Knowledgebase

inside of baked russet potatoes has big black streaks #440174

Asked February 10, 2018, 6:55 PM EST

I bought a big bag of very large russet potatoes.  I baked five of them and when I cut them open there were large streaks of black stuff through all of them (see photo).  A week prior to baking these, I used some other potatoes from this same bag to make a casserole using raw potato slices; after peeling and slicing the potatoes there was no evidence of this.  These baked potatoes were only a week older than the potatoes I sliced which were fine.  I have never seen this before in a potato.  What is it?  

Summit County Colorado

Expert Response

I suspect this is blackheart of potato and this would have been something that most likely occurred in the field or storage before the potatoes were sold. This is a physiological problem, not a disease.  This publication from North Dakota State provides more information: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/internal-physiological-disorders-internal-heat-necrosis-a...
Let me know if you have any other questions.
 
An Ask Extension Expert Replied February 15, 2018, 3:53 PM EST

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