NUTRITION Data from Whole Foods. In contrast, sweet potatoes with purple-colored flesh are rich in anthocyanins, the compound that gives them their rich, vibrant color. Increased cooking times is recommended for purple. Sweet potatoes are from the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) family, and are native to tropical parts of the American continents. When finished, they'll be creamy, smooth, and rich. Anthocyanin is a flavonoid naturally found in red, purple and blue fruits and berries. I roast them in a scorching-hot oventhough science (and our culinary team) advises against thisuntil the skin turns to a crinkly leather and the interior is a gooey, steaming mess of bubbling sugars and chewy flesh. SKIN Cream colored and pretty smooth. Use them both. Please note though, the type of vitamin A is betacarotene, and only a small percentage is actually converted to retinol, the usable form of vitamin A. Appearance wise, they look the most like yams. Purple ones are denser requiring longer cooking times. The Best Way to Cook Whole Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes 101: All You Need to Know About Common Spuds, Trevisano Radicchio Salad With Satsumas, Pistachios, and Calabrian Chile Vinaigrette, Austrian-Style Potato Salad (Erdpfelsalat) Recipe, Thanksgiving Stuffed Roast Pumpkins Recipe, Roasted Frozen Sweet Potatoes With Whipped Crme Frache and Granola, Roasted Pumpkin Soup With Brown Butter and Thyme Recipe, The Serious Eats Guide to Shopping for Asian Noodles, In Season: Sweet Potatoes, For Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, or Dessert, A Beginner's Guide to Olives: 14 Varieties Worth Seeking Out. Nutritional value for 100 grams of sweet potato versus 100 grams of rice (brown rice and white rice). Pistachios vs Almonds: Which is Better? Sweet potatoes trace their colorful orange flesh to the presence of beta carotene, an antioxidant that works to protect your bodys cells from damage and diseases like cancer. FLESH Cream/whitish colored that becomes yellow when baked. Due to its intense purple skin and deep purple flesh, you could be mistaken for thinking that this long plump root is a beet. These orange-fleshed sweet potatoes pack a lot of moisture, and take well to boiling, baking, and making into casseroles. Garnet sweet potatoes are high in moisture and have reddish to purplish skin with orange flesh. Covingtons have a moist and creamy texture with a malty sweet flavor when cooked. (7), Sweet potatoes are high in oxalates, compounds found in many plant foods, which are safe for most people. King and Coho salmon vary in size, flavor, and, Read More Coho Salmon vs King: Whats The Difference?Continue, As a Certified Health Coach informing clients about different nuts is part of my job. Want more Paleo sweet potato recipes? But while they contain significantly more vitamin A, regular potatoes contain slightly more vitamin C. Start by thoroughly scrubbing it under cool water with a stiff-bristled scrub brush to remove any caked-on dirt. But while most Americans are comfortable with the two or three shades of sweet potato theyre familiar with, they might avoid some of the tastiest varieties for lack of familiarity. Sometimes, this sweet potato cultivar is sold as garnet yams in the U.S. (3, 4), Yellow and orange varieties contain carotenoids, natural antioxidants which can benefit vision, cognitive function, and cardiovascular health. Both contain soluble and insoluble fiber. It comes from an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which is colored water-soluble pigments that can give plants, fruits, and other vegetables their rich coloring. The majority of the sugar in sweet potatoes is from sucrose . In addition, no statement on this website has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and any product mentioned or described on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All the goodness in those spuds doesnt cancel out the negatives that come with a dip in a deep fryer, for instance. If youre looking for ideas for healthier potato or sweet potato dishes, here are a few to try: Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Most notably, Beta Carotene, which is easily absorbed by the body. Cutting up potatoes and sweet potatoes helps preserve their starchiness, while cooking them whole results in more sugariness. Their starchy flesh takes on a sweet and malty flavor when cooked. What Nutrients Are in the Skins of Sweet Potatoes? Bush Porto Rico sweet potatoes are a popular type of sweet root vegetable that is also used to create many cultivars. They're naturally sweet and