Why are my red potatoes so bitter
Is there something in red potatoes (and possibly some others) that is very bitter that only some people can taste? And if so how/can I get rid of it. The reason I think so is I boiled some for potato salad and it was inedible. I figured that it was just that season/batch. So Ive tried it several times again at different times of year and it’s always very bitter. russet potatoes are fine as are reds when roasted. Though some fingerling and blues are also bitter but not nearly to this extent.
Best Answer
Have these potatoes started to sprout? According to this article from Caroline Wright, a lecturer in horticulture, "there can still be a bitter flavour to potatoes that have begun to grow." Exposure to light produces solanine. Solanine is a bitter toxin and even when pared from the potato, can have imparted bitterness throughout the spud.
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Quick Answer about "Why are my red potatoes so 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 stop potatoes from being bitter?
A cool, not cold, dark and dry place is best. The ideal temperature is in the 45- to 50-degree range. But a pantry is fine, too, as long as it's not too warm. Don't store potatoes in the refrigerator; that causes their starches to convert to sugar.Can you eat bitter potatoes?
Cut away any parts that show damage (cuts and bruises), rotting, green colouring and sprouting before cooking. In severe cases, discard the entire potato. Do not eat potatoes that taste bitter or cause a burning sensation in the mouth.Why are some potato skins bitter?
Bitter potato skins are a warning sign that solanine is in high concentration in the spud. Consuming large quantities of solanine may cause illness or possible death.How can you tell if red potatoes are bad?
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 Know When Potatoes Go Bad : Ripe \u0026 Fresh Fruits \u0026 Veggies
More answers regarding why are my red potatoes so bitter
Answer 2
As I have aged I’ve stopped being able to eat red bliss potatoes. The rest of my family loves them but for me, the skins are extremely bitter. I recall my grandmother saying she couldn’t eat them. I think it’s something genetic.
Answer 3
The question is a bit underspecified - you are talking about "red potatoes", but out of the 400 cultivars of potatoes, there are several dozens of red ones, so we don't know which ones you mean.
Anyway, you have to consider that 1) potatoes are a naturally bitter plant (they evoloved so to defend themselves from being eaten!), it is humans who bred the bitterness out of them, and 2) human flavor perception is not absolutely uniform. It is much more varied for smells (with different humans having or not having receptors for different molecules) than for taste, but I wouldn't see it as impossible that it happens for taste too in individual cases.
So, my best guess here is as you said in the question: there is some substance which you can taste that almost nobody else can. The potato variety you are talking about seems to be producing it, and breeders didn't breed it out, because they, and their customers, didn't taste it and so they found that potato variety perfectly palatable.
To test the theory, you can cook a batch of potatoes which is bitter to you, and have a handful of friends (not genetically related family members) taste it. If they notice no bitterness, it is a highly likely explanation.
If that's the case, you cannot get rid of it. Just buy other varieties of potatoes.
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