips.
- Roasted oven-baked potato chips: Ask for anything crispier and wholesome than potato chips? You will not find an answer. So, why not bake this.
Ingredients: 3-4 Potatoes, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, with mixed- salt, pepper, oregano, and chili-flakes, shredded cheese(optional).
- Pre-heat the oven at 180°C. Thinly slice the potatoes to make a chip-like shape. Pat dry with a cotton towel for absorption of excess water or moisture.
- Set up in a baking tray in such a way that all pieces can be evenly roasted.
- Brush with seasonings mixed in olive oil.
- Place into the oven and let them roast till brown and breakable.
- Take out and plate into the bowl. Enjoy with the sauce or mayonnaise of your choice.
Tips for safely eating raw potatoes:
- If you wanna consume a raw potato, then make sure that it is thoroughly clean and dry from outside.
- Better try to eat after peeling the outer layer as it has more solanine as compared to the inner part.
- Do not take in a one with green spots or complexion on the outside.
- Avoid the damaged or already wounded ones.
- If you find seed, stalk, or roots coming out of the potatoes, then it can be harmful to your immune system to ingest.
Final words
I hope you understood the urge of consuming cooked potatoes and the health-affecting risks in ingesting raw potatoes. The cooking process will not take much time and also add more taste and flavor to the food.
So, it’s better to avoid stomach aches by ignoring the raw ones.
Feel free to ask for any recipes and health advice in the comment sections below. We are here to assist you for happy and long-living by taking minor steps towards a healthy lifestyle.
So, do you already know if is eating raw potatoes bad for you? Please, if you still have any question, feel free to leave your comments below!
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