Slightly bitter potatoes or onion

I have got the same annoying result a few times now, when making potato gratin, and something known as "french potato cake" in my country (grated potato in frying pan).

I believe that it's the potato which has a slightly off taste; bitter/metallic/raw. Some googling leads to solanine as an explanation, but I'm not completely satisfied.

Things that might be related:

I rarely peel them (yet, I think that the same batch of potatoes, used a few days apart did taste fine the first time).
I think that it's worse when any piece of potato isn't in direct contact with heat (i e the center of a thick potato cake or gratin)
I almost always add raw, finely grated onions.
Sometimes raw garlic - my impression is that it makes it worse.
The potatoes are not green, at all, in any of these circumstances.

So my guesses are:

Solanine, in that case solution is to peel them?
Something related to oxidation, either in garlic/onion or perhaps catalysed by it. Solution, in that case?
Rawness - can potatoes be soft and still be "raw"?

potatoes

Best Answer

My gut tells me that they are either under-done or need to be rinsed. Have you tried par boiling the potato? I would try slicing the raw potato, boiling for a few minutes to draw out some of the starch - then rinsing them before adding to your recipe. Worth a try I think.

Good luck!

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Why do my potatoes taste bitter?

Keep potatoes out of the light, too. When exposed to light, potatoes manufacture increasing amounts of chlorophyll as well as two bitter-tasting alkaloid compounds, solanine and chaconine. In high concentrations, these can not only make potatoes taste bitter but also can cause headaches and stomachaches.

How do you get the bitter taste out of potatoes?

In severe cases, discard the entire potato. Do not eat potatoes that taste bitter or cause a burning sensation in the mouth.

Are Bitter potatoes safe to eat?

Raw potatoes should be firm to the touch with tight skin that's free of large bruises, black spots, or other blemishes. If a potato has become soft or mushy, you should throw it out. Though it's normal for potatoes to smell earthy or nutty, a musty or moldy odor is a hallmark of spoilage.

How To Make Slow-Cooked Russet Potatoes That Fall Right Off The Bone

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