Check for sprouts. Those little white, purple, or green shoots poking out? They’re the potato’s desperate attempt to grow a new plant. A few tiny sprouts are okay—just snap them off. But if it looks like a tiny alien creature with a forest of sprouts? Nope. That potato is past its prime.
Here’s a quirky fact: sweet potatoes are actually root vegetables, not true potatoes. They’re in the morning glory family! So those sprouts are like little morning glory vines trying to escape your pantry. It’s a botanical escape plan. Help it escape—into the trash.
