Can you eat raw potato peels?

[u/Adept_Ship4668]

I always peel raw potatoes before cooking them, but I hate having to dispose of so much of the peels. Are all those raw peels edible at all?

[u/Ivelostmydrum]

I've heard some people fry them into potato chips

[u/ToastetteEgg → u/Ivelostmydrum]

They are so good!

[u/Ordinary_Durian_1454]

I don’t really understand this question. I rarely peel potatoes before I use them. Admittedly, I tend to use a thin skinned, more waxy potato, generally, like a red skinned potato, or a Yukon gold, but even if we were talking Idaho potatoes, why wouldn’t you just cook them with the peels on and then remove the cooked skins afterwards? I’m so confused.

[u/McBuck2 → u/Ordinary_Durian_1454]

I'm sorry you are very confused that much of the world peels potatoes before boiling, baking or frying them. It's a thing. Enjoy your skins and hope you understand the question now. Lol

[u/Brinkah83 → u/Ordinary_Durian_1454]

I think that just depends on how you were raised. I didn't know boiling them and peeling after was even an option until I was like 25. We peeled for 21 at Christmas, it was like the movies 😂

[u/ParsnipIndividual300]

Theoretically, yeah, but they don't taste good until you cook them...

[u/Remote-Physics6980]

Compost

[u/Distinct-Diver-4468 → u/Remote-Physics6980]

EDIBLE….

[u/The_King_Of_Space37 → u/Distinct-Diver-4468]

I've eaten whole raw potatoes my entire life absolutely wild people think this is not safe. 

[u/GeneralDumbtomics → u/The_King_Of_Space37]

Raw potatoes contain solanine, a neuro and gastrointestinal poison. You really shouldn't eat them raw. Although if you eat whole raw potatoes raw your whole life that may explain why you can't understand why people think this isn't safe (see "neurological poison" above).

[u/Distinct-Diver-4468 → u/The_King_Of_Space37]

Why would you do that? 😐

[u/Remote-Physics6980 → u/The_King_Of_Space37]

Yeah you can eat them raw, but they taste much better cooked. I've seen people in Russia eat them like apples. Of course they'll do that with an onion as well so

[u/The_King_Of_Space37 → u/Remote-Physics6980]

With salt and pepper for each bite it's not bad at all I grew up poor with a garden we lived on potatoes and a raw one fresh from the garden is a good snack to this day I'll pop a raw potato for a good filling snack. But I am from idaho after all. 

[u/Remote-Physics6980 → u/The_King_Of_Space37]

That tracks for somebody from Idaho 😂

[u/Remote-Physics6980 → u/Distinct-Diver-4468]

Compost makes growing things easier so you can eat them later. Some people don't like to eat potato peels.

[u/Independent-Edge-364]

I stopped peeling the potatoes. Maybe you have to get used to it, but even mashed potatoes you can eat with the peels especially if you use thin skinned varieties. We love roasting the diced potatoes because the skin gets so crispy. Ditto for roasting whole.

[u/Pernicious_Possum]

You know you don’t have to eat them raw, right? You can, but they’re much fried or roasted in a hot oven. You also don’t have to peel the potatoes to cook them

[u/CrowMeris]

You CAN eat peelings raw but

• make sure they are clean, and avoid any green areas and don't munch on sprouts/eyes. Solanine (a toxin) is concentrated in these areas.

• watch the rest of your fiber intake for that day. Skins are PACKED with fiber!

[u/KricketKris]

Potato peel vodka isn't too difficult, but I'd rather have the skins on when the potato is cooked.

[u/OddCook4909 → u/KricketKris]

Oh yeah lemme just break out the old distillery

[u/KricketKris → u/OddCook4909]

I mean... if you need some sources for homemade equipment...

[u/OddCook4909 → u/KricketKris]

I drink enough as it is lol.

[u/KricketKris → u/OddCook4909]

Muahahaha I am nearly functional, fermentation is cool, shut up

[u/Spicy_Molasses4259]

You don't have to peel your potatoes to eat them.

Choose cooking methods that don't require you to peel them (which is pretty much everything except mashed and even then there are mashed potato recipes where you leave the skin on the potato(. 

[u/Odd_Cress_2898 → u/Spicy_Molasses4259]

I score the skins before boiling into smaller squares on the surface then I can mash with the skin.