nutty with a more robust flavor than traditional sweet potatoes. As the middle-of-the-road potato, all-purpose potatoes usually suffice as a substitute for any starchy or waxy potato recipe. Sweet potato puree from the potato's flesh has about 3 grams of fiber in 1/2 cup, and a slice of sweet potato pie has just 1 gram of fiber. Depression and anxiety can contribute to difficulty sleeping. Different varieties of sweet potatoes have different flavors, sizes, shapes, textures and firmness, but they basically all feature one of three flesh colors: All varieties of sweet potatoes are a healthy source of complex carbohydrates which provide your body with energy needed for the proper functioning of cells, including your brain. You will find sweet potatoes pre-peeled and cooked and sold in cans or frozen. They can also be added to casseroles, soups and stews to enhance the flavors of other ingredients. The flesh is either creamy white or bright yellow, and the potato has a sweet taste that you can enjoy just from steaming it. In addition, Sweet Potatoes can be served as an ingredient for salads, pies, cookies, cakes, puddings, and custards. Various types of sweet potatoes are very versatile when it comes to cooking. Find out how white sweet potatoes compared in my comparison article. When looking at either one at the market, always choose large ones which feel firm. Japanese sweet potatoes are also great for gnocchi because they are low in moisture. Carotenoids are yellow and orange pigments, synthesized by many plants, which function as a source of vitamin A (retinol) in your body. Neither spud is a dud, but one offers just a bit more nutrition. Policy. Sweet potatoes are a type of root vegetable that look and taste different from regular potatoes. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Jewels are definitely a go-to variety for baking and casseroles, so pop these spuds in the oven whole or cut them in wedges, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast them at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown. The average price for sweet potatoes is $0.99 per pound. They're even more moist than jewels or Beauregards, which makes them great for baking projects; they're our ideal sweet potato for pie, mashed sweet potato casserole, and nice and simple mashed sweet potatoes. KETO RECIPES CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnAGH-jp4YXl30rir1BPrxA/Is bread or potato worse for your health? However, it is not related to the potato plant Solanum tuberosum as their composition of simple sugars and complex starches is pretty different. Sometimes referred to as the Ube sweet potato, this tuberous root is actually a type of purple yam. They contain 4 mg of sugar per one serving size of 110 grams. The sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas) is an underground tuber. White Sweet Potato - Also called firm sweet potatoes, white sweet potatoes have light, golden skin and pale flesh. If you are concerned about maintaining proper vision, it's good to know that a sweet potato contains an abundance of an important nutrient vitamin A known for its role in eye health. In the south, they're often favored for side dishes and desserts. Unlike orange sweet potatoes, you don't have to worry about satsuma-imo getting soggy or waterlogged as they cook. Olive oil and soybean oil are two oils commonly mentioned. The flesh is vibrant purple that has a dry starchy texture. Hannah sweet potatoes are perfect mashed as a side. It is estimated that a normal potato has around 2 grams of protein while a sweet potato has around 1.25 grams of protein. Timest. The skin is a light tan color and the flesh is creamy-white. Some youll want to mash with butter and herbs, while others are better left in chunks, roasted with hearty root vegetables. These conclusions laid the foundation for further research regarding the damage-protective activities of purple potatoes on RPE cells or human vision. Sweet potatoes come in a variety of colors, both inside and out. Sugar: A 100-gram serving of baked sweet potato contains 6.5 grams of sugar and a 100-gram serving of baked white potato contains 1.4 grams of sugar, making white potato the winner by a small margin. Though I think of these as very sweet, their flavor is actually more subdued and subtle than other breeds. TASTE Mildly sweet and fairly firm inside. There is also an Oriental/Japanese variety with a dark purple skin and white flesh . You can roast sweet potatoes, use them in casseroles, or bake with them. There is also a type of sweet potato called Red Garnet which has reddish-purple skin and orange flesh. Sweet potatoes must be kept cool, moist, and light to prevent them from becoming overheated, moisture-laden, or just plain old sweet. The fresh purple yam flesh is pale purple with white specks through it. Purple flesh: These potatoes have a buff-colored skin and include the Okinawan sweet potato. Sweet potatoes contain Potato Vs Sweet Potato - Carbs Content When comparing strictly on carb content, both potatoes and sweet potatoes both have the exact same amount of carbs at 21g. Sweet potato covers your daily need of Vitamin A RAE 107% more than Red potato. