Tag: Undercooked potatoes

According to the USDA, the average American consumes around 50 pounds of potatoes annually, most of which are cooked to perfection. However, if you've ever bitten into a potato that wasn't fully cooked, you might worry about the potential health consequences. While it's unlikely to be fatal, consuming undercooked potatoes can cause some unpleasant side effects.

Raw potatoes contain naturally occurring compounds like glycoalkaloids, including solanine, that can cause health problems if consumed in large quantities. This makes eating a fully raw or even a slightly undercooked potato a potential source of concern for digestive upset and, in rare cases, more serious issues.

According to a 2018 review in the *American Journal of Potato Research*, raw potatoes contain nearly double the vitamin C of their cooked counterparts. This fact, along with their high resistant starch content, leads many to question: are undercooked potatoes healthier? While raw or slightly undercooked potatoes may offer some nutritional advantages, they also present significant safety risks and digestive issues that must be considered.