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From: js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag)
Newsgroups: net.cooks
Subject: Re: mashed potatoes and peels
Message-ID: <1017@mhuxt.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Jul-85 16:07:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: mhuxt.1017
Posted: Thu Jul 18 16:07:34 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 07:37:45 EDT
References: <2057@burdvax.UUCP> <496@bu-cs.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 32

> Someone called raving about the poison solanine (sp. ? this was radio
> and I don't have a Merck handy.) The farmer calmed him down and
> assured him that this was only contained in the peels when the
> peels were green or greenish in color. She also assured him that
> this is caused by the potatoes being stored in direct light at
> the grocer or at home and is why most farmers prefer to pack in
> light tight paper bags.
> 
> Ok peel eaters (including myself!) is this cause for concern? What
> is solanine? How poisonous? How green is green? Is it really the
> peels only? Is this destined to become the great solanine coverup?
> 	-Barry Shein, Boston University

     I recall digging potatoes from our garden a few times as a lad.  Since
they come out of the ground covered with dirt (suprise!), we would spread
them out on the ground and spray them with a garden hose.  Since we were 
planning on storing them in the root cellar for a few months, we'd let them
dry in the sun for 15 minutes or so before burlap-bagging them, to avoid
giving fungi a head start or something, I guess.  Anyway, we once forgot
a batch and left them lie in the sun all afternoon.  By the end of the 
afternoon, they had all turned bright green on one side, and our mother
yelled at us and we had to throw them out.  I guess they were solanine
poisoned?
     Occasionally we'd get a potato with one corner which had been 'sunburned',
but we'd keep them anyway - presumably that corner would be sliced off
during peeling.
-- 
Jeff Sonntag
ihnp4!mhuxt!js2j
   "Well I've been burned before, and I know the score,
    so you won't hear me complain.
    Are you willing to risk it all, or is your love in vain?"-Dylan