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees F. Both are considered root vegetables, meaning the part of the plant you eat grows beneath the soil. Enter the white sweet potato. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. Lets Compare. Depending on where you live, it may be difficult to find purple sweet in the local stores. The Japanese sweet potato is perfect for braising, boiling or stir-frying. Garnets are oblong tubers that have dark-orange to red skin with deep orange-colored flesh. Sweet Potato vs Yam Nutrition and Benefit Differences, Kevin Garce is a Certified Health Coach who encourages people by informing them on nutrition and food topics important to them. Both typically have brownish skin; though, that can vary depending on the variety. SKIN Purple and fairly smooth. Sweet potatoes are native to tropical countries in Central and South America. Korean sweet potatoes are some of the best examples of these Asian vegetables. Peeling off the skin reveals creamy white-colored flesh that has a mildly sweet flavor. Andrews finds the purple variety to have a bit of a nutty taste, so she recommends roasting purple sweet potatoes whole and sprinkling with salt, pepper and turmeric. We Compare. Let this not-at-all-exhaustive guide act as a doorway into the vast and incredible world of Ipomoea batatas (that's science for "sweet potatoes"). Purple sweet potatoes have a firm, meaty texture. SKIN Orange/copper. Read More Atlantic Mackerel vs Spanish Mackerel Are They The Same?Continue, The difference between types of oats is not always immediately apparent. "Sweet potatoes are also high in manganese, which aids in the formation of connective tissue, bones, blood-clotting factors and sex hormones. From the findings of the study, researchers concluded that purple sweet potato antioxidants boosted DNA synthesis and maintained cell survival and division. The edible part of sweet potatoes is their large tubers with an oblong or oval shape that tapers to a point. This has reddish-purple skin and vibrant orange sweet flesh. A humid basement or root cellar is the best area. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. You will learn about the color of their skin, flesh, and how they taste. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Its a benign condition and it goes away when you reduce your intake. So, sweet potatoes (family Convolvulaceae) are completely unrelated to yams. We prefer Yukon Gold, an all-purpose variety, for mashed potatoes. The glycemic index (GI) measures how various foods can increase or decrease your blood sugar level. For this reason many people ask, which sweet potato is healthier? If you are among the many people who suffer from stress, anxiety or depression, eating sweet potatoes may help, due to their high magnesium content 30.8 grams or 7 percent DV per serving, per the USDA. If you are making pie, the purple sweet may lack the sweetness needed. Find out how purple yams compared in my article here. Color: Dark-purple skins, pale yellow flesh.Flavor: Subtly sweet, nutty, rich.Texture: Dense, starchy, smooth.Best uses: Steaming, roasting. One type of sweet potato popular in the southern states in the U.S. is the White Delight variety. That is, in order to keep the same nutritional value I had in sweet potato, I should eat about ~24 gram of whole wheat pasta (17g crabs, 2.88 protein and 84 calories). Sweet. They can be used in both savory and sweet recipes, but are unsurpassed when baked, roasted or boiled. The confusion comes from an unfortunate attempt to distinguish between varieties of these root veggies hundreds of years ago. Many sweet potatoes are marketed as yams. The biggest difference amongst potatoes and sweet potatoes, is the Vitamin A content. Yams also have a higher carbohydrate content and are higher in starch . As a Certified Health Coach many of my clients ask me about fish including mackerel. We recommend that you do your own independent research before purchasing anything. Theres a subtle starchy undertone with rich sweet flavor. My