Can sprouted sweet potatoes still be eaten?

In general, sprouted sweet potatoes are safe to eat. Unlike potatoes, sweet potatoes do not produce harmful substances such as solanine after sprouting.

Although sprouting does not produce toxic substances, the sprouting process consumes some nutrients, resulting in reduced nutritional value. Particularly the sprouted areas may become woody, have poor texture, and be less nutritious. When handling sprouted sweet potatoes, it is recommended to thoroughly remove the sprouted area and about 1 cm of surrounding tissue using a sharp knife, ensuring no residual bud eyes remain. Then rinse the prepared sweet potato thoroughly with clean water and cook it according to personal preference.

To improve texture, you may soak the sweet potato for a period before cooking, or use cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, or roasting to make it softer and more palatable. Carefully inspect the skin of the sweet potato before consumption; if the sweet potato has mold, decay, or other signs of spoilage along with sprouting, it should not be consumed, as it may be contaminated with harmful microorganisms that could threaten human health.