Sweet potatoes are available year-round in grocery store, with peak season being October to December.
Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes:
A medium sweet potato with the skin contained four times the daily recommended intake of Vitamin A, a key nutrient in vision health, bone development and immune function.
Sweet Potatoes are a good source of Vitamin C, manganese and fiber.
How to Select Sweet Potatoes:
Look for small to medium sweet potatoes with firm, smooth and even-toned skin.
Depending on the variety of sweet potato, the skin can range from bright red to rose colored to pale copper.
How to Store Sweet Potatoes:
Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dark place like the pantry for up to 2 weeks. Keep them in a loosely covered bag to allow for air circulation.
Do not refrigerate raw sweet potatoes, as doing so can alter their taste and flavor.
How to Prepare Sweetpotatoes:
Prior to consuming, give sweet potatoes a light scrub under running water.
Sweet potatoes do not need to be peeled and many of the vitamins in sweet potatoes are contained in the peel.
Baking. The simplest is to bake them. Wrapping potatoes in aluminum foil protects their moisture, ensuring they come out of the oven soft and full of flavor.
Par- Bake and Flash Fry. A family favorite is the bake sweet potatoes for 20-30 minutes, about half the time of a full baking cycle. Removing them early allows you to either slice or cube the still-firm potatoes and then pan fry them in sizzling olive, garlic and onions. This produces crispy, bite-sized pieces of crunchy flavor in each bite.
Par-bake and Stir Fry. A variation is to par-bake them and cube the firm potatoes. Use the cubes in a stir-fry dish with other vegetables and thinly sliced meat, tofu or other protein options. Add spices to complement the mix of flavors.
Mashed. For those who love mashed potatoes, sweet ones are a wonderful alternative. Peel baked potatoes and mash them with a beater.
Fried. You can prepare them at home using a fryer and a light, healthier oil.
Fun Facts About Sweet Potatoes:
Despite a physical similarity, yams and sweet potatoes are not even distantly related.
George Washington farmed sweet potatoes on his Mount Vernon, Virginia farm.
We’ve raised more than $7.3 million for Feeding America and other charities that support children and families. Find us in stores to help make a difference in your community.
