The organic sweet potatoes have a great sweet flavor and a variable color according to its type, being able to be found in white, yellow, purple or orange.
Full Answer
What does a sweet potato look like when it is cooked?
FLESH – Cream/whitish colored that becomes yellow when baked. TASTE – Pretty sweet and fairly firm inside (Hannah sweet potatoes are considered a dry or firm sweet potato meaning that the flesh is pretty firm and dry when cooked).
Is there such a thing as organic sweet potatoes?
Yes, look for sweet potatoes that are labeled “organic.” Non-organic sweets are often treated with a sprout-supressing chemical, and we want these sweets to sprout! As for ease of finding them, it all depends on where you live and what sort of stores you have. Around here (rural northern Virginia) organic sweets are pretty easy to come by.
What are the different types of sweet potatoes?
Note that orange-flesh varieties cook up moist; white and yellow sweet potatoes become creamy; purple sweets are dry and starchy. ‘Beauregard’ originally comes from Louisiana, but grows well in the north, too. It has dark red roots, dark orange flesh, and stores well. ‘ Centennial’ is one of the most popular types of sweet potato.
What kind of soil do sweet potatoes like?
Sweet potatoes aren’t too picky, but they do prefer soil on the sandier side, and need plenty of air space in the soil for roots to reach down. If your soil is clay, rocky, or compacted, consider raised beds.
Is organic sweet potato white?
Nutty and creamy, these white roots have a texture that's drier and less sweet than the deeply orange vegetable you may also know as a yam or sweet potato.
Why is my organic sweet potato white?
You may have also noticed some white spots appearing in sweet potatoes when you get to slice them in half, speckling through the inside. Like the oozing white sap earlier, these white spots are still the starch and sugar finding their way inside through the holes they can manage to escape from.
Which color sweet potato is healthiest?
Sweet Potatoes and Health Sweet potatoes with orange flesh are richest in beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are richer in anthocyanins. Beta-carotene and anthocyanins are naturally occurring plant “phyto” chemicals that give vegetables their bright colors.
What's the difference between organic sweet potatoes and regular sweet potatoes?
Conventional sweet potatoes are sprayed with a chemical called chlorpropham to prevent sprouting. The organic ones in the supermarket may have picked up some of the chemical by cross contamination while the potato from the organic market was free of the chemical.
How should sweet potatoes look inside?
0:473:21When is it ripe? Sweet Potatoes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSkin yet and great deep orange color inside.MoreSkin yet and great deep orange color inside.
What do bad sweet potatoes look like?
If the sweet potatoes start turning soft or mushy, they have gone bad. The same thing is true for sweet potatoes that turned a deep shade of brown to black. Check for weird growths through the skin or the presence of mold. If the sweet potatoes have developed an off-odor, toss the tubers in the trash.
What is the best sweet potato to eat?
For our Best Baked Sweet Potatoes, we recommend passing on tan- or purple-skinned sweet potatoes (so-called dry varieties) and sticking with red or orange, which are known as “moist” varieties. These contain more of the enzyme amylase, which breaks down starches into sugars.
Which is healthier pumpkin or sweet potato?
Pumpkins contain higher levels of vitamin A, vitamins B1, B5, B6, and vitamin K, while sweet potatoes are richer in vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamins B2 and B9. Sweet potatoes are higher in most minerals. At the same time, pumpkins are richer in iron and lower in sodium.
What is the healthiest potato to eat?
red potatoesThe Healthiest Potato is the Red Potato After taking into account the mineral density, the vitamin density, the macronutrient balance, the sugar-to-fiber ratio, the sodium-to-potassium ratio, and the phytochemical profile, red potatoes are the healthiest potato with data from the USDA Food Database.
Are there organic sweet potatoes?
Melissa's Organic Sweet Potatoes are oblong tubers with similar properties to potatoes. They can be consumed raw and are cooked in almost any way imaginable. They have a light, subtle flavor, creamy texture, and they are organically grown without harmful pesticides, preservatives and fertilizers.
Is it important to eat organic sweet potatoes?
According to the EWG, this pesticide has been banned in the European Union since 2017, but it is still used on crops like kale, broccoli, sweet potatoes, eggplants, and turnips in the U.S. Given its nutrient-dense profile, you shouldn't shy away from eating kale, so stick to organic varieties when possible.
