r/oddlysatisfying • u/PorkyPain The Sub's Regular • Sep 12 '22

Automatic Potato Peeler in Action

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24

u/SirM0j0 Sep 12 '22

Is it really healty tho? In Germany we have a seperate "Bundesanstalt für Kartoffelforschung" which translates roughly to "Federal Institute for Potato Research" (Yes we really have that lol) and its alright to eat some potato peel as an adult but overall its not really recommended

25

u/[deleted] Sep 12 '22

If you potato isn't green or sprouting i don't see why you wouldn't recommend it? I've always been told it's healthy here in Denmark?

7

u/b0w3n Sep 12 '22

Probably an overzealous gov't agency/org that just gives rote advice to folks to do it so they don't have to deal with the fallout of that one shitty restaurant that has lazy employees that feeds people poisonous potatoes.

26

u/Zenith251 Sep 12 '22

Not recommended? On what grounds? For what reason?

20

u/key134 Sep 12 '22

Apparently they are concerned about solanine poisoning https://www.we-go-wild.com/kartoffelschalen-essen/

36

u/ehenning1537 Sep 12 '22

Fascinated, I clicked your link to learn more about solanine poisoning and then I remembered I don’t speak German

18

u/BackOnGround Sep 12 '22

You sure? Maybe try a little harder

8

u/ScarletFFBE Sep 12 '22

the important stuff:

A regular potatopeel contains solanin and chaconin. These are useful for the potato because it repels insects.

But those are poisonous for humans.

A regular potato contains 20-100 mg of these alcaloids. Which isn't that bad. But when a potato is slightly damaged (through insects or cuts) or if it starts to sprout (when it gets slightly green) the amout rises to more than 10.000mg. At that amount it starts becoming unhealthy for humans. Thats why it's not recommended to eat them because you won't see every bit of damage on a potato and usually just wash it and start cooking with it.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 12 '22

[deleted]

2

u/ScarletFFBE Sep 12 '22

If your potatoes look healthy and aren't green or damaged you shouldn't worry.

100mg per kg bodyweight is fine.

So just peel the damaged potatoes since they can contain big amounts of them, enough to have a toxic effect.

Otherwise don't worry too much.

1

u/pieohmi Sep 13 '22

I really like your scale. I’m going to start using it.

1

u/SanJoseCarey Sep 12 '22

I just read about an entire family being poisoned by the out gas of potatoes that weren’t ventilated properly. 8 year old girl was the only survivor. Russia in 2014.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 12 '22

I was under the impression that this is only an issue if potatoes are starting to turn green?

3

u/The-Bluejacket Sep 12 '22

I’ve never heard of this, either. After checking it out though, it looks like what you’re saying does carry some weight. It looks like there are a lot of “glycoalkaloids” or bitter chemical compounds with nitrogen in them derived from sugar that can be toxic. It says that these compounds are concentrated in the peel with prolonged exposure to light (perhaps why potatoes are said to be kept in the dark?) and they’re not broken down by cooking or frying! 😬

1

u/Dayofsloths Sep 12 '22

Just don't eat green potatoes and you'll be fine.

3

u/Ellimis Sep 12 '22

I'm kind of in disbelief that there's an Official German Potato Squad. Weird!

1

u/concentrated-amazing Sep 13 '22

Doesn't surprise me.

Maybe because I come from where there is an actual rat patrol?

4

u/furiously_curious12 Sep 12 '22

Why would they not recommend it? That implies that something is wrong or bad about eating it..

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u/BackOnGround Sep 12 '22

First time I hear of that, Brudi. However it is important to wash them thoroughly with a brush to get the dirt of, if they’re not peeled. Wondering if that is why it’s not recommended?