Targeted Primary and Secondary Metabolite Analysis of Colored Potato “Michuñe Negra” Grown in Soilless Culture and during Prolonged Cold Storage: Implications in Acrylamide Formation during Frying

Colored potatoes have been of interest because of their nutritional and health-promoting properties. However, their aptitude for processing regarding acrylamide formation levels is highly variable and for the most part unknown. In this work, the effect of cultivation season (summer and winter), and postharvest cold storage (1, 2, and 5 months at 5 °C ± 1 °C) on the Maillard reaction precursors (reducing sugars, sucrose, and asparagine), phenolic compounds (anthocyanins, phenolic acids and other flavonoids), and acrylamide after frying (GC-MS) were assessed on the “Michuñe negra” potato cultivar from the southern region of Chile grown under fertigation. Acrylamide levels were surveyed on six samples of commercial colored potato chips for comparison purposes. Cultivation season and cold storage showed an effect on both main primary and secondary metabolites. The amount of reducing sugars such as fructose increased with cold storage. Anthocyanin and phenolic contents were higher in the winter season and increased with cold storage. Acrylamide levels were high, surpassing the EFSA benchmark value (750 µg kg⁻¹) in all cases, notably in chips made after one month of cold storage (2125% higher). Additional measures in both agronomical and processing stages of the purple-fleshed potato need to be implemented to lower the acrylamide levels down to acceptable values.