Author: Gerardo Gonzalez

Yams have a rougher brown exterior, while sweet potatoes have a smoother skin. Choose small to medium-size firm sweet potatoes with smooth skin and no bruises or cracks. Look for frozen sweet potato cubes which are already peeled and diced, making it easy to add to various recipes like soups and stews. How do you […]

Yams are mostly sold in chunks, sealed in plastic wrap—if you can even find them in the U.S. at all. They can reach up to 150 pounds, but they can also be as small as your average spud. True yams have rough, dark skin, and their flesh can range from white to reddish color, but […]

The folks at Cooks Illustrated write in their ever-so-modestly titled tome The Best Vegetable Recipes that the best way to make baked yams and sweet potatoes is to lightly coat them in vegetable oil, pierce ’em multiple times with a knife, and stick them in a 400°F oven for 45 minutes to an hour. How […]

Sweet Potatoes, often called ‘yams’, are a dicot (a plant having two embryonic seed leaves) and are from the Convolvulacea or morning glory family. What do people call yams? sweetpotatoesYes, 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 […]

Putting the academic talk aside, cooking sweet yamsweet yamBatata, the word for sweet potato in many languages, including Hebrew and Spanish.https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Batata Can sweet potato leaves be eaten raw? The greens are edible raw, but are a bit strong in flavor. Try sautéing them in the place of spinach, adding them to […]

What Are Yams? Yams are also a tuber vegetable. Their scientific name is Dioscorea, and they originate in Africa and Asia. They are now commonly found in the Caribbean and Latin America as well. What are African yams called? Africans call yams “nyami,” which is where we get the word “yam.” They are cylindrical and […]

Yams are a good source of fiber (providing 3 g per half cup) which helps to reduce blood cholesterol and, in turn, the chance of developing heart disease. Are yams and sweet potatoes good for cholesterol? Research shows that sweet potatoes can lower your LDL “bad” cholesterol, which may lower your odds of heart problems. […]

Above: Yam specimen However, they all are widely cultivated for their nutritious starchy belowground plant structures called “tubers.” Tubers function as storage organs for the plants, providing energy for regrowth (the “eyes” or sprouting buds of your potatoes when they sit in your kitchen for too long). Is a yam a tuber? Yams are members […]

Dioscorea alata, also known as purple yam, ube (/ˈubɛ/, /ˈubeɪ/), or greater yam, among many other names, is a species of yam (a tuber). The tubers are usually a vivid violet-purple to bright lavender in color (hence the common name), but some range in color from cream to plain white. What is another name for […]

Real yams are entirely different root vegetables that are more like yucca in texture and flavor. They have bumpy, tough brown skin (that looks almost tree trunk-like) with starchy, not sweet flesh. What do True yams taste like? What Do Yams Taste Like? Compared to sweet potatoes, yams have an earthy, neutral taste. They can […]

The roots initially taste starchy, but soon after taste bitter and acrid. The wild yam plant has clusters of small, greenish-white and greenish-yellow flowers. What are the side effects of wild yam? When taken by mouth: Wild yam is possibly safe when used for up to 12 weeks. It’s usually well tolerated, but taking large […]

Yams are closely related to lilies and grasses. Native to Africa and Asia, yams vary in size from that of a small potato to a record 130 pounds (as of 1999). There are over 600 varieties of yams and 95% of these crops are grown in Africa. What countries grow yams? The biggest producer of […]

Pack them in paper boxes or wrap them in newspaper and store them in a cool pantry or closet. The best temperature to keep the roots fresh is 55 to 60 F. How do you store fresh cut yams long term? Yams actually have a pretty flexible timeline. They can be used up to a […]

Depending on the variety, yams are harvested 6 to 12 months after planting. Lift the tubers when the leaves and stems turn yellow and dry. Do not leave the ripe tubers too long in the ground, otherwise they become bitter and may rot. With some varieties, only one crop is harvested. How long does it […]