I peel and cook sweet potatoes with butter or oleo in a crock pot, about a half pound for 6-8 pounds of sweet potatoes, then use an electric mixer to pull out most of the strings – mix for a few minutes, lift up the mixer to spin off the sweet potatoes, turn it off and wash the strings off.
How do you make sweet potatoes not stringy?
Too much rain, or poorly drained soil also produce stringy sweetpotatoes. Look for shorter, plump sweetpotatoes rather than longer narrow ones – long and narrow will be stringy. Also, choose smaller rather than large ones.
What causes stringy sweet potatoes?
These “strings” come from growing a potato in soil that is too fertile. The potato is a root and roots store nutrients. Grown in soil that is too fertile, sweet potato vines will grow fast and big and the result is long stringy roots (or potatoes).
Do you need to poke holes in sweet potatoes before baking?
The reason you’re poking holes all over is to simply allow some of the built-up steam to escape from the inside of the potato as it cooks. If you don’t poke holes, your potato could explode when you reach in to pull it out of the oven.
Can you overcook a baked sweet potato?
It’s much better to have a soft, fluffy, overcooked sweet potato than a hard, crunchy one. If you prefer to boil your sweet potatoes before baking or grilling to cut down on cook time, you can overcook them this way. Since sweet potatoes absorb water, they will become too watery and mushy if boiled for too long.
Why are my mashed potatoes stringy?
Too much — or too vigorous — mashing will produce gluey potatoes. Your best tool is an old-fashioned masher, fork, ricer or food mill. If you’ve already done the damage, turn pasty potatoes into a casserole: Spread them in a baking dish, drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with grated cheese and breadcrumbs.
What to add to sweet potatoes?
TOPPING OPTIONS:
- Brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and salt.
- Maple syrup, butter and toasted pecans.
- Sour cream, chives, salt and pepper.
- Blue cheese, walnuts and honey.
- Mini marshmallows, brown sugar and cinnamon (pop it under the broiler to toast the marshmallows a bit)
- Beef, Turkey or Veggie Chili.
- Sloppy Joe meat.
How do you pick a good sweet potato?
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. Pre-bagged sweet potatoes may be a better buy than individual pieces.
Can you use sweet potatoes instead of yams?
The main reason you can’t substitute sweet potatoes for yams, or vice versa, is because the two root vegetables taste entirely differently and have very different nutritional compositions. A yam is starchy and dry, but a sweet potato is, as the name suggests, sweet and moister.
How long does a sweet potato take to bake at 400?
approximately 60 minutes
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Give your sweet potatoes a good wash and scrub. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and poke 4 to 5 holes in each sweet potato with a fork or sharp knife. Bake in the oven for approximately 60 minutes, or until soft.
Do you need to wrap sweet potatoes in foil before baking?
DO YOU HAVE TO WRAP POTATOES IN FOIL TO BAKE THEM? There are benefits to wrapping sweet potatoes in foil before baking them, but you don’t have to. The foil helps them stay warm once they come out of the oven, and helps keep the skin softer by trapping moisture in to steam them.
Should you wrap sweet potatoes in foil?
Most chefs do not recommend wrapping sweet potatoes in foil. Doing so traps in steam while the sweet potato bakes, which can lead to a soggy spud. If you do wrap your sweet potatoes in foil, it is best to do so loosely so that steam can still escape during baking.
Should I peel sweet potatoes before baking?
Whether or not you leave the skin on a sweet potato prior to roasting is entirely up to you! You do not need to peel a sweet potato prior to cooking it in the oven. The skins of sweet potatoes are safe to eat, both raw and cooked, and contain nutrients such as fiber and antioxidants.
At what temp is a sweet potato done?
between 205 to 212 degrees F.
Simply poke the potato with a fork to make sure the inside is soft. Or if you want to be precise, you can check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. Technically, you want them to be between 205 to 212 degrees F. in the thickest part of the potato when they’re done.
Is it better to microwave or bake a sweet potato?
All cooking methods cause foods to lose some of their nutrients, but the quicker your potato cooks, the more nutrients it will retain. Baking a sweet potato in the microwave preserves far more nutrients (folate, vitamins A and C) than boiling it, for example.
How do you make potatoes less starchy?
Chilling the water or adding ice is a method that helps the cells seal up and makes for a crisper fry when blanched. Warm or room temp water is better for leaching the starches, some operators or manufacturers actually blanch (or boil) the potatoes in water to remove excess starches.
What is the best potato for mashed potatoes?
We consider Yukon Gold potatoes the best choice for classic dense mashed potatoes. Their rich texture and subtle creaminess make them great for all of your mashing needs. A true all-purpose potato, they’re also good for shredding, roasting, grilling, blending (?!), and shingling.
Why is my baked potato sticky?
You’re aiming for a temp in the sweet spot between 205°F and 212°F. Below that, the texture may still be too dense, and above that, it may become a gummy mess.
How do I bake a sweet potato?
Instructions. Preheat the oven to 425°F and place a piece of foil on a baking sheet. Use a fork to poke holes into the sweet potatoes, set them on the baking sheet, and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until puffed up and soft inside when pierced with a fork.
What is the healthiest way to eat sweet potatoes?
Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.
Do 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.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.