friend, who is living in Okinawa, expressed the same problem. SKIN Reddish/Dark Orange. Are Sweet Potatoes Healthier Than Regular Potatoes? Sweet potatoes have more tapered ends while yams have rounded ends. Think of all-purpose potatoes as the ultimate workhorse, they have medium starch and medium moisture content. Sweet potato is a major staple crop that is grown in many parts of the world, and there are many different sweet potato viruses that can cause disease and reduce crop yields. Which Is Healthier? Most of the worlds yams are grown in in Africa and Asia, and they are actually quite hard to find in the US. They have white skin with deep purple flesh. Purple sweet contain more of the antioxidant anthocyanin. Yams are an important part of West African food . The magazine published an issue exclusively dedicated to sweet potatoes. They are generally starchy and slightly sweet, but range in shape, color and texture, each with its own unique taste profile. While some sweet potatoes are dense, starchy, and creamy, others are more watery when cooked, with a stringier texture. Check out this post of 66 Paleo sweet potato recipes here. But there are several different types of sweet potatoes grown worldwide. The Japanese sweet potato has more starch than other varieties. Sweet, white. Weekly meal plans and shopping lists - 30 or few er ingredients per week - Full Nutritional Data - 100% Paleo. If you spend any time in Hawaii, you'll find these sweet potatoes incorporated into some of the most delicious potato salads around, dressed generously with my favorite condiment: mayonnaise. One of the most interesting varieties of sweet potatoes from Asia is the Murasaki sweet potato from Japan. An important area where potatoes and sweet potatoes differ is in their glycemic index (GI), a scale from 0 to 100 that rates how quickly a food will cause your blood sugar to rise. They both provide a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrient profile. All Rights Reserved. I love to simply roast then mash these sweet potatoes with butter, but they can also be used to add some heartiness to winter stews and braises. Adirondack Blue Potato Flesh Color: Dark purple flesh. 10% said they never tried purple before and couldnt answer. Satiety value is greater. Yes, sweet potatoes tend to have a lower GI, slightly more fibre and beneficial beta-carotene, but white potatoes are richer in potassium and are one of the few sources of gut-loving resistant starch. Cook on high pressure for 15-20 minutes. Purple sweet have a rich taste with a wine-like flavor. Serotonin is often included as an ingredient in antidepressants. These sweet spuds account for nearly 85 percent of sweet potato production in North Carolina and are continuing to become more popular, according to North Carolina Sweet Potatoes. This mineral also plays a role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption and blood sugar regulation." In addition, Ill examine their benefits and if one is easier to store than the other. Many other countries around the world such as Australia, Asia, islands of the Pacific, and Europe now grow sweet potatoes. Flavor was not the primary goal for the production of these varieties. That doesnt mean that Beauregard, jewel, and garnet sweet potatoes dont serve their purpose in all sorts of recipes, but compared to some other varieties, their flavors and textures are mild. They are easier to find online. They are all comparable in nutrition, so it really comes down to your personal preference for taste, texture and how you want to use them in your favorite recipe. The following are the amounts and nutrients per one cup: Lets now talk about a couple of nutrient differences between an orange sweet potato and a purple sweet potato. The longer cooking time will make it moister. Data from five long-running cohort studies including over 1 million participants found that the beta-carotene found in sweet potatoes was associated with a 15-percent reduced risk of ALS. This sweet tuber has tan-colored skin and mildly sweet yellow-orange flesh. What's the Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams? Related article: Ultimate Guide to Different Kinds of Potatoes, Different Types of Grapefruit From Around the World (With Pictures and Names), Types of Olives: 28 Tasty Varieties of Olives You Should Try, Types of Cabbage: Delicious Cabbage Varieties (Including Pictures and Names). Although the carbs in sweet potatoes are complex and raises blood sugar more slowly. White sweet potatoes have light brown skin with pale flesh. This color usually intensifies after cooking. A medium-sized sweet potato has 13 grams of sugar compared to just 2 grams in a medium-sized potato. NUTRITION Data from Whole Foods. Although their color is similar to regular starchy potatoes, they have an oblong shape that tapers at either end. 2. When cooked, Japanese purple sweet potatoes become deliciously sweet and creamy with nutty overtones. 