Are two-year-old buried potatoes safe to eat?

Potatoes stored for two years risk a solanine build-up, as I learned the hard way from our neighbor who stored potatoes long enough until his wife got sick from eating the potatoes he had brought home. The green patches of chlorophyll under the soil meant solanine was present. Underground, the tubers tend to absorb moisture, making their decay time shorter. Before you harvest a forgotten crop, always dig one or two test holes.

The make-up of soil does play a role in how quickly things will decay. I found that my garden with a heavy clay component kept tubers much better than the sandy garden plot. Winter freezes break down the integrity of tuber cell walls and release more enzymes, increasing the solanine content. You should always store the potatoes above ground after harvesting. Cornell research shows that buried tubers develop toxins almost 3 times faster than tubers stored above ground.

The risks associated with cooking potatoes change. Baking concentrates solanine between the layers of the skin. Any questionable potatoes at home, I boil for 30 minutes or more. Fermenting takes away toxins for vodka production, but home distilling is notoriously risky. If in doubt - compost old potatoes, they will help the soil without health risks.

Regional variations exist in storage techniques. My root cellar in Minnesota utilizes stone walls to keep potatoes safe for 9 months. Gardeners in Texas bury coolers with ice packs. You can monitor temperature and humidity levels using wireless thermometers. I lost 50 lbs of Yukon Golds once because my wireless thermometer malfunctioned.

Read the full article: When Plant Potatoes: Expert Timing Guide