Do you need to eat organic sweet potatoes?
Conventional sweet potatoes are a fine choice. Their leaves sometimes get eaten by bugs, but since that rarely affects the viability of the underground tubers that people actually eat, farmers generally don't feel the need to protect the leaves with agrochemicals.
Confused About The Types of Sweet Potatoes?
I lived on this island off the Southern coast of China for 3 months, and I partially survived on sweet potatoes (in addition to salted duck eggs, r...
Types of Sweet Potatoes – Hannah Sweet Potatoes
SKIN – Cream colored and pretty smooth.FLESH – Cream/whitish colored that becomes yellow when baked.TASTE – Pretty sweet and fairly firm inside (Ha...
Types of Sweet Potatoes – Japanese Sweet Potatoes
SKIN – Purple and fairly smooth. Generally more round (“fatter”) than the Stokes purple sweet potatoes, which are more elongated.FLESH – Whitish fl...
Types of Sweet Potatoes – Jewel Sweet Potatoes
SKIN – Orange/copper. I find it really hard to tell garnet and jewel sweet potatoes apart because their coloring is fairly similar both inside and...
Types of Sweet Potatoes – Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes
SKIN – Deep purple.FLESH – Deep purple.TASTE – Not very sweet, and pretty dry inside.NUTRITION – Data from HealthGrove.Serving Size: 4 oz (113g)Cal...
Types of Sweet Potatoes – Garnet Sweet Potatoes
SKIN – Redish/Dark Orange.FLESH – Orange.TASTE – Mildly sweet, and pretty moist inside.NUTRITION – Data from Earthbound Farm.Serving Size: 3/4 cup...
Are Sweet Potatoes Paleo?
Yes! Sweet potatoes are definitely paleo!Sweet Potato Nutrition:Sweet potatoes are a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals (especially vitamin...
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes
There are so many different ways to incorporate sweet potatoes into your diet.Download Our Essential Paleo Pantry List For FreeThe easiest way is t...
Paleo Sweet Potato Recipes
Paleo Coconut Sweet Potato Mash RecipePaleo Brussels Sprouts Recipe with Lemon, Bacon, and Sweet Potatoes RecipeWalnut & Coconut Whipped Sweet Pota...
Which One Is Your Favorite Type of Sweet Potato?
Let us know in the comments below which type of sweet potato you love. The Japanese sweet potato is my current favorite!*Percent Daily Values based...
How to encourage sweet potatoes to grow?
If you live in the North like I do, one of the best things you can do to encourage success with your sweet potatoes is to lay black plastic on your soil. Do this a couple of weeks before planting ( although I did it when planting 2 years ago and they did just fine ). This helps to warm the soil, which the plants LOVE. When it comes time to plant, just make small holes in the plastic and plant right through it. DO NOT use clear plastic, you’ll fry your plants!
Can sweet potatoes grow in the North?
Have you ever considered growing sweet potatoes? Yes, they are technically a tropical crop, but you can tweak things just a little and grow them successfully in the north as well.
How long does it take for sweet potatoes to grow?
Growing. Sweet Potatoes can be grown successfully in all 50 states. They do best with ample sun and heat and need at least 90 days frost free in most climates. The amount of heat units determine time to maturity, so if you live in a climate where the heat of summer means daytime temperatures 85 degrees or higher, you can grow sweet potatoes.
Do sweet potato slips grow?
Sweet Potato Slips will arrive wilted despite having been cut and gently wrapped in moist paper before being mailed promptly to your door. Slips will rarely have roots developed at this time. This is normal! Green stems will grow into lush vines. We recommend planting your slips right away for best results.
What are sweet potatoes called?
Sweet potatoes are sometimes called yams, even in grocery stores. Technically, they are NOT a true yam which is a giant dry tuber from Africa, sometimes found in specialty shops. The sweet potato that we grow in the U.S. has a deep orange flesh and copper skin. So whatever you or a grocery store may wish to call it, we’re growing what you see in the photo below!
Where do sweet potatoes grow?
Learn how to grow sweet potatoes! A root vegetable with deep orange flesh, delicious sweet potatoes are commonly grown in southern regions as they require four months of warm weather; northern regions can have success with select varieties. Here’s how to plant, care for, and harvest sweet potatoes!
How long does it take for sweet potatoes to grow?
