Sweet Potato/Yam – FoodWatcher

This Is the Only Way to Store Sweet Potatoes

Oh sweet potato, oh sweet potato, how lovely is your orange flesh, fibrous skin, and bright, slightly earthy flavor. We could go on and on with a list about our favorite uses for sweet potatoes (in fact, we already have!), but today we are just here to talk about how to shop for and store sweet potatoes. Most root vegetables like raw sweet potatoes, carrots, and hearty winter squashes have a pretty long shelf life. As a rule of thumb, most raw root vegetables can be stored at room temperature for at least a week or two before they show any signs of bruising and spoiling. There are at least five different varieties of sweet potatoes, and they can all be stored the same way. The key is to start with very fresh sweet potatoes purchased from the grocery store or farmers market. They should be firm to the touch and free of decay, according to the United States Sweet Potato Council (yes, this is a very real, very wonderful organization).

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How to Store Sweet Potatoes

The best way to store your sweet potatoes is in a cool, dry, and dark area, like your pantry or the back corner on your kitchen countertop. Keep them in a bowl or basket so that they’re self-contained, and always thoroughly wash and scrub their skin before you cook them. Don’t store potatoes of any variety in the refrigerator, as the cold air can activate their sugars and starches, causing them to spoil faster. A simple sign of this structural change is when tiny white specks appear in raw sweet potatoes. Store them away from a heat source, too, per the U.S. Sweet Potato Council. And while you shouldn’t put sweet potatoes in the refrigerator, you can, surprisingly, freeze sweet potatoes. Frozen sweet potatoes may be stored for up to 12 months. You must start with cooked sweet potatoes, which should be peeled and boiled. Once a fork can easily pierce their flesh, slice or mash the cooked sweet potatoes and top them off with a small amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice, which will preserve their vibrant orange color. Place the potatoes in the freezer in plastic bags and lay them flat.

Sweet Potato Yogurt Is Good With Everything

A Big Little Recipe has the smallest-possible ingredient list and big everything else—flavor, creativity, wow factor. Psst: We don’t count water, salt, black pepper, and certain fats (specifically, 1/2 cup or less of olive oil, vegetable oil, and butte…

A Big Little Recipe has the smallest-possible ingredient list and big everything else—flavor, creativity, wow factor. Psst: We don't count water, salt, black pepper, and certain fats (specifically, 1/2 cup or less of olive oil, vegetable oil, and butter), since we're guessing you have those covered. Today, you’ll just need two ingredients.

There is no shortage of fruit-flavored yogurts in American supermarkets. Blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, cherry, peach, lemon, lime, pineapple, coconut, apricot, pomegranate, passion fruit, strawberry, strawberry-banana, strawberry-rhubarb, strawberry-kiwi, strawberry-mango, just to name a few.

How to Bake a Crackly-Edged, Fluffy-Centered Sweet Potato

Though in fry form anything is tasty and the candied variety are near and dear to my heart, the easiest way to prepare a sweet potato is to bake it in the oven. When done right, this yields tender, creamy flesh with crispy skin—perfect for using in any number of delicious dishes. While baking sweet potatoes isn't exactly rocket science, there are a few tips and tricks you should keep in mind to get the most out of these beloved spuds. Here’s what you need to know.

What to look for when buying sweet potatoes

It's best to select small- to medium-sized sweet potatoes (figure about four to eight ounces each) as larger sweet potatoes tend to be starchier, which means a drier texture. You want to select those that are blemish-free and with tight, smooth skin.

The Best Ways to Use Up Leftover Sweet Potato

Got leftover sweet potatoes in your fridge? Say, you made dinner one night or meal-prepped a few sweet potatoes and don’t know what to do with the leftovers. Well, you’re in luck! Sweet potatoes are the best base for things like waffles, salads, soups,…

Got leftover sweet potatoes in your fridge? Say, you made dinner one night or meal-prepped a few sweet potatoes and don't know what to do with the leftovers. Well, you're in luck! Sweet potatoes are the best base for things like waffles, salads, soups, and of course, pie. Here's exactly what you should cook with them, whether your sweet potatoes are mashed or baked or boiled or steamed—and don't forget to scroll down for our best leftover sweet potato recipes.

We’ve all been there: We popped vegetables in the oven to roast, but then they took too long and then ... dinner couldn't wait. They’re still worth saving, of course—but sometimes figuring out how to use them can be a little overwhelming.