Are potatoes that have eyes edible?

Here's why:

* Eyes are where sprouts form: The eyes on a potato are where the plant will sprout if left in storage. This means they are concentrated areas of solanine, a toxic compound that potatoes produce naturally as a defense mechanism.

* Solanine can cause illness: High levels of solanine can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even more serious effects if consumed in large quantities.

* Difficult to remove all eyes: Even if you try to cut off the eyes, there may still be traces of solanine remaining, and it's difficult to be certain you've removed it all.

What to do instead:

* Choose potatoes without eyes. Look for potatoes that are smooth and have no signs of sprouting.

* Cut away the eyes and surrounding area. If you do have a potato with eyes, cut away the eyes and about 1/2 inch of the surrounding area.

* Don't eat green potatoes. Green potatoes contain even higher levels of solanine.

In short, it's safer to just avoid eating potatoes with eyes.