Answer. Although yams and sweet potatoes are both angiosperms (flowering plants), they are not related botanically. Yams are a monocot (a plant having one embryonic seed leaf) and from the Dioscoreaceae or Yam family.
What’s the difference between a yam and a sweet potato?
Yams are starchy and have a rough, brown exterior. They can grow up to 45 feet long and are eaten in parts of Latin America, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia. Sweet potatoes are a New World root vegetable, have a softer, reddish skin, a creamier interior, and often, a darker interior.
Is a yam just a sweet potato?
Yes, all so-called “yams” are in fact sweetpotatoes. Most people think that long, red-skinned sweetpotatoes are yams, but they really are just one of many varieties of sweetpotatoes.
Are yams and sweet potatoes both tubers?
Above: Yam specimen
Potatoes and yams technically have modified belowground stems (“stem tubers”) while sweet potatoes have “root tubers.” monocots (related to grasses and lilies). Yams are widely cultivated worldwide, especially in West Africa, where 95% of the crop is harvested.
How can you tell sweet potatoes from yams?
How to tell sweet potatoes and yams apart. A sweet potato has tapered ends and thin, smooth skin and flesh that can range from light beige to burnished orange to purplish, even. A yam is cylindrical, typically white-fleshed—there is a purple variety, too—and has rough, dark, almost hairy skin.
Which is healthier sweet potato or yam?
Sweet potatoes and yams are completely different vegetables. However, they’re both nutritious, tasty and versatile additions to the diet. Sweet potatoes tend to be more readily available and are nutritionally superior to yams — albeit only slightly.
Why is my sweet potato yellow inside?
The skin color of a sweet potato can tell if it’s spoiled. If it’s yellow or purple, it’s probably spoiled. The skin of a rotten sweet potato will smell bad. However, white or purple skin is no reason to throw out a rotten sweet potato.
Can I grow sweet potatoes from a sweet potato?
If you have a sweet potato sprouting in the cupboard, it might be too far gone for dinner. However, if you plant the sprouting section, called a slip, you can grow your own sweet potatoes in just a few months time. Store-bought sweet potatoes work perfectly well and growing them is simple.
Why are sweet potatoes called yams?
When soft varieties were first grown commercially, there was a need to differentiate between the two. African slaves had already been calling the ‘soft’ sweet potatoes ‘yams’ because they resembled the yams in Africa. Thus, ‘soft’ sweet potatoes were referred to as ‘yams’ to distinguish them from the ‘firm’ varieties.
Can dogs eat yams?
First, dogs can safely eat sweet potatoes or yams. If you see yams in the grocery store, these might not be “true” yams, but a soft variety of sweet potato that was conveniently called a yam to differentiate it from firm sweet potatoes.
Do sweet potatoes grow above or below ground?
Like regular potatoes, sweet potatoes are starchy tubers that form underground. But the heart-leafed vine that produces sweet potatoes requires a longer growing season (100 to 140 days) and warmer soil than the kind of plant that produces regular “white” potatoes.
Can dogs eat sweet potatoes?
When feeding your dog a sweet potato, make sure it’s cooked and that the skin is removed; leaving the skin on makes it harder for your dog to digest. You should never feed your dog a raw sweet potato. Not only are they difficult to chew, but they can upset your dog’s stomach and potentially cause intestinal blockage.
Which is sweeter a yam or sweet potato?
Although they are both root vegetables, they belong to two different plant families—the sweet potato is from the morning glory family while the yam is related to the lily. Yams are sweeter than the sweet potato, grow much larger and are also nutritionally inferior.
Can you eat sweet potato skin?
Sweet potato skins are safe to eat and can be easily added to most recipes. They’re rich in fiber, other nutrients, and antioxidants that can help support a healthy gut, increase feelings of fullness, and prevent chronic disease. If you’re looking to get the most nutrition out of your sweet potato, keep the peel on.
Is yam Good for Diabetes?
Loaded with nutrients specially fibre, yam has made it to the list of foods suited for management of weight, diabetes and blood cholesterol levels.
Who should not eat sweet potato?
Sweet Potato Side Effect
- May Lead to Stones. Sweet potatoes have a high oxalate content.
- Vitamin A Toxicity. They are a rich source of vitamin A.
- Kidney Failure. If you are struggling with liver or kidney issues then you should probably avoid eating them.
- Heart Problems.
- Stomach Problems.
- Blood Sugar Issues.
Does yam increase blood pressure?
Yams are full of nutrients that aid in heart health. Some of the main nutrients that promote heart health include fiber and potassium. Potassium aids in the reduction of blood pressure by blunting the effects of sodium, and the amount of sodium in the American diet is a growing concern.
Do sweet potatoes spike blood sugar?
Since sweet potatoes are high in carbohydrates, they can spike blood sugar levels. Their fiber content helps to slow down this process. Orange sweet potatoes have a higher GI. This can increase your blood sugar level, compared to other sweet potato varieties.
What is the white stuff that comes out when you cut a sweet potato?
What you are seeing is liquid starch. You might have even noticed the sweet potato leak the white liquid starch when you cut into it. This is entirely normal, and the liquid starch is a mixture of sugar and starch that is not limited to just sweet potatoes. You may notice it when cutting into squash as well.
Can I cut mold off sweet potato?
You can remove the spots, and cook and enjoy the rest of the sweet potato. What is this? The exception is mold spots; if a sweet potato has begun to mold, throw it away. When it comes to pithy sweet potatoes, as long as the inside of the potato has only a few holes here and there, it should be perfectly safe to eat.
Can I just plant a whole sweet potato?
“Slipping” is when you grow little baby plants out of a whole sweet potato. Now, you can just bury whole sweet potatoes very shallowly if you like, but many gardeners prefer to grow slips from the tubers and then plant the slips. It’s easy, fun, and one of the best gardening activities for kids.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.