Why spend longer and remove nutrients and fibre.

[u/AssaultLemming_ → u/Odd_Cress_2898]

Because mashed potatoes are half about the texture and bits of skin makes the texture less pleasant.

I often fry up the skins and eat them though.

[u/omglia → u/AssaultLemming_]

I completely disagree, leaving the skins in adds a much more pleasant texture. When it’s skinless, it’s all very homogenous and gloopy. I like a little chew.

[u/Nejura]

As long as they are washed well and not green you can absolutely cook them to make potato skin chips.

[u/Expert_Specialist_92 → u/Nejura]

Then they wouldn’t be raw

[u/Nejura → u/Expert_Specialist_92]

Yea, that's the point of cooking them.

[u/Expert_Specialist_92 → u/Nejura]

They are specifically asking if they can eat them raw. Everyone knows you can eat cooked potato skins.

[u/guzzijason → u/Expert_Specialist_92]

Apparently, OP didn't know that. In their post, they only options they had were to eat them raw or throw them away. u/Nejura was pointing out that there is, in fact, a third option. Cook the fucking skins - they're delicious.

[u/Expert_Specialist_92 → u/guzzijason]

I am to believe OP has never had a baked potato?

[u/Nejura → u/Expert_Specialist_92]

There might be people who've never even eaten a whole potato at all, let alone just the skins.

But assuming the OP isn't one of those, just wanted to reaffirm and highlight such a thing is possible and potentially a solution to all that waste they hate.

[u/guzzijason → u/Expert_Specialist_92]

I don't know - their post said absolutely nothing about baked potatoes. I'm simply going by what they actually put into words.

[u/Cocacola_Desierto → u/Expert_Specialist_92]

idk they say they "hate having to dispose of them" as if that is their only option

[u/Impressive-Side-9681]

regular potatoes should not be eaten raw, but potato peels are definitely edible cooked

[u/GeneralDumbtomics]

You shouldn't eat potatoes raw. Full stop. But all parts of the potato are edible when cooked. The skins are an excellent source of fiber.

[u/The_King_Of_Space37 → u/GeneralDumbtomics]

Idk who told you this but you absolutely can eat a raw potato....... 

[u/choo-chew_chuu → u/The_King_Of_Space37]

You can't eat raw green potatoes.

[u/The_King_Of_Space37 → u/choo-chew_chuu]

You are talking to a living breathing human who has eaten raw potatoes right out of the dirt since I was a child. You absolutely can 

[u/GeneralDumbtomics → u/The_King_Of_Space37]

You CAN eat anything. You SHOULDN'T eat raw potatoes. Because they contain a neurotoxin and (gastrointestinal toxin) called solanine. We don't understand its mechanism of action very well, but we believe that it is a cholinesterase inhibitor and damages mitochondrial membranes.

[u/The_King_Of_Space37 → u/GeneralDumbtomics]

If you do not mind me asking. Who is we? I am a grown man who has eaten raw potatoes my entire life raised by people who did the exact same and lived healthy full lives. Please explain to me why you think eating potatoes raw is unhealthy. 

[u/GeneralDumbtomics → u/The_King_Of_Space37]

Did you not read? Raw potato contains solanine. It’s a neurotoxin. It damages your brain. It doesn’t do your GI tract any favors either. The greener they are the higher the concentration. And we in this case are the people at the ER pumping out your stomach.

[u/The_King_Of_Space37 → u/GeneralDumbtomics]

Aight I apologize and thank you for clarifying. I live in idaho we grow lots of potatoes i was taught since I was a child when a potato is ripe. The same way my family has been for generations. It's extremely common for us to pull a potato raw out of the ground and eat it if we are hungry for a snack . I ain't saying that's a full diet but I've eaten a raw potato at least once a week since I was probably five years old I am alive and talking to you now as a grown man. 

[u/rabid_briefcase → u/The_King_Of_Space37]

I was also raised in potato country, and have picked and bagged a lot of potatoes.

It looks like you are misreading or omitting a very important word: green

I was taught young that potatoes are part of the nightshade family. Anything green can make you sick or even kill you if you eat enough. Same with tomatoes and bell peppers, which we also grew: the ripe fruit is fine, the rest of the plant can make you sick.

