Its also crucial to choose the right key in for the dish when it comes to sweet potatoes.

“We love them in burgers, meatballs, soups and chilis, energy bites and more.”

(NC SweetPotatoes believessweetandpotatoshould be combined into one word.)

Three baked sweet potatoes with toppings on a serving tray on a table with plates, forks, a small bowl of salt, and a glass of water.

Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

What Are Sweet Potatoes?

Sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), and they are not potatoes.

They are starchy, sweet root vegetables distantly related to potatoes since both belong to the order Solanales.

Purple Sweet Potato Pie

“Most, if not all, Southern states should have access to this variety.”

Bake With Purple Majesty

Whipping up a sweet dish with sweet potatoes?

Schlichter also likes Purple Majesty for adding a pop of color to stir-fries, salads, and savory dishes.

Sweet Potato Cake on a pedestal with the front slice removed

Consider this variety forsweet potato biscuitsorSweet Potato-Carrot Soup.

They also keep their bright color after cooking, adding color to any meal.

Purple to red skin surrounds bright orange flesh.

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows, Pecans, And Cornflakes - Southern Living

Use these for candied yams, pies, biscuits, or any other dish that uses mashed sweet potato.

Which Sweet Potatoes Are The Healthiest?

Sweet potatoes are naturally nutritious.

Sweet Potato Pie - Southern Living

Different colors of sweet potatoes provide different nutrients.

Orange and purple sweet potatoes are the healthiest.

Those with orange flesh are rich in beta-carotene, fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants.

Purple sweet potatoes contain antioxidants like anthocyanins, which can boost the immune system and reduce inflammation.

Which Sweet Potato Is The Sweetest?

While it comes to personal preference, orange- or red-skinned sweet potatoes tend to be the sweetest.

Jewel and Covington are known for being sweet, all-purpose sweet potatoes.

Purple and white sweet potatoes tend to be less sweet than orange-fleshed ones.

Japanese sweet potatoes are the sweetest, though they are not as easily found as other varieties.

What’s The Difference Between Sweet Potatoes And Yams?

The candied yams on your Thanksgiving table are not, in fact, yams.

They are sweet potatoes.

While you may hear these terms used interchangeably,yams and sweet potatoesare not the same thing.

Sweet potatoes have firm, sweet flesh, smooth skin, and grow to about 5 to 7 ounces.

Yams are not as sweet and have drier, starchier flesh than sweet potatoes.

They also have brown, scaly, bark-like skin and can grow up to 7 feet long.

“confirm they are firm and do not have any wrinkles in the skin, says Herget.

Avoid sweet potatoes with signs of decay.

Sweet potatoes should last a couple weeks or longer when stored properly.

How To Freeze Sweet Potatoes

Need a little more shelf life?

United States Sweet Potato Council.About Sweet Potatoes.

Agricultural Marketing Research Center.Sweet Potatoes.