Before planting, make sure you have a long enough growing season. Most varieties will take about three to four months to mature – about 90 to 120 days. See your frost dates and length of growing season. Image: Sweet potatoes are grown from slips—sprouts grown from existing potatoes!
How long to cook sweet potatoes in boiling water?
Sweet potatoes can also be steamed whole (cleaned and unpeeled) for about 40 minutes or until tender, or cooked whole (cleaned and unpeeled) in boiling salted water for about 35 minutes. (Boiling reduces the flavor considerably.)
How to grow sweet potatoes in containers?
At this time, place the sweet potatoes in containers on top of 3 inches of light, organic, well-draining soil. Leave space between each sweet. Lightly cover with a few inches of additional soil. Water now and as needed to keep soil damp, not soggy.
What is the fastest growing sweet potato?
Recommended Varieties. The fastest-growing sweet potato varieties have orange flesh, but you might also consider varieties with white, yellow, or even purple flesh. Note that orange-flesh varieties cook up moist; white and yellow sweet potatoes become creamy; purple sweets are dry and starchy.
Why do you cure sweet potatoes?
Curing sweet potatoes gives them that sweet taste and also allows a second skin to form over scratches and bruises.
Where do sweet potatoes form?
Most tubers form directly below the center of the plant. However, some varieties form individual sweet potatoes much further away, or quite deep into the ground. Some sweet potatoes may even be found when a vine was resting on the soil and sent down roots. Make sure to dig through the entire area, and leave no sweet potato behind!
How many sprouts does a sweet potato have?
Each potato will produce around fifty sprouts for slips. Carefully wash your potatoes and cut them into large sections. Place each section in a clean glass container or empty jars half filled with fresh water. Use toothpicks to hold the sweet potato piece half below the water and half above.
What is the problem with sweet potato plants?
The larvae will then feed on the flesh of the plant. Adult weevils attack vines and leaves. Weevils also spread rot, which can be identified by growing brown or black areas on stems near the soil and at the ends of the stem. Weevils multiply quickly and are difficult to get rid of. The best way to prevent this problem is to use certified disease-resistant slips and practice four-year crop rotation. If you find an infected plant, destroy it along with its roots.
What is the best crop to plant near sweet potatoes?
For farmers located in the southern United States, one particular beneficial crop to keep in mind for companion planting purposes is summer savory . Planting this crop near your sweet potato can prevent the influx of the sweet potato weevil, a critter that will wreak havoc on your crop if not deterred.
How to heat sweet potatoes in oven?
First, place an open pan of water on the floor of your oven for humidity. Place a standard household or workshop light with a 40-watt incandescent light bulb on one of the shelves of the oven. This light is your heat source. Place a thermometer on the middle shelf where you will be able to read it through the oven’s window with the door closed. Close the oven door almost entirely. Our recommendations say to place a wooden ruler or similar flat object in the opening to provide just a crack of ventilation. Turn on the light. Leave the arrangement for approximately an hour, and then check the thermometer. You are aiming for a temperature between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is out of this range, change to a thicker or thinner spacer, accordingly.
How to control sweet potato spreaders?
One way to control this is by planting within a raised bed. If you choose to forego this route, avoid planting near other crops. This is especially true if planting other crops near your sweet potato, which are also strong spreaders. One such plant is squash. Both crops will end up fighting for space, and in turn, both crops will be weakened.
How to dig sweet potatoes?
Clip the vines and roll them, leaving gaps between the rows . You should leave stumps to show where to dig for your sweet potatoes. Rakes do not tend to be helpful at “grabbing” the vines, but digging forks can be useful.
What kind of sweet potatoes are in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, we have purple sweet potatoes. They’re a beautiful violet color on the inside, and a little dryer than regular sweet potatoes. Have you ever seen one?
How long does it take for sweet potatoes to grow?
Depending on where you live, you probably still have time to start some sweet potatoes this year. It takes about 4 weeks to grow your slips. Then, once you transplant them outside, they will want another 100-140 days to produce harvestable tubers.
How long after transplanting sweet potatoes can you water them?
The only times to really worry about water is when you first transplant your slips, and when the plants begin forming tubers (about 60 or so days after you transplant the slips). Temperature is another story, however. Sweet potatoes won’t tolerate cold.
How many pages are there in the Sweet Potato Grow Guide?