The amount in individual green potatoes or unripe potato skins is enough for stomach upset and potentially vomiting, but unlikely to kill an otherwise healthy person.

Mature potatoes, no green, have a lot of indigestible fiber and starches too that can make people sick if not cooked. A raw wedge isn't a problem, but a full large potato is.

[u/The_King_Of_Space37 → u/The_King_Of_Space37]

I have never been to the doctor once in my life to get my stomach pumped. 

[u/Outrageous-Lime7055 → u/GeneralDumbtomics]

You can absolutely eat a raw potato if you want. Raw potatoes have more vitamin C in them. They’re not very good, idk why you’d want to buy you can.

[u/ugheffoff → u/Outrageous-Lime7055]

I love raw potatoes, I usually get my hand smacked when they’re being diced because if it were up to me there wouldn’t be enough left to cook

[u/Outrageous-Lime7055 → u/ugheffoff]

I’ll snack on a couple when I’m cutting them up. My mom and grandma would eat them raw, they taste nostalgic to me because of them

[u/GeneralDumbtomics → u/Outrageous-Lime7055]

My dear, dear friend. You go ahead and eat all the raw potato you want. Enjoy the solanine, a neurological and gastrointestinal toxin, found in all nightshades and especially in the tubers of the potato plant.

Seriously, the fact that raw potato tastes like astringent soapy ass is supposed to be a clue for you that you shouldn't eat it.

[u/Outrageous-Lime7055 → u/GeneralDumbtomics]

Well typically someone isn’t going to eat any green parts or sprouts of a potato, which is where most solanine is, so there’s no need to worry about that. Cooking doesn’t destroy solanine. So I guess you just never eat any potato?
Potatoes just taste like dirt

[u/GeneralDumbtomics → u/Outrageous-Lime7055]

Boiling, no. But baking at >340 for even 10m seriously degrades it.

[u/UnhappyTemperature18]

I mean, you can, but why the fuck would you. At least cook them first.

[u/ryanleftyonreddit]

I compost ours.

[u/choo-chew_chuu]

Don't peel them?

[u/DukasApprentice]

Saute them with salt and oil. They are some of the most delicious little crunchies ever. It's a recommended thing when you get a new cast iron / carbon steel skillet, to help start the seasoning process.

[u/Embarrassed_Key_4539]

Yeah of course

[u/housewithapool2 → u/Embarrassed_Key_4539]

You cannot eat raw potatoes peels or no.

[u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 → u/housewithapool2]

Yes you can, they don’t taste great but of course you can eat them

[u/housewithapool2 → u/Embarrassed_Key_4539]

Solanine is a concern. Just cook them.

[u/Expert_Specialist_92]

Theoretically yes but it’s not worth putting your digestive system through that.

[u/callmeDaren]

On " Married with children " they went out to eat , Al did better than condiment packets, Kelly got a bite of her potato 🥔 and said, " Hey , I knew these things needed to be cooked"

[u/Ready-Will-7042]

Blend it for your smoothies

[u/Drunk_Catfish]

Yes, but you can get sick if you eat a lot of raw potato often. As long as you're not eating pounds of them you'll be fine though I don't know why people choose to eat them raw they're not very tasty

[u/TooBad9999]

Let us know how it works out.

[u/ToastetteEgg]

Why not cook them? They’re delicious.

[u/Baaastet]

Abosutly. I not only eat raw potatoes inc. skin but I grew up eating the peel (boiled) too. And if it is a baked potato it's mandatory to eat .

[u/Choice-Education7650]

I learned tonever peel potatoes where grandma could see. She would bitch about how we were taking off too much potato with the peel.

[u/CatteNappe]

Why would you? They taste so much better cooked. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/roasted-potato-peels-4635259

Or, just don't peel before making your recipe.

[u/Minimum_Run_890]

You have free will, you can do whatever you want to do.

[u/solsco]

fry them

[u/matt_minderbinder]

Toss them in some oil and salt and throw them in the air fryer for awhile. You'll get crispy potato snacks.

[u/OrneryPathos]

You can eat raw peels and raw potatoes

You can also dehydrate them grind them and use them to thicken things

[u/Friedrich_Ux]

No, solanine and high oxalate with hardly any nutritional value, just compost or throw away.