Top: Sweet Potato
Bottom: Yam
What is it?
Sweet potatoes are a large, starchy, sweet-tasting root vegetable. It is believed that they originated in Central and South America, but they are grown in various parts of the world as well. Sweet potatoes can have a pale, thin, light yellow skin with yellow flesh OR darker, thicker orangy-reddish skin with orange flesh. (This latter sweet potato is sometimes called a yam by mistake.)
Yams are also a root vegetable. They are quite large and are usually between 5.5-11 lbs but can get up to 7 feet long and 150 lbs. They originated primarily in Africa and Asia. Yams have a brown or black skin and the flesh can be off-white, purple, or red.
Why should I eat it?
Sweet potatoes...
- are low in calories.
- have no fat.
- are rich in beta-carotene and potassium. (These nutrients help protect against heart attack and stroke, and maintain fluid & electrolyte balance in body cells.)
- rich in complex carbohydrates.
- rich in dietary fiber.
- have vitamin C and B6.
- are high in vitamin C and B6, potassium, and maganese.
- are rich in dietary fiber.
- are low in saturated fat and sodium.
- have a lower glycemic index than potato products (this means they can provide a more sustained form of energy).
Sweet potates--
- Bruised sweet potatoes deteriorate more quickly than unbruised (so beware of bruises when buying them)
- When sweet potatoes begin to go bad, throw the whole thing away because it will infiltrate the taste of the whole potato.
- Store sweet potatoes in a dry, dark, and cool place. If stored correctly they can last up to 3-4 weeks. If not stored in ideal conditions, use them within a week of purchasing.
- Don't refrigerate sweet potatoes.
- Cooked sweet potatoes can last 4-5 days in the fridge.
- Same as the sweet potato list, except that they can last for 2-3 days in the fridge after being cooked.
- A true yam will most likely be sold in chunks sealed in plastic wrap.
Information and pictures from:
1 comment:
Whoa! Thanks for ending my years of confusion!
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