Have you ever taken a bite of a potato and gotten a whiff of something fishy? If so, you’re not alone. Many home cooks and potato lovers have opened a bag of potatoes to find some that give off an unusual fishy odor. This strange phenomenon often leads to the question – can you still eat potatoes that smell like fish?
The short answer is no. If your potatoes have taken on a fishy scent it’s best to discard them. While not inherently dangerous potatoes with a fishy smell have likely gone bad and will not taste good. Let’s take a closer look at why potatoes sometimes smell like fish and what causes this smelly situation.
What Causes Potatoes to Smell Like Fish?
Potatoes can develop a fishy odor for a couple of different reasons:
Bacterial Growth
One of the most common causes of a fishy potato smell is bacterial growth Potatoes are susceptible to a bacteria called Bacillus, which can multiply rapidly if a potato has even a small nick or bruise
Bacillus gives off fishy smelling compounds as it spreads across the potato’s surface. The bacteria also causes potatoes to break down faster resulting in a mushy rotting texture.
Improper Storage
Another frequent culprit behind fishy smelling potatoes is improper storage. To prevent spoilage, potatoes need to be kept in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated environment.
If potatoes are left in a hot enclosed space, it can accelerate bacterial growth and cause the Bacillus bacteria to flourish. Storing potatoes in the refrigerator can also make them deteriorate faster and take on a fishy odor.
Age and Deterioration
Even if properly stored, potatoes will eventually start to go bad. Over time, potatoes will break down, become mushy, and begin growing mold, fungus, and harmful bacteria.
An overly fishy smell from an aging potato means it is well past its prime and the proteins and starches have likely started decomposing. This leads to a distinct rotten fish odor.
Chemical Reaction
In rare cases, the fishy potato smell may not be due to bacteria at all. Potatoes contain small amounts of iron. When potatoes are cooked in cast iron cookware, the iron can react with the potato starches to produce a fishy scent. Stainless steel, ceramic, or aluminum pans are less likely to cause this chemical reaction.
Dangers of Eating Fishy Smelling Potatoes
While a fishy odor in potatoes is not necessarily dangerous, it does indicate spoilage and the potatos should be discarded. Consuming spoiled potatoes comes with some risks:
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Food poisoning – Spoiled produce can contain harmful bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. Eating potatoes with these bacteria can cause serious foodborne illness.
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Toxicity – Potatoes naturally contain glycoalkaloids, including solanine. As potatoes rot, glycoalkaloid levels increase making them more toxic. Ingesting high levels can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and neurological symptoms.
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Bad taste – Even if not completely spoiled, potatoes with a fishy smell will simply not taste good. The fishy compounds penetrate deep into the potato flesh leaving a foul taste.
So if the potato smells fishy, don’t eat it! The odor is natures warning sign that the potato has gone bad. You can help prevent the problem by properly storing potatoes and using them within 1-2 weeks. But if you do get a whiff of fish from your spuds, say goodbye and throw them out!
Signs Your Potatoes Have Gone Bad
A fishy smell is one of the most distinct signs of spoiled potatoes, but there are a few other indicators that potatoes have gone bad and should be discarded:
- Moldy spots or fungus growing on skins
- Wrinkled, shrivelled, or softened skins
- Green tinge to potato skin
- Slimy or mushy texture
- Rotten egg odor
- Sprouting eyes
Trust your senses! If something seems off about the appearance, smell, or texture it’s safest to toss it out. When inspecting potatoes, look for those that are firm with intact, non-sprouting skin. Only fresh, unspoiled potatoes should be eaten.
How to Store Potatoes Properly
To avoid spoiled potatoes, the key is proper storage. Here are some tips for keeping potatoes fresh for longer:
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Keep potatoes in a cool (45-55°F), dark place like a pantry or cellar. Avoid warmth and sunlight.
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Place them in a basket, paper bag or box with ventilation holes. Don’t use plastic bags.
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Make sure potatoes are dry before storing. Don’t wash them until ready to use.
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Remove any spoiled or damaged potatoes from the batch so they don’t speed up deterioration.
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Store potatoes separately from onions, which give off gases that can hasten sprouting.
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Don’t refrigerate raw potatoes. The cold converts their starch to sugar causing a weird sweet flavor.
Follow these guidelines to keep your potatoes tasting fresh, not fishy! With optimal storage, potatoes should last 2-3 weeks before sprouting or spoiling.
What to Do if Only Some Potatoes Smell Fishy
It’s inevitable that occasionally you’ll find a few funky smelling potatoes in the batch. If the fishy odor seems to just affect a portion of your potatoes, here’s what to do:
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Remove and throw out any potatoes with a fishy or unpleasant smell.
