Overview

A sweet potato is a starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous root vegetable. Typically yellowish-orange with thin, edible skin, the sweet potato has, as the name suggests, a distinctive sweet flavor.

Sweet potatoes can be found year-round but are most seasonal (and tasty) during fall and early winter. They have a common place at Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday tables, but are also enjoyed throughout the year.

Sometimes sweet potatoes are mistakenly referred to as yams, which are actually a different vegetable altogether.

It has become increasingly popular in the US and Canada, and across Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia, where it is not typically grown.

Identification

Most sweet potatoes have a yellowish-orange color, inside and out (though different varieties and colors – like purple – do exist).

Sweet potatoes are large tubers and generally oval in shape. Of course, exact size varies: some are short and plump, others are longer and thinner.

Nutritional Information

One raw, whole sweet potato (weighing about 100g) has about 86 calories, 1.6g of protein, 0.1g of fat, 20.1g of carbohydrates, 3.0g of fiber, and 4.2g of sugar.

Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, as well as beta-carotene, iron, potassium, and magnesium.

Selection

Choose sweet potatoes that are firm (not rubbery) and without blemishes or cuts.

Sweet potatoes store well, but as usual, buying fresh is a perk: seek out sweet potatoes in fall farmers’ markets for best flavor.

Storage

Store whole sweet potatoes in a cool, dark place. Avoid anywhere with overly damp or humid conditions. Stored properly, sweet potatoes can keep for months.

Preparation

Sweet potatoes can be prepared similarly to ordinary baking potatoes: they can be baked, boiled, mashed, or sliced into matchsticks, and made into fries.

They can be a good substitute for pumpkin or butternut squash, due to their sweet flavor, starchy texture, and bright orange color.

Because of their high sugar content, sweet potatoes are sometimes used in desserts or baked goods: for example, sweet potato pie is a common preparation at Thanksgiving.

How to bake a sweet potato

To bake a sweet potato, set oven to 450F. Meanwhile, clean the sweet potato well under running water, then dry well with a paper towel. Using a fork, poke holes all over the sweet potato, then place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes, then flip to its other side, and bake for another 30 minutes. When cooking is completed, cut the sweet potato open and prod the flesh with a fork: it should be soft and fluffy, and thoroughly cooked.