You say potato, I say CANCER-CAUSING DEATH STARCH.
Well, I would say that if I were a paranoid, health freak. Thankfully I’m not, but there is still evidence that suggests that spuds can be harmful to your body.
However, before you offer your curly fries to your mother-in-law, you must know that the taters only become risky to eat if you put them in the fridge.
Oh, you’ve been doing that all your life? Welp, then you’re f*cked.
Britain’s Food Standards Agency explains:
“The most important food not to keep in the fridge are potatoes. When these are stored in the fridge, the starch in the potato is converted to sugar. When baked or fried, these sugars combine with the amino acid asparagine and produce the chemical acrylamide, which is thought to be harmful.”
Acrylamide is used in the manufacturing of plastics, paper and certain dyes. It’s been linked to several different types of cancer in rodents. Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised if water and air have been known to cause the Big C in mice too.
Regardless, it’s definitely not worth the risk. The FSA does still recommended keeping raw potatoes in a cool, dry place — just not as cold as the refrigerator.