Potato is a versatile root vegetable that is well known all over the world. Potatoes are part of our everyday diet as they go great in a variety of food dishes. They are pretty common in salads, sandwiches, stews, soups, and fries. People love to eat them because of their dynamic taste and texture. But sometimes, potatoes remain undercooked while cooking, baking, and boiling for a number of reasons. In that situation, you may wonder can you eat undercooked potatoes?
And, some queries similar to this question, why do your potatoes remain undercooked? Or how can you use them in food dishes instead of wasting them? So, I will answer all your questions here. Stick to this article and explore the real facts.
Can You Eat Undercooked Potatoes?
The consumption of raw or undercooked vegetables in our diet is beneficial to health. For instance, raw vegetables improve digestion, reduces the risk of heart diseases, and many more. But sometimes, there’s a question can you eat undercooked potatoes?
Well, the answer is No. Undercooked potatoes are not healthy to eat. And, there are several reasons behind this fact. Let’s discuss them one by one.
It would be best if you did not use undercooked potatoes. Although, potatoes are naturally non-toxic, but they contain some toxic substances that can be harmful to your health.
Firstly, potatoes are high in starch with a bitter taste, and thus eating raw or undercooked potatoes affects your digestive system. Consequently, it can cause serious health problems.
Secondly, raw potatoes contain a toxic compound called solanine, which is dangerous to human health. Another toxic substance, glycoalkaloid, is also present in undercooked potatoes that cause several neurological disorders. So, never think of eating undercooked potatoes as it is not a healthy option.
However, the consumption of raw or undercooked potatoes is good for the colon cancer patients. But normally, raw potatoes don’t have any healthy effect on the human body. That’s why you are advised not to eat undercooked potatoes.
So now, things are much clear. By the way, there are numerous ways to enjoy potatoes in your diet rather than eating undercooked potatoes.
Why Do Your Potatoes Remain Undercooked?
There are various reasons behind this scenario. Maybe you are not using the right kind of potatoes for your particular dish. Maybe you are cooking potatoes with any acidic ingredient. And, somehow you are not providing enough high temperature that is essential for the softening of potatoes.
Besides this, there may be a number of other concerns that ultimately cause your potatoes undercooked. Well, let’s know these reasons in detail and see how you can fix undercooked potatoes.
You’re Not Using Right Potato
There are various different kinds of potatoes differing in taste, flavor, texture and cooking time. So, maybe you are using potatoes in your recipes having higher cooking time, which is why your potatoes remain undercooked.
And, probably your potatoes remain undercooked because you are not choosing the best potatoes for your particular dishes. For instance, high starch potatoes, usually Russets, are best for baking and mashing as they are fluffy in texture with a mild, earthy flavor. So, don’t use them in stews or soups as they will not go well.
Similarly, low starch potatoes hold their shape and texture on cooking and thus go well in soups, dips, and stews. Therefore, the choice of right potatoes for your food dishes is crucial.
By the way, you can use medium starch potatoes or all-purpose potatoes in almost every dish as their cooking time is less. So, in this way, you can fix the problem of undercooked potatoes.
You’re Using Acidic Ingredients With Potatoes
Cooking potatoes with acidic ingredients is another reason for your undercooked potatoes. So, if you are cooking potatoes with either vinegar, tomatoes, lemon, or wine, your potatoes remain undercooked.
And the reason is potatoes have pectin in their cell walls that remain intact when comes in contact with acids. This will resist the softening of natural potato starch.
It would be best if you not eat undercooked potatoes because they are hard and firm in texture and leave a bitter taste on your taste buds.
You’re Not Providing High Temperature
Undercooked potatoes result when you are cooking them at a low temperature. Low temperature is not enough to soften the starchy content of potatoes. So, always cook potatoes at enough high temperature in order to avoid the problem of undercooked potatoes.
Read Also: How Much Potao Salad Per Person?
How Do You Soften Undercooked Potatoes?
When you eat undercooked potatoes, they could be dangerous for your health as they can cause several health issues. So, at that critical point where you find your potatoes undercooked, weather boiled, baked, or fried, how can you soften them? Let’s see.
Boiled Undercooked Potatoes
If you are going to prepare delicious potato salad or want to make mashed potatoes for a tasty filling, but you find your boiled potatoes remain undercooked. So, do you waste these potatoes or give up on your tasty potato recipes? Definitely, your answer will be no.
So, you can follow the given instructions to soften your undercooked potatoes.
Put your potatoes in water and add ½ or one tablespoon salt. Boil them for 3-5 minutes at a high temperature. After that, peel them and use them in your favorite recipes. In this way, you can fix the problem of boiled undercooked potatoes.
Baked Undercooked Potatoes
In case if you put your potatoes in the oven for baking to make a delicious meal, but at the end potatoes are still hard and firm. Then what to do?
You can fix them by cutting them in halves. Spray oil on the sides of potatoes and cover them with a thin foil. After that, put them in the pre-heat oven for 4- 5 minutes. So, your potatoes are ready to serve with delicious filling, topping, or savory sauce.
Fried Undercooked Potatoes
Sometimes fried potatoes also remain undercooked due to various reasons. So, if you are facing such a problem, you can still make them soft and edible.
Microwave your fried undercooked potatoes for 3-5 minutes in the pre-heat oven and serve them with savory sauces or chutneys.
Read Also: How Long Do Mashed Potatoes Last In The Fridge?
What Happens If You Eat Undercooked Potatoes?
Undercooked potatoes are not inherently toxic and harmful, and still, you can eat them in some cases. But there are several reasons why the consumption of undercooked potatoes is not a healthy choice for you.
When you eat undercooked potatoes, they can cause unpleasant cramping, gas production, and bloating because of indigestible raw starch. So, they do not provide you with enough energy and nutrition as cooked potatoes and pass from your digestive system as is.
Moreover, the antinutrients of undercooked potatoes affect your digestion by inhibiting the working of essential enzymes. Thus, their consumption disrupts the functioning of the digestive system temporarily.
Moreover, the toxic substances of raw or undercooked potatoes like solanine and glycoalkaloid cause nausea, diarrhea, and headache. In severe cases, these toxins may also cause death.
Recent studies reveal that cooking reduces the amount of antinutrients and toxins significantly, and makes the starch soft and edible. So, eat well cooked potatoes to avoid these health issues.
Wrap Up
Can you eat undercooked potatoes? Well, the simple and clear answer to your question is no. You shouldn’t eat such raw potatoes because they can disrupt your digestion.
By the way, if you ever find your potatoes undercooked, fix them by either microwaving, frying, or boiling. And, in this way you can still enjoy the delicious potato dishes without wasting them.