# Can You Eat Sprouted Potatoes?

> Sprouted potatoes can be safe to eat if sprouts are removed and potato isn't green.
- Title: Can You Eat Sprouted Potatoes? · Taste of Home | Shortify
- Summary: Sprouted potatoes can be safe to eat if sprouts are removed and potato isn't green. Sprouted potatoes are safe to eat after removing sprouts and eyes if they…
- Keywords: sprouted potatoes, potato sprouts, removing sprouts, potato safety, potato eyes, potato storage, potato cooking, Eat, Sprouted, Potatoes, Taste of Home
- Source: Taste of Home — https://tasteofhome.com/article/can-you-eat-sprouted-potatoes
- Author: Lindsay Parrill
- Published: 2026-10-13T23:39:04+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sprouted potatoes, potato sprouts, removing sprouts, potato safety, potato eyes, potato storage, potato cooking
## Can You Eat Sprouted Potatoes?
Sprouted potatoes can be safe to eat if they haven't turned green and sprouts are removed.

> Yes, provided the potato is still firm, has only a few small sprouts and hasn't turned green.
## Why Do Potatoes Sprout?
Potatoes sprout naturally as tubers storing energy for new plants, with eyes producing shoots.

> Potatoes are tubers, meaning they store the energy needed to grow new plants.
## Potato Sprout Safety
Eating sprouted potatoes can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea from solanine and chaconine.

> Eating too much can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, none of which are worth risking for a side of loaded baked potato salad.
## When to Throw Away Potatoes
Potatoes with long sprouts, soft texture, wrinkled skin, or extensive greening should be discarded.

> If your potato has developed long or numerous sprouts, feels soft or has wrinkled, shriveled skin, throw it away.
## How to Remove Sprouts
Rinse potatoes and use a paring knife to cut out sprouts and surrounding eyes before cooking.

> Use a paring knife or the pointed tip of a potato peeler to cut out each sprout.
## What to Do with Sprouted Potatoes
Freeze mashed potatoes, bake whole potatoes, or plant sprouted potatoes for new plants.

> You can freeze mashed potatoes, bake and freeze whole potatoes, or plant sprouted potatoes to grow new plants.
## Key takeaway

Sprouted potatoes are safe to eat after removing sprouts and eyes if they haven't turned green.