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Rinse the remaining good potatoes under cool water. Make sure to scrub off any spoiled areas.
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Pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel or clean dishcloth.
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Place the rinsed potatoes in a new paper bag or basket. Make sure there is plenty of air circulation.
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Use these cleaned potatoes within a few days before they also go bad.
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Disinfect any containers or surfaces the spoiled potatoes touched to avoid cross contamination.
By quickly removing and isolating the bad apples (or potatoes), you can still safely enjoy the rest of the bunch!
Can You Remove Fishy Smell From Potatoes?
Unfortunately, there is no way to remove a fishy odor from a potato once it sets in. The smell permeates through the entire potato flesh.
Soaking in water, vinegar solutions or citrus juices cannot fully eliminate the unpleasant fishy compounds. And cooking smelly potatoes will only spread the scent around your kitchen.
Likewise, chopping away green or rotten parts of the potato won’t do much since the damage is already done. If that telltale fish scent hits your nose, wave goodbye to that potato for good!
When in Doubt, Throw it Out!
Our sense of smell is an amazing defense mechanism that can detect spoilage and contamination in foods. A fishy potato aroma is one of those red flags that the spud has gone bad and should not be eaten.
While a mildly fishy potato is not hazardous, the spoiled taste and texture make it unappetizing. Unless you’re looking to recreate the potato famine, serve your fish and potatoes separately!
When it comes to food safety, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you detect even a whiff of a fishy odor from potatoes, err on the side of caution. Follow your nose, and toss those stinky potatoes in the trash where they belong. With proper storage and handling, you can avoid having to turn your nose up at foul smelling spuds.
Too much solanine can wreak havoc on your health.
Consuming potatoes that have overproduced solanine can have serious health consequences. “Gastrointestinal distress, induce coma or even death within 24 hours of consumption” is what Smithsonian Magazine says about the poison.
In fact, one case study recounts the story of 78 British schoolboys who abruptly became ill in 1979. “Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and, in severe cases, depression of the central nervous system. Several patients were comatose with episodes of convulsive twitching and violent fits of fever,” the study says. “In many patients, there were signs of peripheral circulatory collapse,” the researchers note. It soon became apparent that the boys had all eaten boiled potatoes from the same bag, which had been sitting in improper storage since the prior school term. All of the students ultimately recovered, but not without enduring serious symptoms.
If your potatoes smell bitter, don’t eat them, experts say.
Potatoes are members of the nightshade family, which naturally contain the toxin solanine. Solanine is a poison that can be found in small amounts in food without causing any harm, but potatoes and other tubers can get a lot of it if they are not stored properly.
Thankfully there are two common signs that a potato has developed dangerous levels of solanine: they can give off a bitter smell, and their skin may turn a shade of green. “While the green itself is harmless chlorophyll, the green color is an indicator of the presence of solanine,” explains a report from Michigan State University (MSU). “Rotting potatoes give off a noxious solanine gas that can make a person unconscious if theyve inhaled enough,” their experts add.
RELATED: Never Put This One Food Item on the Top Shelf of Your Fridge, CDC Says.
HOW TO REMOVE THE FISHY SMELL AND TASTE FROM FISH | Easy 2 Step Method
What does a fresh potato smell like?
Fresh potatoes have a distinctive earthy scent similar to other root vegetables. If your potatoes smell like mildew or mold, that’s a sure sign that they shouldn’t be eaten. On top of that, if the potato smells sour, bitter, or musty, it’s best to err on the side of caution and toss it.
Is it good to eat fish?
Fish is one of the healthiest foods on earth. It is loaded with important nutrients such as protein and vitamin D. Fish is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are very essential for body and brain growth and development. Some fish are high in mercury, which is related to brain developmental problems. Eating fish lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Omega-3 fatty acids in fish may combat depression. Fish and fish products are the best sources of vitamin D. Eating fish has been linked to reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes and several other autoimmune diseases. Eating fish protects vision in old age, preventing age-related macular degeneration(AMD).
Should you eat potatoes if they smell bitter?
If your potatoes smell bitter, don’t eat them, experts say. Potatoes are members of the nightshade family, which naturally contain the toxin solanine. Though experts point out that you can consume a small amount of solanine without having any adverse reaction, potatoes and other tubers can develop the toxin in abundance when stored improperly.
Do potatoes smell mushy?
However, if they’re already mushy or the skin is visibly sagging, it’s time to get rid of them. Fresh potatoes have a distinctive earthy scent similar to other root vegetables. If your potatoes smell like mildew or mold, that’s a sure sign that they shouldn’t be eaten.