Update! If you liked this post, you may love the new Sweet Potato Grow Guide. It’s a 45-page ebook that covers everything from starting your sweets in the spring to harvesting them in the fall, with lots of tips about keeping them happy all summer long. You can get your copy here ––> Sweet Potato Grow Guide.
How many slips are in a half a potato?
A single healthy sweet potato will often produce a dozen or more slips. So, a half a potato should give you at least 6 slips, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up with more than that. Healthy sweet potatoes are very enthusiastic about producing slips.
Can sweet potatoes grow in Florida?
Sweet potatoes love heat, so I imagine Florida and Arizona would both work fine. As for cooler regions, you can still grow sweets, but you may need to help them along. Mother Earth News has a terrific summary of ways to coax along sweet potatoes in cooler regions: Grow Sweet Potatoes — Even in the North. Gardeners in short-summer regions might also want to select sweet potato varieties that mature in 100 days or less, such as Georgia Jet or Beauregard.
Can sweet potato tubers breathe?
I’m wondering if you may have started with an unhealthy tuber. Sweet potato tubers are alive, which means they need to stay warm and be able to breathe.
What is the difference between white and orange sweet potatoes?
So, what’s the difference between white and orange sweet potatoes? First, let’s back up. Sweet potatoes come in many different colors. The skin can be white, yellow, red, purple or brown, and the flesh can be white, yellow, orange or purple.
Which sweet potato has the most antioxidants?
According to an article on Livestrong.com, "the purple varieties contain the most antioxidants, and the white-fleshed varieties contain the least of these beneficial nutrients. " But since purple sweet potatoes are hard to track down in the States, between the white and orange sweet potatoes, the orange sweet potato wins out.
Where do yams come from?
And where do yams come in? Yams (often mislabeled as sweet potatoes in the grocery store) are a starchy, dry vegetable that originated in Africa and Asia." Yams are starchy tubers that have an almost black bark-like skin and white, purple or reddish flesh and come in many varieties.
Do all sweet potatoes have the same shape?
All sweet potato varieties generally have the same shape and size ― they are tapered at the ends and much smaller than yams. Davies and Starr via Getty Images. White sweet potato (left), Orange sweet potato (right) White sweet potato (left), orange sweet potato (right)
How long does it take to cook a sweet potato?
Since every sweet potato varies in size and thickness, you can’t simply trust that it will cook in 45 minutes. Check for yourself by poking the potato with a fork. If it goes in easily, it’s ready to eat!
How to store sweet potatoes after cooking?
Storing them in the refrigerator. The worst thing you can do with your sweet potatoes is put them in the refrigerator. It’s too cold in there, which changes the potato’s cell structure and makes them hard in the center (even after you cook them). The best way to store sweet potatoes is to find a cool, dark area and they’ll cook up soft and sweet, ...
Can you bake potatoes without poking holes?
Baking them without poking holes in the skin. I have first-hand witnessed a potato explosion in the oven, and let me tell you: It is not a pretty sight. The pressure inside a sweet (or regular) potato can build up in a hot oven. Pricking small holes in the skins with a fork is an easy way to let that steam escape.
Can you boil sweet potatoes for pie?
Boiling them for sweet potato pie. Sweet potato pie is a fall staple—I’ll even go so far as to say it’s better than pumpkin pie! Many recipes call for boiling or steaming the potatoes to cook them for the filling, but this makes the pie watery. Instead, bake the potato in the oven to concentrate its sweetness. 7 / 10.
Do you wash sweet potatoes before cooking?
It’s never a bad idea to give them a firm scrubbing with a clean vegetable brush, either. Sweet potatoes do grow in the ground, after all, and you don’t want any of that dirt or grit to end up in your finished dish.
Can sweet potatoes go bad?
I’m all about ugly food, don’t get me wrong. But sweet potatoes with cuts, gouges, bruises and blemishes have already started going bad. You can cut out the bruised parts and cube the rest for roasted side dishes, but they’re not a candidate for any recipe that calls for a whole baked sweet potato.
Can you cut sweet potatoes in advance?
Cutting sweet potatoes in advance is a great way to meal-prep your way to an easier weeknight dinner. You can absolutely cut sweet potatoes a day or two in advance, but make sure to store them in cold water in the refrigerator. Otherwise, they’ll dry out pretty quickly after they’re cut.
