If the potatoes you eat have a bitter taste, be careful. This could mean the potatoes have sprouted, and in severe cases, can cause poisoning.
Potatoes contain a weakly alkaloid biological alkaloid called solanine, which has an anesthetic effect on the central nervous system and can dissolve red blood cells. Its content is low, with about 10 milligrams in 100 grams of potatoes, which is generally not enough to cause poisoning after consumption. However, if potatoes are stored for a long time, at a high temperature, or in direct sunlight, they can undergo changes, such as turning black or green, sprouting, or developing black spots. At this point, the solanine content doubles, with the highest concentration found in the sprouts, the skin layer, and rotten areas. A very small amount of solanine is not harmful to the human body, but if 200 milligrams (about half an ounce of potatoes) are consumed at once, symptoms can appear within 15 minutes to 3 hours. [China Cuisine]
Here are a few simple tips to avoid danger: Store potatoes in a cool place at around 5°C. Do not expose them to direct sunlight, and there's no need to put them in the refrigerator. Too high a temperature will cause the potatoes to sprout or rot, while too low a temperature will easily freeze them, making them inedible. After peeling, cut the potatoes into small pieces and soak them in cold water for at least half an hour. This will dissolve any remaining solanine into the water. Taking advantage of solanine's weakly alkaline nature, adding an appropriate amount of rice vinegar when cooking potatoes can use the acidic action of vinegar to break down solanine, thus detoxifying them. Dishes like Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes and Vinegar Shredded Potatoes not only taste good but are also safer in terms of food safety.
However, it should be noted that if you feel a numb or bitter sensation in your mouth when eating potatoes, it indicates that the potatoes still contain a significant amount of solanine, and you should stop eating them immediately to prevent poisoning.