41% said they preferred the taste of purple sweet. It seems that it became popular to call sweet potatoes yams in the US during the late 1800s. Potatoes and sweet potatoes might not look all that impressive, but those oval-shaped vegetables rank as two of the worlds most-produced crops. Itll add some variety to your diet.. Purple sweet potatoes have a rich taste, almost wine-like flavor with a creamy texture. Farmers pulled more than 370 million metric tons of potatoes out of the ground in 2019. Sweet potatoes have a bronze outer skin with anorange flesh inside. Potato Nutrition Facts According to the USDA, one medium baked sweet potato with skin contains 103 calories, 2.29 grams of protein, 0.27 grams of fat, 23.6 grams of carbohydrates, 3.8 grams of fiber and 7.39 grams of sugar. They are your grocery store potatoes, she says. In most Spanish speaking countries, sweet potatoes are known simply as batatas. Whatever your taste, trying different kinds of sweet potatoes can be a delicious culinary experience. Color: Light brown skins, white flesh.Flavor: Sweet.Texture: Dense, firm, creamy.Best uses: Roasting, mashing. Unlike most other sweet potatoes, this Japanese variety has drier flesh. As a Certified Health Coach many of my clients ask about sweet potatoes. Roasting, frying or sauting purple sweet potatoes can help to keep that gorgeous color from bleeding out when cooking. The paler-skinned sweet potato has a thin, light yellow skin and pale yellow flesh. The reason why these white-fleshed OHenry sweet potatoes are so popular is that they are almost as sweet as the orange varieties. Better to flavor your tuber with fresh herbs or low-fat yogurt. The more intense the color of the sweet potatoes, the more Contains carotenoids and anthocyanins. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Find out if Russet potatoes and Idaho potatoes are the same in my article, Idaho vs Russet Potatoes Are They The Same? Try using this variety in our recipes for candied yams (or, more accurately, candied sweet potatoes), miso-scallion roasted sweet potatoes, and sweet potato biscuits. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are different. Summary Because Hannahs are quite firm, they also do well when used for gnocchi, baked into a casserole or sliced into wedges and fried. Although some people think sweet potatoes and yams are the same thing, yams come from a completely different plant related to grasses and lilies. White-fleshed sweet potatoes like the Hannah were some of the first to be farmed and eaten in America. Available year-round, they have purple-tinted skin with a deep purple flesh that intensifies when cooked. Purple and regular sweet potatoes are both stored in a cool, dry, ventilated container. Other nutrients like the antioxidant anthocyanin and vitamin C possess anti-inflammatory properties protecting against disease and illness. Sweet potatoes come in a variety of colors, both inside and out. (2). Varieties of sweet potato such as Beauregard and Jewel are very popular in many countries. The orange sweet potato was cultivated in the 1930s and it was larger, sweeter, more moist, and fleshier compared to the smaller, yellowish, and drier-fleshed varieties. However, it still has a sweet nutty taste that is common to all types of sweet potato. There is also some confusion if sweet potatoes are a type of true potato. There are two nutrients the body converts into vitamin A. This variety is also called the soft sweet potato and has reddish-brown skin with bright, orange flesh. But if you told me right now that I could never eat another sweet potato, I dont know how Id go on living. The easiest way is to boil/steam/oven-bake/microwave/pressure cook the whole potato with the skin on. TASTE Mildly sweet, and pretty moist inside. All the varieties described below are technically sweet potatoes, though theyre often called yams. Eric Adjepong Made His 'Top Chef' Finale Meal Anyway. They taste less sweet and are more akin to winter squash with a heavy, pumpkin-like quality and flavor. Very similar in appearance to garnets, Jewel sweet potatoes also have deep orange, sweet-tasting flesh. Thats bad news given the amount of French fries and potato chips in many diets. True yams are tuberous roots in the genus Dioscorea belonging to the family Dioscoreaceae. According to Harvard University, vitamin A is a great source to stimulate healthy white blood cells 7. Questions about harvesting white potato vs sweet potato. Lets answer which is better, pistachios or almonds? White or cream flesh: This type of sweet potato often has a pale copper to red or golden brown Looking at pictures of the Jersey sweet potato you can see that it is similar in color to regular potatoes. According to scientific studies, vitamin A helps the eyes when it comes to dim light vision and dry eyes5. Their skins can be various shades of brown, yellow, orange, red or purple. The purple color is not manufactured but an entirely natural process. Takeaway Sweet potatoes are not necessarily "healthier" than white potatoes, but one can argue that they are more nutrient-dense. Here are some of the most popular purple sweet potatoes that you can buy. Can purple sweet potatoes and sweet potatoes be stored together? There are a few things you should consider before substituting these vegetables in recipes. Like the Hannah, Okinawa sweet potatoes are denser than orange varieties. Covingtons have a distinct rose-colored skin that is often speckled with small spots and super sweet firm, dense bright orange flesh that stays vibrant when cooked. The average price for purple sweet potatoes is $2.99 per pound. Due to their different color flesh, one would think they taste different. For these reasons, Garnet is best used for baking recipes, such as sweet potato pie or a casserole. Sweet potatoes with orange flesh are high in beta-carotene, which gives that yellow, orange, and red coloring to fruits, plants and vegetables. What are White Sweet Potatoes? Sweet potatoes have a nutritional profile that makes them powerful allies in preventing disease and supporting overall health. The total sweet potato harvest, meanwhile, reached almost 92 million metric tons during that same year. When cooked, Hannah sweet potatoes have a light yellow color. In addition to being a potent antioxidant, anthocyanins may possess anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial effects, in addition to helping to protect against obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to a study published in Food and Nutrition Research in August 2017. Beta carotene and vitamin A. Does it matter when it comes to your health? Christy Wilhel. It features beautiful dark-purple skin and pale yellow flesh than darkens as it cooks. Summary of differences between Red potato and Sweet potato Red potato has less Vitamin A RAE, Manganese, Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Fiber, and Vitamin B2 than Sweet potato. potatoes that you may mistake for yams at your grocery store. In sweet potato and in oatmeal most calories came from carbs. I've long believed that the sweet potato is a perfect foodit's filling, flavorful, easy to make, and, according to the internet, relatively nutritious. (6). Copyright 2021 - NBIP LLC; Operated by Nourishing Brands LLC | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer, Terms, & Conditions | Contact It's rich in an antioxidant called beta carotene, which is very effective at raising blood levels of vitamin A, particularly in. Studies have compared the antioxidant content of white, cream and purple-fleshed sweet potatoes. Carbohydrates and protein, though, are more plentiful in the regular potato, which boasts 37 grams of carbs and 5 grams of protein versus 24 grams of carbs and 2 grams of protein in a sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a little sweeter than purple which have a milder flavor. "Both terms are correct though. Diane sweet potatoes are one of the varieties that is often confused with yams. One such study, published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research in June 2013, concluded that purple-fleshed sweet potatoes had the highest overall level of phenolics, antioxidant content and total soluble dietary fiber. Fiber remains in the digestive tract and provides gut related health benefits. However, true yams contain more starch and less moisture than sweet potato varieties. Poke a few holes into each potato and place them onto the rack. Fact 2: Sweet potato And Oatmeal Nutrition Difference Sweet potatoes have 10% of recommended vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, B6, potassium, and manganese." In fact, a medium potato contains twice as much potassium as a medium banana. One cup of cooked brown rice is about 195 grams. Both are viewed as essential for global food security. The following video explains how to bake a sweet potato.